I smirk. “Finally adjusting to your timing.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Carter fires back, grinning. “We’ll see if you can do it again tomorrow.”
From across the aisle, Logan drops onto the bench, sweat-slick and irritated. He’s been quiet since the last round of red zone drills—probably still pissed I ran clean past him on that corner route Coach replayed three times on the tablet.
“You looked a little gassed out there, Brooks,” Beck calls, smirking.
“Field was slick,” Logan mutters, ripping off his jersey.
“Sure thing. Michigan State must’ve been running on a different field then,” Carter says casually. “He made you look like you were in slow motion.”
I stay quiet. I don’t need to throw fuel on the fire.
Logan’s eyes flick to me, narrowed. “We’ll see who the starter is when the season hits.”
No one says anything for a beat. Carter and Beck exchange a look, but I just keep drying off, unbothered.
Then, Logan adds, “Maybe your girl will help you study the playbook. What was her name again? Madison?”
The towel in my hands stills.
Carter looks up from tying his shoes. “Don’t start, man.”
Logan grins, leaning back against the lockers. “Relax. Just an observation. She seems like she’s got a thing for athletes. Wouldn’t be the first time she went after a wide receiver.”
My jaw tightens. Slowly, I turn toward him. “She’s not going after anyone,” I say, voice low but steady. “Least of all someone who can’t hold onto a ball, let alone a conversation.”
“Oof,” Beck mutters under his breath as Carter lets out a low whistle.
Logan’s smile thins. “Didn’t realize she was off-limits.”
“She’s not property,” I say. “But you talk about her like that again, and we’re gonna have a problem.”
For a moment, Logan looks like he might push it—maybe he even wants to—but then he just scoffs, standing and grabbing his towel.
“Whatever, man. Just thought she had a type.”
“She does,” Carter says, standing too. “And it’s not you.”
Logan stalks off toward the showers without another word.
The locker room stays silent for a beat, the air thick enough to choke on.
Carter turns back to me, one eyebrow raised. “Little fast on the draw there, Michigan State.”
I rake a hand through my hair, trying to burn off the adrenaline still crackling under my skin. “Yeah. Well.”
He lets it hang, but the knowing look doesn’t leave his face.
When I finally sit back down, heart still pounding, I know I didn’t give anything away with words, but actions?
Actions speak loud as hell.
7
JAXON
Ishower quickly and change, barely registering the chatter of my teammates around me. The crisp evening air hits me as I step outside, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. It's just studying, I remind myself. But with Madison, it's never just anything.
