Halfway to the bleachers, she lifts her eyes to capture mine. She gives me that slow, shy smile, and it takes everything in me not to run to her. To grab her face in my hands and kiss the absolute hell out of her. But I know I can’t do that. Not here. Not now. That would be too aggressive. I’d want to take my time with her, savor every precious moment.
One day, I think.
All hot and bothered, I turn my focus back to the field, trying not to let my eyes drift over to her too much.
After the coin toss and accurately calling heads, I jog back over to the sidelines, stealing a quick glance at Olivia to find her back on the bleachers between Delilah and Rat Boy, eyes glued on me.
I throw her a grin, and shortly after I see someone approaching me from my peripheral vision.
“Hey, Bronx.”
I turn my head just as Adrianna’s fingertips graze my bicep, running down my arm to squeeze my forearm. Those piercing green eyes sparkle with mischief and a hint of trouble.
“Have a good game,” she says, purposely making her voice low and raspy to sound seductive. She stands on her tiptoes, planting her lips on my neck as high as she can manage with my helmet on. Her lips lightly suck at the skin, her tongue poking out to softly lick.
I quickly recoil, taking a step back.
She lets out a soft chuckle, a naughty smirk on her plump, glossy lips. “I’ll catch up with you later to celebrate,” she promises before sashaying away, back to the dance team.
Cursing under my breath, I bring my hand up to where she kissed me and try to wipe away the lingering burn of her lips. And it isn’t the good type of burn. Not anymore.
I quickly glance over my shoulder to look at Olivia. Her eyes are cast down, her shoulders slumped while Rat Boy’s beady little eyes seem to glitter in delight. I lock eyes with Delilah, and she looks disappointed, frowning at me. I give her a helpless look, not knowing what else to do. It wasn’t my fault, and I certainly didn’t reciprocate Adrianna’s actions.
Beyond frustrated, I’m relieved when the whistle blows and I have to get my ass out onto the field, where I can blow off steam.
Game on, I think.
The game goes as expected. We have to put in the maximum amount of effort to stay ahead of the other team, giving the crowd quite a show to hopefully pull out a win.
With less than twenty seconds on the clock, the score tied, I’m hiked the ball. I catch it with ease and my eyes immediately dart to my teammates, calculating. Everyone is blocked, but there is a small break straight to the end zone. With no choice, I rush the ball, and the crowd goes absolutely nuts.
Approximately ten yards away from the end zone, one of the opposing players breaks free, blocking my path. I try to dodge him but he lunges, his shoulder ramming into my side and throwing me off balance. But somehow I’m able to maintain my footing; that is until another player dives, catching me by the ankle. I stumble forward, stretching as far as I can, and manage to land the ball over the line for a touchdown, solidifying our win.
Everyone erupts into cheers, and suddenly, like magic, before I’m even fully back up on my feet, a cooler full of Gatorade is dumped over my head, soaking me. Everyone seems to attack me all at once with back slaps and chest bumps, and sometime during the mix, my teammates lift me onto their shoulders, chanting. I take the opportunity to scan the crowd, finding the one person I’m looking for. I point to her, grinning uncontrollably.
Olivia smiles, looking excited and proud, clapping. Delilah stands beside her, cheering us on, while Rat Boy looks like he wants to drag the both of them out of here as fast as he can.
Too bad.
“Wait for me!” I call to Olivia as the team heads to the locker room with me still on their shoulders, leaving me no choice but to go with them.
After a record-speed shower and some more congratulations from the team, as well as Coach, I’m finally able to sneak out of the locker room and back out to the field where people are still hanging out, celebrating.
I spot Olivia and her friends near the stands. I saunter over to them, and Rat Boy’s beady little eyes home in on me, turning to slits. Her back is to me, and I walk up behind her, casually slinging my arm over her shoulders.
“Hey, Finch.”
She tips her head back, looking up at me through her lashes, smiling. “Hey, congratulations!”
“Thank you.” I smile down at her.
“Great play,” Delilah comments, the bright field lights reflecting in the lenses of her glasses and her dark curly hair blowing in the breeze. “Way to show those preppy assholes they’ll never beat us, no matter how hard they try.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Dee.”
A sharp gust of cold October air rushes through, sending a zip down my spine as it whips through my still-damp hair. The cold air bites into my skin, especially the tips of my ears, and I tug at the back of my hoodie, pulling the hood up and over my head.
I feel Olivia shiver, and she wraps her arms around herself, trying to ward off the cold. I pull her closer to me, trying to huddle and share body heat, and earning a glare from Rat Boy.
