The Big Play Journal (Big Play #5)

by Jordan Ford

  The Big Play Journal

  Jordan Ford

  Contents

  FOR NELSON HIGH FANS

  THE PLAYMAKER

  The Tori Factor

  The Colt Kiss

  For You, Baby!

  Tori & Colt…One Year Later

  THE RED ZONE

  Good on ya, mate!

  What’s your dream?

  Cupcake, anyone?

  Kaiser & Mack…One Year Later

  THE HANDOFF

  Unveiled beauty…

  Don’t mess with Mrs. Jones…

  The power of love…

  Finn & Layla…One Year Later

  SHOOT THE GAP

  Sammy awesomeness

  Treehouse confessions…

  Friends forever…

  Tyler & Sammy…One Year Later

  THANK YOU!

  Also by Jordan Ford

  About the Author

  Connect with Jordan

  © Copyright 2017 Jordan Ford

  www.jordanfordbooks.com

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  FOR NELSON HIGH FANS

  It’s been a year since I released Shoot The Gap (the last Big Play Novel), and I wanted to do something to commemorate the series.

  So why not publish a journal? I figure it’ll be a fun way to remember these characters and the world of Nelson High.

  This journal is filled with images, quotes and special moments from these books. I’ve written some personal notes of thoughts I had while writing the series, plus (because so many of you asked for it) I’ve included a snapshot of each couple one year after the Big Play Novels finished.

  I really hope you enjoy this little insight into the Big Play Novels. I had so much fun putting it together.

  xx

  Jordan

  THE PLAYMAKER

  It’s time to make the perfect play…

  I came up with this line when I was first planning this series. I loved the idea that Colt was the playmaker for the Nelson High Raiders football team, but that Tori had her own set of perfect plays to win him over. The playmaker was out-played by the most unlikely girl at school.

  Tori, with all her quirks, will always hold a very special place in my heart.

  Do you have any quirks that make you awesome and unique?

  The Tori Factor

  Watching Colt fall in love with Tori was so much fun. These two grow so much in The Playmaker, but Colt’s changing heart and mind is one of my favorite aspects of this story.

  The Colt Kiss

  One of my all time favorite scenes in The Playmaker is what I like to call The Colt Kiss…

  I made a conscious decision to keep these books very YA friendly, which meant the kisses needed to be something magical. I spent a really long time thinking about the significance of my first real kiss. How precious and amazing it was. How mind-blowing. How giddy I felt afterwards. I wanted to convey that in this kiss, so I took my time with the scene…and it’s one of my favorites from the book, maybe even the entire series.

  Do you remember your first kiss?

  For You, Baby!

  If the Colt kiss is my favorite scene, then this would come a VERY close second. The final chapter of The Playmaker gives me the warm fuzzies every time I read it.

  I came up with this scene well before finishing the book, and I was determined to bring the story around to this moment. I just could not get enough of the imagery in my head…

  Tori, as much as she would love the world to know she’s Colt’s girl, is willing to keep things quiet. But then her man goes and surprises her with this….

  I LOVE THIS MOMENT!

  EXCERPT FROM THE PLAYMAKER

  I can’t take my eyes off Colt’s helmet as he runs into position. He flicks a look into the stands and, even though he doesn’t wave, I’m sure he spotted me. I can feel it.

  Mack calls and they run a quick slant, easily making the down. We all cheer and I wriggle in my seat, trying to keep warm as they reset.

  “So…” Amy sips her cocoa. “Miss Clandestine, what are you two going to do about the winter dance? Take other people?”

  “Shhhh, they’re about to run the play.”

  She rolls her eyes while Finn snaps the ball. Mack takes it clean, pivots and fools the defense on the play action—they bite hard, and Colt is in the clear for the short throw. Number 27 clutches it to his chest and starts running, jumping over one tackle and sprinting into the red zone.

  “Go!” I jump to my feet. “Go, go, go!” My voice rises into a scream as Colt dives over the last defender and rolls into the end zone. “Yes! Woohoo!”

  I want to scream out, “That’s my man!” and only just swallow the words back in time.

  My orange scarf bobs around my face as I jump on the spot, screaming in celebration.

  And then something magical happens.

  Colt points straight at me.

  I let out a delighted gasp, then kiss my hand and blow it at him. He catches my kiss against his heart before flopping to the ground in a dramatic show. I throw my head back in laughter, then stop breathing for a second when he whips off his helmet and shouts into the stands, “For you, baby!”

  Every head in my section turns to face me, but all I can do is look at Colt, a fine sheen of tears covering my eyes.

  “Okay, if that’s not claiming you, I don’t know what is,” Amy mutters beside me.

  I throw my arm around her and squeal while Colt runs off the field. Tyler’s running beside him, saying something that makes Colt’s face glow like a jack-o-lantern. He looks up and finds me in the stands again, giving me a wink before taking a seat with his boys.

  Amy sits and tugs me down. My legs are buzzing and weak, so I crumple down beside her with a dreamy smile.

  My best friend laughs, then shakes her head. “Thank you, Tori.”

  “For what?” My forehead wrinkles.

  She sighs and looks to the sky. “Making me believe in miracles.”

  Tori & Colt…One Year Later

  TORI

  If he didn’t smell so good, this seriously would not be a problem. But his hair is right there, and still damp from his shower. I can’t help myself.

  Leaning forward as subtly as I can, I rest my chin in my hand and sniff. It’s just a quiet one, I swear, but he whips around to look at me.

  His sexy, pale eyes, the ones that can make me simultaneously warm, giddy and delirious, narrow at the corners.

  “Did you just…sniff me?”

  The tip of my tongue pokes between my teeth as I give him my cutest smile. “You know this really wouldn’t be such a problem if you didn’t shower just before we met up to study.”

  With a soft snicker, he invades my space and whispers, “Would you rather I come to these sessions smelling bad?”

  I giggle. “No. I’m just explaining why I’m so weak every time you meet me here.
Your cologne should be made illegal in all libraries nationwide.”

  “And here’s me thinking it was just the books that turned you on.” His eyes sparkle, his mouth rising into that quiet grin he does, the one that highlights his chin dimple.

  I place my finger into the groove of his chin and bite my bottom lip, wondering how I’m supposed to tutor him today. Exams are just around the corner, we should be focused. We can relax when summer rolls around. Colt’s got like a four-week break before football camp kicks off.

  Four weeks!

  I’m not sure what we’re going to do. Obviously head back to Nelson, although I’m kind of sad that Layla won’t be there. She and Finn are off to visit Mack in New Zealand. Amy won’t be around either. She’s gone all East Coast on me and doesn’t want to trek back to Nelson for the summer, which leaves my friend supply somewhat depleted. Sammy’s great and I love her, but she’s just so cool, you know?

  Kind of like the opposite of me.

  Colt’s not overjoyed about returning to Nelson either, especially with Finn and Mack not around. Knowing Tyler, he’ll whisk Sammy away on some family vacation where they can surf and play in the ocean all day.

  I can’t see that on the cards for Colt and me, which leaves a four week break where my boyfriend will be tense and grumpy because he’s living back home with his parents who are still set on making him see the light and give up his dream of professional football.

  My eyebrows dip together. I should seriously stop thinking about summer. What Colt needs right now is for me to concentrate, be a good teacher and help him maintain the grade average he needs so that when football seasons kicks into full swing, he can keep playing. Plus he can show off his awesome grades to the rents who can just back the hell off and start realizing that their son is awesome and will one day play pro ball like a freaking champion.

  I clear my throat and swivel in my chair, pulling my laptop back towards me in an attempt to be a good girl.

  “We should get to work,” I mumble, scanning the study timetable I’ve made up for both of us.

  Colt doesn’t say anything, and I can’t help checking him out from the corner of my eye.

  He’s staring into the quiet library, his gaze traveling across the empty tables to our left and the lone studier hunched over his laptop in the cubicle to our right.

  Colt’s chiseled jaw works to the side, making my stomach pitch all over the place. We’ve been together for well over a year, and he still makes me feel like his tween, mega-crush groupie. How does he do it?

  I should be the chill girlfriend by now. The kind that rolls her eyes when her boyfriend makes a lame joke or looks forward to a night out with the girls.

  But nope. Not me.

  I’m still the hopelessly devoted girlfriend who shows up at every football game, sneaks into whatever practice sessions I’m allowed to, studies extra hard when I’m not with him, so that when I actually am with him, I can focus on everything Colt has to do.

  I’m still the girl that goes to bed at night reliving the touch of Colt’s lips on my skin.

  I can feel my cheeks getting warm as I picture our last make-out session, his sure hands running over my body, his tongue taking command.

  Colt’s fingers skim my knee and gently glide up my thigh.

  I press my lips together, fighting a grin and willing myself not to giggle and lean into the kiss he’s about to give me.

  “We have work to do, Mr. Burgess,” I whisper out the side of my mouth.

  “Work can wait,” he murmurs against my ear before skimming his lips across my earlobe and finding the melt-me-into-a-puddle spot on the side of my neck. His lips touch that thing and I’m gone every time—accelerated heart rate, toes curling in my Converse. I close my eyes and can’t stifle the soft moan.

  Colt snickers against my skin, his lips working across my jawline and finding my mouth with an ease and familiarity that I will never take for granted. I’m Colt’s girl. And no matter what we get up to this summer, it’ll be perfect, because I’ll be with him.

  COLT

  Kissing Tori is hands down my favorite thing to do. I like it even more than football.

  Moving out of Nelson and into the big college world scared me a little. I didn’t tell anyone that, of course, but I had a few sleepless nights worrying about how hard the coursework would be, if I could fit into the football team—get myself noticed by the right coaches.

  It’s turned out better than I could have dreamed. I freaking love college. My football team is amazing. The coaches work us hard, but we play better for it. I’ve had the best season of my life, and my girlfriend’s been right there cheering me on the whole way.

  Not only that, she goes out of her way to help me study and make sure I hit those grades the way I’m supposed to. She’s going to make the world’s best teacher. I couldn’t be prouder if I tried.

  A sharp throat-clearing from across the room pulls Tori away from me. She glances over my shoulder, her wide eyes bulging before her lips quiver into an apologetic smile.

  “I’m sure there’s a dorm room you could take this to,” the librarian whisper-barks.

  I look over my shoulder and give her a smooth smile. She doesn’t budge. If anything her eyes narrow.

  “The library is for studying purposes only.” She goes to walk away and then pauses, pointing a long finger at my nose. “And don’t even think about taking this to some dark corner. If you want to make out, you get out.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I nod, making my smile even brighter.

  She rolls her eyes and huffs away from us.

  I turn back to Tori with a soft chuckle. Her cheeks are red, her face scrunched in humiliation.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I soothe and go to close her laptop. “Let’s just go somewhere else.”

  Her hand shoots out to stop me. “No. If we go somewhere else, we’ll never get anything done. We need to study. You’ve got grades to score and I won’t be responsible for you failing anything.”

  I sit back with a sigh. “My grades are fine. I’m doing better than I thought I would.” I tip her chin. “Thanks to you.”

  Her cute smile has to be kissed.

  I settle for a quick peck and lean away to study her.

  “It’s not just me,” she murmurs. “You’re working your ass off, and I just want them to…know.”

  My forehead wrinkles. “Who are you talking about?”

  She closes her eyes, her shoulders slumping just a touch as she raises the one topic I try to avoid.

  “Your parents.”

  I roll my eyes, my jaw working to the side. “We don’t have to prove anything to them. I don’t give a shit what they think.”

  “I know.” She touches my arm, her soft fingers calming me like they always do. “I guess I just want this summer to be about your triumph and not them trying to convince you that there’s no future in football.”

  Grabbing the pen off the top of my pad, I spin it in my fingers, forcing my anger down to a light simmer. “What’s the point? They’ll never get it. No matter how hard I work.”

  The large ring on her index finger digs into me as she squeezes my arm. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have even brought it up. Maybe I’m more worried about summer break than I realized. It should be something to look forward to. Is it weird that I’m kind of dreading it?” Her little nose wrinkles and she jumps into speed-talk mode, a sure sign of her true angst. “I mean, I love my family, and I want to see them. I love Nelson too. I’ll always love Nelson, but college is amazing and it’s fun. It’s so fun. And other than missing our friends, I love this life more than my old one, which makes me feel kind of bad, because Nelson’s been my home forever and it’ll always hold a place in my heart, but like, you own most of that space now, so I’m kind of happy to go wherever you go. But if we go to Nelson it’s going to be hard on you, and Layla won’t be there, and Sammy and Tyler will take off to do something exciting, and as awesome as just the two of us will be, and I love the tw
o of us, believe me, it’s also kind of like-”

  I stop her with a finger against her lips.

  Her beautiful eyes nearly take me out on the spot, so wide and expressive. Cupping her heart-shaped face, I run my thumbs along her cheekbones.

  “We don’t have to go back to Nelson this summer. We can do wherever we want. Go wherever we like.”

  Her soft lips pull into a thoughtful pout.

  “Come on, where do you want to go?”

  She shrugs and looks back to her laptop. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re really gutted that Amy and Layla aren’t going to be there, aren’t you?”

  She purses her lips and won’t look at me, which tells me what I need to know.

  “Hey.” With a gentle touch I persuade her to look at me again. “I’m going to make this summer awesome for you, I promise.”

  Her expression turns mushy with affection and I swear I could drown in those eyes. I love this girl, more than I ever thought possible, and I’m determined to give her the summer of a lifetime…maybe even a winter to remember.

  A slow smile stretches across my face as I lean in for another kiss.

  What does your ultimate holiday look like?

  THE RED ZONE

  Love at first sight…it does happen!

  Mack and Kaija’s story is the second Big Play Novel, and I came up with the storyline years ago. As I was constructing this series, I realized it would fit perfectly within the Big Play world. My main concept was the idea of two people who beneath the surface really liked each other, but because of certain obstacles, they couldn’t give in to their desires. In order for a story like that to work, I kind of needed to go for the love at first sight idea. I know some readers hate this. They feel it’s unrealistic. But the truth is…occasionally, love at first sight DOES happen. And I’m so glad it happened to Mack. I don’t know if he could have fallen in love any other way.