Crimson Catch (Game Time #1)

by S. M. Donaldson

  Coach Zick and all of his five-foot-six frame steps in, “Follow me.”

  Running out of the locker room, I hear all of the cheers. The band has really amped up their support even more since we went to their contest. That’s what being in a small town is about, supporting each other. I’m just glad that Joelle forgave me for my moment of stupidity. She and Mr. Clark thanked me for the support.

  We stop behind the spirit banner. Coach Zick, along with James, steps up again. “WHAT TIME IS IT?”

  “GAME TIME!”

  “WHAT TIME IS IT?”

  “GAME TIME, GAME TIME, GAME TIME!”

  As we run through the banner to our fight song, all I can think is, “Oh shit, here we go.” I may very well get my ass handed to me tonight.

  “With one minute twenty left on the clock, Everly is at fourth and goal. Let’s hope they can pull this one off to even up the score before half-time.”

  Lining up behind my center, I say a small prayer. “Down. Set. Hut hut hut.” The ball is in my hands. I hand it off to James and take off running, turning for James to toss it back to me so I can run it in the end zone.

  “Touchdown Bulldogs!”

  I see Jo, who is normally very composed, jumping up and down on the sidelines waiting to go on. James slaps the back of my helmet. “We going for the kick or the two points?”

  “Two,” I pant out. “I wanna be in the lead when we come back, not tied.”

  He nods and we jump back on the line of scrimmage. Thirty seconds later, we’re in the lead going into half-time.

  James stops me. “Go rest, she told me to tell you that. She knew you’d try to stay out and watch her, but she said to go rest or else.”

  I nod. Knowing Jo, “or else” meant she’d take away cuddle time and I may sound like a pussy for calling it that, but when I’m wrapped up with her, it’s like the world goes away.

  Sure, we’ve done it several times now in the past couple of months, but it’s not always just about that. I enjoy my time with her. Sure, I’d be sad as hell and have an eternal case of blue balls if she took sex away, but it’s not all about that.

  I hear the show going on outside. They got all superiors at contest. Mr. Clark also said that the judges asked him how he got such a large cheering section. He simply told them, “Our little town sticks together.”

  Booker goes to court in a couple of weeks. They’ve made him homeschool until this is all over. This, in turn, means Jo goes to court, too. Ciara pled out and worked a deal with the prosecutor for being an accomplice on three occasions. She is on probation for five years and has to attend mandatory counseling sessions. She’s not allowed back at Everly High School, her parents put her in a private school. She also has to testify against Booker when the time comes.

  The town took everything better than expected. I think because it did happen to more than one girl. That’s how it should be because he’s just a sick bastard.

  Joelle-

  Watching him take the field, knowing this could be the last game of the year, is unnerving. Hopefully we’ll move on to the next round after tonight, but it doesn’t matter. Collin and all of these guys have played their hearts out. It took them a couple of weeks to get used to not having Booker on the line. Honestly, though, it’s gone smoother. The guy they have in his place now actually tries to watch Collin’s back. I thought after the whole incident that the football team would hate me. As it turns out, many of them were disgusted when they found out what Booker had been doing.

  All right, they’re taking the field. I hear the cheerleaders along with our instruments. “Let’s go Bulldogs! Let’s go Bulldogs!”

  “The ball is kicked off and caught by number twenty-seven, Dallas Kent. He’s at the fifty, he’s at the forty, thirty, twenty and he’s taken down at the eighteen yard line.”

  The thirty-six minutes seem to creep by, until the last five minutes. I’m on my feet the entire time. This game is neck and neck. I’ve bitten off my non-existent fingernails. I’ve broken a head on my drum. The clock seems to now be flying with us tied up. I really don’t like going into overtime. It’s like some sort of bad juju.

  “Crimson and Grey, Everly all the way! Crimson and Grey, Everly all the way!” The cheerleaders are still in the back ground.

  We’re down to a minute-ten seconds now. The guys are in an awesome position to score.

  “Everly has the ball, it’s fourth and goal. This could be the end of the game, folks, or we could be going into overtime tonight. The ball is snapped and handed off to Prescott. Wait, no. It went to Kent, Kent tossed it to Jinkens. Jinkens is in the end zone! TOUCHDOWN BULLDOGS! Holy Mother of Lord! Big ole’ Craig “Jinks” Jinkens ran that ball into the end zone. That’s the ballgame. Everly will be moving on to the Regional round next week. Come join us again. Man, these fans are pouring out of the stands onto the field.” The announcers are so funny.

  I tear out of the stands, leaving everything behind. I find my brother first. He picks me up. “Holy shit, little sister, he’s getting me there!”

  “Hey, I know she’s your sister, but she’s my girl!” I hear over my shoulder.

  I spin around to see Collin and after my brother lets me down, I jump into Collin’s arms. “You did it, you stud!”

  He gives me a big kiss, breaking only for a moment to say, “Yes, we did.”

  EPILOGUE

  Joelle-

  Five Weeks Later

  They ended up postponing the trial until they could get a judge that wasn’t from around here to preside over it, along with juror selection taking so much time. It seems so many people know about the case or have opinions, but this is small town Alabama. Plus, I think the DA wanted a judge who was going to nail Booker’s ass and try him as an adult.

  But on the plus side, football is over for the season. We got to the state championship game, but didn’t win. You should’ve seen the size of those bastards from Jackson, they were freakin’ huge.

  My book, Making the Catch, is still a top one hundred seller in Young Adult Sports. From all the reviews and the people I get to sit and watch talk about it, everyone seems to love it and can’t wait until the next one comes out. The part that’s truly funny, like a true karma moment, I found out through the grapevine that P.J. Scott is Ciara’s favorite author. That’s really funny in my book.

  When they finally did have a trial, Booker was found guilty of several acts of 2nd degree rape. They couldn’t get first because no rape kits were done. Several counts of sexual abuse and assault followed. Between all of the charges, he got a grand total of a minimum of twenty years behind bars. Yes, it just so happens Alabama isn’t as strict on sex crimes as many other states.

  I got my driver’s license last week, I used some of my savings to get a car. It’s used, but I didn’t want to blow all of my money on a car right now. Plus, I can’t draw attention to my money. So I have a 2010 Rav4. It’s not like Collin’s mustang or anything, but I don’t care.

  Today, though, I’m excited because we’re on our way to Birmingham for the STD concert!

  “So are we going to catch the condoms when they shoot them out of that cannon?” Collin asks.

  “Yes. It’s part of the excitement!!!!!”

  He cocks a grin at me. “I better get to use some of them, that’s all I have to say. I think that’s fair and all. You’re going to be lusting all for some guys on stage and I’m just gonna be the dweeb that sits out there hoping to cop a feel.”

  “Maybe if you’re nice. I will say you did earn some points for getting the tickets in the first place, so you’ll probably get lucky tonight. Are you really that jealous?” I wink. “You know it’s only you.”

  Once we finally arrive, I’m pumped, this is like Christmas, birthday and the lottery mixed into one.

  An hour later, the show is starting. Everyone is chanting, “STD, STD, STD.”

  Soon, the band is taking the stage. Memphis Black steps up to the mic. “Hello, Birmingham!” He holds out the mic for the c
rowd’s roar. You can feel the electricity through the crowd. “I am Memphis Black, lead singer and guitarist extraordinaire for Steel Total Destruction!” You can tell this shit gets them off. “You ready for some STD? You ready to get rocked so hard, you can’t walk straight for a week?” I scream, I’ve never been like this in my life. I’ve never been a giggly girly girl. But for this band, I would do just about anything. “I like the way you sound. Get ready, ladies!”

  “Prepare yourselves!” Finn Beckett jumps in just as condoms spray out over the audience.

  They start with one of my favorite songs of theirs, “Going Down.”

  Collin pulls me in tight. “Do you have any idea how hot you are when you’re smiling and happy?”

  I shake my head back and forth. “No.”

  He kisses me hard. “You are totally hot and I love seeing you happy. It’s the sexiest thing ever,” he mumbles against my lips as the band of my dreams plays in the back ground.

  My dreams are coming true. Dreams I didn’t even know I wanted. I know that I’m only in high school, but like I said in my last book-

  It’s that time in your life when you start to find yourself. When you get your heart broken for the first time. When what’s happening after “the game” is more important than anything else…except maybe this kiss.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my readers. Without you, I would not be having this awesome adventure. You have helped make my dreams come true and for that, I’m truly blessed and grateful. I’m happy that many of you have embraced the idea that I needed a little break from the deep stuff. Going back to high school was somewhat refreshing.

  To my family, thank you for being supportive. Special thanks to my mom who listens to the endless ramblings about my characters.

  I need to give a big Thank You to Chelly Peeler. She’s not only my editor, but my friend. She always listens to my random crazy thoughts. She loves my characters and understands my craziness. Thank you again.

  To my bestie, Chelsea Camaron, thank you for being my sounding board. Thank you for giving me those little bits of advice, for helping me think three books ahead. For not thinking my random late night texts are crazy or annoying. For understanding my need to format as I go and not laughing too hard at my attempt to outline the rest of the series. Love you. #commentbubblinbitch #blurbbitch

  Thanks to MJ Fields for loaning me the boys of STD (Steel Total Destruction) for a couple of scenes. You rock!

  To Kimberley Foster Holm for treating my books like Where’s Waldo and helping me find those little things that I’ve read over a hundred times. #warnagirl

  Thanks to my PA Shawna Powell. I just don’t know what I would do without you. You are always up for a challenge and I wouldn’t have gotten this book done without you taking care of social media so I could write. XOXO Big hugs.

  To Ena and Amanda at Enticing Journey Book Promotions. You guys have given me the best experience with promotions ever. Love you girls.

  To Melissa at Indie-Vention. You just get it, what else can I say? I send you a little info and you go to town. Love this cover. Thank you so much.

  Thanks to all of the book bloggers out there who spend so much time helping us promote books and everyone who leaves a review, you are all awesome.

  To my street team, Donaldson’s Dirty Debutantes, you guys are just awesome. I don’t know what I would do without you.

  To my Author friends, thank you for being supportive and inspirational all at the same time.

  About the Author

  S.M. Donaldson is a born and raised Southern girl. She grew up in a small rural town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the kind of place where everyone knows your business before you do, especially when your Daddy is a cop and your Mom works for the school system. She married one of her best friends at the age of 20 and has one son. She is a proud military wife, has always had a soft spot for a good story, and is known to have a potty mouth. At the age of 31, she decided there was no time like the present to attempt her first book. Sam’s Choice was born and she hasn’t stopped since. If you are looking for a good, steamy, Southern set romance with true Southern dialect, she’s your girl.

  My Links:

  www.smdonaldson.com

  www.facebook.com/s.m.donaldson.author

  www.goodreads.com/AuthorSMDonaldson

  Twitter: @SMDonaldson1

  Instagram: SMDONALDSON1981

  Other titles by S.M. Donaldson

  New Adult Titles

  The Sam STRENGTH Series

  Duet Available

  The Temptation Series

  Box Set Available

  The Secrets of Savannah Series

  Box Set Available

  Novellas

  Just the Other Sister Series

  (E-book only)

  Seasons of Change Novella Series

  Summer of Forgiveness

  Falling for Autumn

  Holiday with Holli

  Camilla In Bloom

  Adult Titles

  Marco’s MMA Boys

  Letting Lox In

  In sly’s Eyes

  Holding Huck’s Heart

  Gaining Gibbs

  Young Adult Titles

  Crimson Catch

  Copyright © Jacqueline Ross and Ally Derby 2015

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of Jacqueline Ross, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  1st Edition Published:

  Published by: Blue Valley Publishing

  Cover Design by: Cover To Cover Designs

  Cover Model: Quinn Biddle

  Photographer: Michael Anthony Downs

  First Edit by: C&D

  Final Edit by: Kellie Montgomery

  Formatting by: Indie-ventions design

  Thank you for downloading/purchasing this eBook. This eBook and its contents are the copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download/purchase their own copy at Smashwords.com where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

  *Disclaimer*

  This book contains mature content not suitable for some under the age of 16.

  It involves strong language and sexual situations.

  All parties portrayed in sexual situations are consenting adults over the age of 18.

  Prologue

  I lie on my back, looking up at the white ceiling, and in my head, I am singing the song about the old lady swallowing the fly.

  One event in a person’s life can change everything. My father’s unemployment led to his drinking and driving, which led to an accident, which led to his injury, which led to his pain and depression, which led to his inability to find a job, which led to me moving to two different schools already this year. Tomorrow, I will start the third.

  My mother’s Aunt Ann passed away, and Mom is now the only living relative. We bought her house right before the tax auction. It is in a very small town that apparently is very expensive. This is the first home my family has owned. My mother is optimistic, hopeful, and tries her best to make my father and I feel the same way.

  I wish I could do that for her. I wish I could be as happy as she is, but honestly, it drives me crazy that she can act as if our family isn’t broken, because it is. It is so very broken.

  Chapter 1

  New Girl

  It is six-thirty on a Monday morning in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The temperature is negative two degrees, and there is not a c
loud in the February sky.

  My alarm clock blares “Fifteen,” and I think, Taylor Swift, as much as I love you, today you are my enemy. Then I groan as I roll over and push snooze on my hand-me-down alarm clock radio, given to me by my mother when she got the iPhone 4.

  Wanting to go back to sleep, I have no desire to roll out of bed. I know, as soon as I do, my feet will touch the hardwood floor, and they will turn cold. I hate cold feet almost as much as I hate Monday mornings.

  “Hadley, it’s time to get up,” my mom sings as she walks past my door toward the bathroom.

  “I’m up,” I grumble.

  I hear her footsteps halt before she leans back, looking at me as she stands in my doorway. “Good morning, beautiful girl.” My mother is obnoxiously chipper in the morning. It drives me insane. “Happy fifteenth birthday,” she almost sings.

  “It’s Monday, Mom.” I roll my eyes and cover my head. “That’s a crappy day to have a birthday.”

  “Language, Hadley.” She shakes her head and steps back. “May I enter the sanctuary?”

  Yes, she asks if she can come in my room. Six months ago, when I found her crying on my bed as she was reading my diary, I kind of went off on her.

  I nod in answer. Then, against all that should be for a girl celebrating her fifteenth birthday, I force myself to get out of bed. There’s that cold. Ugh. That feeling drives me even crazier. Now I’m pushing the limit.

  I walk to my closet and pull out a pair of tattered skinny jeans and a blue field hockey T-shirt then pair the outfit with my white Converse high-tops. I quickly dress in the small solitude of my closet and exit the sanctuary with Mom at my heels.

  “It’s your first day at a new school, Hadley, so are you sure you wouldn’t rather dress up a little? Mix it up a bit?”

  “It’s my third school in a year. Things are mixed up enough.” Realizing I have hurt her feelings, I give her a hundred watt smile and a thumbs up. “I’m being true to myself.”