I look at him and smile. “Well, are you?” I take advantage of how easy it is to rile him up.
“We’re the champions. We have been, and continue to be,” he says in a tone that sounds like he’s giving a locker room speech before a championship game.
“They’re okay,” Mia says, earning herself another baffled look from Zack.
“Falcon, you better teach your girl about our greatness,” Zack says.
Jesse pats Zack on the shoulder. “Calm down, Hayes.”
Mia says, “You should come watch the games with us.”
“Sure, I’d love to. Let me know when you girls go, and I’ll get a ticket.” Jesse’s told me to go and see his games before, but I haven’t taken him up on it yet. I chance another look at him, only to find he’s got a goofy smile on his face.
“You don’t need to get a ticket. I’ll put one, or two if Emma comes, on hold for you,” Jesse says in the most tender voice. I bite my lip, feeling myself falling for him a little bit more.
It’s only a crush, I reason with myself. He’s attractive and kind, and I know I want more than just friendship. Each day, I realize this more and more, but I still don’t know if more could happen between us. He hasn’t said anything—hinted at anything. He hasn’t done anything more than hold my hand and introduce me to his friends—which technically wasn’t his choice.
His words make me feel like even though we’re in a crowded cafeteria, it’s just us. “Thank you. I don’t know if Emma will come, but I will.”
“Is Emma the other chick we saw you with on the quad and at the cafe?” Zack interrupts with his burger halfway to his mouth.
“Yes, sir; she’s the other chick,” I say, emphasizing the last word. I hate that word.
Without a care, Zack sinks his teeth into the burger. He chews for a second before saying, “Tell her to stop being lame and come see the best looking and most skillful team play.”
“Lay off, Hayes,” a brooding dark-haired guy says, walking towards us with a tray in his hand. He sits down at the end of the table.
“I’ll try to convince her,” I tell him, knowing it won’t be an easy feat.
“That’s Chase!” Mia says, introducing me to the newest addition to the table. I catch Kaitlyn rolling her eyes.
I look at him and wave. “I remember him from the café.”
“She really did meet everyone before us,” Kaitlyn whines, turning accusatory eyes to Jesse again.
Mia laughs. “There’s a home game in two weeks. Let’s go to that one!” she says, once again changing the direction of the conversation.
“I love that you memorized the game schedule,” Zack says, looking all too proud.
“I wonder why,” Nick says.
“I remember when Mia sat at this very table and told us she didn’t care about college football,” Zack says. Everyone laughs, all joining together to give Mia a hard time.
“I guess my brother corrected that real quick,” Nick says proudly.
“Your brother did what?” someone else says, and I look behind me to find Colton. Even though I’ve never met him in person, I recognize the most talked about person on campus. He walks to the other side of the table, pushes Nick to the right, and plops down in-between him and Mia. Bringing his hand to Mia’s chin, he turns her head slightly toward him and places a lingering kiss on her lips. When the kiss finally breaks, he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, then brings his lips to her forehead.
“Okay, can we please cut that shit out?!” Nick says, his face scrunched up in disgust. Everyone dissolves into laughter.
“Stop being jealous,” Colton finally says, turning away from Mia and acknowledging everyone’s presence.
“Colton, this is Zoe—Jesse’s girl,” Kaitlyn tells him, and the sound of laughter spreads through the table, and I know it’s because of the song. I sit there awkwardly, not knowing whether to shake Colton’s hand or wave. I choose the latter, and he nods.
“I wish that I had Jesse’s girl,” Nick singsongs, and the laughter at the table rises.
Jess gives Nick a stern look. “Shut it.”
Nick only grins and continues to hum the tune.
We chat for another half an hour about sports, classes, and the guys—well, Zack and Nick mostly—continue to give Jesse a tough time singing the song whenever possible. Slowly, the table starts emptying, and as it does, I begin to feel lighter. For the first time in a long time, I feel at ease with meeting new people. Although it was terrifying, I did it.
22
Bowling Night
Zoe
“Are you sure they’ll be okay with me being here?” I ask the moment I reach Jesse in the lobby of my dorm.
When he asked me if I wanted to go out with him this weekend, I was a little surprised, a lot scared, but also really excited. The last time I got to hang out with him, I’d initially felt odd about crashing his lunch, but I still felt like he wanted me there. So, when he texted me this morning, asking if I wanted to go bowling, I jumped at the chance of spending more time with him.
But then he told why we were going bowling and that everyone else would be there. That’s when the panic set in. I had already said yes, so I couldn’t back out. And, it’s not like I had a bad time the first time around. Still, I asked Emma to come with me, but she turned down my offer, saying she had a research paper to write.
We walk out of the dorm and towards his car, which is parked right on the curb. “It’ll be fine, Zo. It’s not like you haven’t met them before. Plus, Kaitlyn and Mia have been asking me about you nonstop since the day they met you,” he says, putting me at ease.
“They seem really close,” I comment as we reach the passenger side of his car.
Jesse lingers at my side. “Well, they’ll soon be sisters-in-law.”
My eyes widen. “Colton is going to propose?”
He’s gotta be, like, twenty-two!
“Not yet. But not because he doesn’t want to. He’s hinted at it, but Mia’s said something about getting a diploma in her hand before a ring on her finger,” he says, opening the door for me.
“Smart girl.” I’d opt for a diploma first too.
Jesse closes my door and goes around toward the driver side. Getting in and slamming the door after, he finally says, “We all think so.”
“They look like they really love each other. At the cafeteria, I noticed he looked at her like she was his whole world.”
“That’s because to him, she is—Mia, his siblings, and his dad. And well, us too. We’re all his family. But Mia, she’s the love of his life.”
“I can tell. He doesn’t seem like a guy who lets people in easily,” I say, buckling my seatbelt.
“You’re right on the money, Red. Colton is pretty closed off, but Mia managed to get in there, and pretty quickly at that. She also won over his sister, which is kind of impossible. They even live together now.” Jesse looks straight ahead as he turns the key in the ignition and puts the car in drive.
“Mia and Kaitlyn?” I ask.
“Yup. Some girl tried some shady shit last year, and Kaitlyn spoke out about it. That got her kicked out of her sorority. She needed a place to live, and Mia had an empty room.”
“Wow. Can they even kick someone out like that? I mean, aren’t there rules against it?” I didn’t have the chance to join a sorority when I first started school here. I mean, I didn’t want to join anything freshman year, and sophomore year was cut short, so I couldn’t. Hearing this though, I’m glad I never had the opportunity.
“I guess she didn’t really get kicked out,” Jesse clarifies. “The girl, Abbigail, was trying to make Kaitlyn’s life a living hell. And before things got worse, Kaitlyn just decided to leave. The new arrangement works well for Mia. It sucks for Colton though,” he says with a boyish grin that makes my heart do somersaults. We continue to talk about his friends as we drive over to the bowling alley. I appreciate him telling me about them because it calms my nerves.
“You hav
e interesting friends,” I tell him. They’re not at all like I expected jocks to be.
He looks at me, grinning, before returning his eyes to the road. “They’re okay.”
“So, what’s the story with Zack, Nick, and Chase?”
“Zack’s really hardworking, even though you probably can’t tell. He loves girls, flirting, drinking, and partying. Nick, very much like Zack, loves partying. He also really loves the sound of his own voice. Girls love him. He’s a bit of a cocky bastard, but not a bad person.”
“And Chase?”
“Chase is a mystery. None of us knows much about him—I mean, except for Colton, who’s been his best friend since high school. I went to high school with him too, but we weren’t close. Like at all. Chase was always the kid getting into trouble, and I wasn’t. I played soccer, he played football. Since I’ve known him, he’s always been reserved—dark and mysterious—which I hear girls love, but he doesn’t care.”
“He doesn’t care about the girls?” I ask, digging deeper.
“He likes girls. I’ve seen him with one here and there, but he’s not really trying,” he says with a chuckle.
“Huh. Effortlessly charming, then?”
“More like girls are attracted to the mysterious bad boy. Some people describe him as the darker version of Colton.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, I mean… I get why.”
“I see that too.”
“Where’s this sudden interest in the guys coming from anyway?” he asks, looking straight ahead. “Do you like one of them?” he questions, coming to a stop at a red light. His eyes find mine, genuine concern reflected in their blue depths.
Is he jealous?
The light turns green, and he focuses back on the road. I watch as his hands tighten on the steering wheel and he swallows a few times. The silence in the car is almost unbearable.
In a surprising gesture, he slowly reaches over and takes my hand in his. Carefully—curiously—he entwines his fingers with mine, and I immediately feel goose bumps spread over my body.
This is new.
We’ve never held hands like this before, and it feels like more confirmation that there’s more than innocent friendship here. I just wish he’d come out and say it.
“You’re not interested in any of them, not even a little?” he presses.
My breathing hitches in my throat, the feel of his fingers caressing mine just too distracting. “I’m not interested in them,” I whisper, staring at him, hoping he can read between the lines.
His fingers tighten. “Good,” he says. He slows the car and pulls into the parking lot of the bowling alley. After putting the car in park and shutting off the engine, we sit in silence, the air still tense. The words we want to say to each other are on the tips of our tongues, our hands still intertwined, but our courage lacking.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
We’re startled by the sound of Zack tapping on Jesse’s window. We let go of each other like we’ve just been caught doing something we shouldn’t have.
Zack opens the driver’s side door. “Could you come in already? You two can do this lovey shit later!” He cackles, ruffling Jesse’s hair like an annoying big brother.
“Dude, seriously?” Jesse asks, flustered, as he pushes Zack away. While they bicker back and forth, I open my door and slide out of the passenger seat, giving myself a second to catch my breath before joining the boys at the entrance of the bowling alley.
“Ready?” Jesse asks.
“Yeah, ready to lose?” Zack jumps in obnoxiously.
“I’m ready… to win, that is,” I say, opening the door and stepping inside.
JESSE
I walk into the bowling alley with Zack on my right and Zoe hiding somewhere on my left. Something shifted in our relationship, but before we could figure out what that change was, Zack had screwed it up. We head straight towards the lane where Nick, Chase, Kaitlyn, Mia, and Colton are gathered. Seeing them all in a group, laughing together, I can see why Zoe was nervous to come. Maybe it’s our sheer size, or the fact that we play football, and that alone—in this town at least—makes us visible.
Still, I want her to be here, to hang out with everyone—because she’s one of us now, whether she knows it or not.
“Ready to get your ass handed to you?” Nick asks, high-fiving Zack. I roll my eyes at their assholery. It’s like they’re the same person.
“I see you brought another loser with you.” Nick directs his statement at Zoe, whose hazel eyes light up in defiance.
“Dude, cut it out!” Mia shouts from her place next to Colton. Colton looks back and forth between Mia and an open-mouthed Nick and smiles.
“Nick talks a lot, but his game is lacking,” Kaitlyn jumps in, adding wood to the fire.
“All bark, no bite. I see!” Zoe mocks, and the sound of laughter echoes around the room.
And she’s in.
Just. Like. That.
“Where’s the birthday boy?” Zack asks, amidst the laughter.
“Birthday boy? The last time I checked, I was a man,”
I look over my shoulder to find Blake and Kiya, their hands twisted together just as mine and Zoe’s had been a few minutes ago.
“And the last time I checked, he was all man too,” Kiya says, and I see Blake stand a little taller. Once again, laughter erupts.
With pride in his eyes, Blake kisses Kiya on the cheeks and adds, “Damn right.”
“Man, you’re softening up,” Zack whines with a drink in his hand. When the heck did that happen?
“What do you mean?” Mia asks, running over to her best friend and giving her a hug that has Kiya gasping for air. If you see the way Mia clings to her, you’d think they haven’t seen each other in years instead of a couple of months.
“I mean, Blake and Kiya, you and Colton, and now Jesse and Zoe,” Zack says, pointing at each of us.
“Us?” I ask.
“You guys are dating? It’s about time, dude!” Blake says, bringing his hand in the air for a high-five I leave unanswered.
“I knew it! I can’t believe you didn’t tell us!” Kaitlyn squeals at a visibly uncomfortable Zoe. All eyes watch us as they wait for confirmation of our relationship status.
When I look at a reddening Zoe, I realize it’s my fault they’re confused. I’ve been spending a lot of time with her. I’ve brought her around twice. Why wouldn’t I, though? She’s my friend.
A friend whose hand I hold.
Whose smile causes me to smile in return.
Whose laughter is music to my ears.
Whose absence I feel, and whose presence I cherish.
Yep, a friend. That’s all she is.
“Quit making it awkward,” Mia states, attempting to save us from further scrutiny.
“Didn’t we come here to celebrate a birthday?” Kiya says, following Mia’s lead and moving the conversation along.
I steal a glance at Zoe, who looks nervous, and I wish I could make it better.
Shit.
I’m all over the place.
No wonder my friends are confused—I’m confused too.
23
Football Game
Zoe
I keep putting myself in less than ideal situations. I realize that now. Ever since that whole ‘are you guys dating’ misunderstanding at bowling last weekend, you’d think I’d have learned my lesson and stayed away… Nope. No such luck.
Instead, I’m walking towards the box office of the stadium, getting ready to watch my first college football game. I’m going to cheer on Jesse while I sit next to his friends.
I should stop hanging out with them altogether—I wanted to after I saw the look on Jesse’s face when his friends insinuated we were dating. Then again, he didn’t deny it either.
“Over here!” I hear someone yell the moment I reach the ticket window. I turn to find Mia and Kaitlyn standing close to security. Both of them are wearing team jerseys, and for a second I wish I’d bought one too. Ins
tead, I’m wearing a flowy blue shirt. They can’t say I don’t have school spirit, right?
I walk over to where they’re standing, relieved they spotted me so soon. “Hi.”
Mia greets me with a comforting hug, followed by Kaitlyn’s own embrace. “I’m so glad you found the right place,” Mia says.
I looked around at the sea of blue and white—the colors of Bragan University’s Lions. The air is buzzing, and the enthusiasm is palpable. “I am too,” I reply. I could’ve so easily gotten lost in this crowd.
“Plus, it’s about time you decided to spend some girl time with us,” Kaitlyn adds with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
“Should I be afraid?” I ask jokingly, but also not really. I can already tell she’s a handful.
“Be afraid. Be very afraid,” Mia says, her face serious before she starts laughing.
“Are you quoting movies now?” I ask, chuckling.
“Wow, everyone really knows that line! I said that to Colton the first time he came over,” she says with a smile that appears the moment she mentions her boyfriend’s name.
Kaitlyn makes a gagging noise. “Can we stop talking about my brother? It’s enough that I walk in to find you guys making out on the couch all the time. By the way, I think that couch needs to be burned!”
Mia’s face reddens. “Sorry! We get too lost in the moment sometimes.”
“I don’t know how much more of this sweetness I can deal with.”
“Hey!” Mia exclaims. “It is not that bad! Look, we’ll try and keep it in the bedroom,” she adds, still red from embarrassment.
“Please,” Kaitlyn pleads, and I laugh.
“So where do we go?” I ask as people with blue-and-white painted faces sing and chant.
“We have tickets being held for us at the box office,” Mia informs me.
“Tickets the players put aside for their girlfriends,” Kaitlyn adds, and I wonder if sisters of players can also get in, or if she’s dating someone on the team.
Fighting For You (Bragan University Series Book 2) Page 13
