Page 8 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

“Kade.”

“Sorry. Kade. I’d like you to complete this for homework and hand it to me tomorrow.” He gives me a thin stack of papers.

I raise both brows as I scan the top page. “A test?”

“An open-book test. I’d like you to catch up on what we’re learning in class. Please complete it and hand it in tomorrow before class.”

I stuff the pages into my backpack and walk out of the room.

The day passes uneventfully and then the final bell rings. The hallways are swimming with kids getting to where they need to go, be it practice, or clubs, or to their cars or buses. Ally normally finishes teaching an hour before school’s done, but she told me she’s staying behind today because there’s a teachers’ meeting. Considering I don’t have a car and have no means to get home other than the bus that I’d rather not take, I have to wait for her.

I roam around the school until I find myself heading toward the football field. A memory flashes in my mind, of me when I was ten and my dad throwing me a football. He wasn’t very athletic, but he loved watching football. He bought tickets to a Silverton Sharks game, but died before we had the chance to go. All I did was talk about the game for weeks, so excited for my dad and me to have a father/son day.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I inch closer to the field and spot the Edenbury High Lions practicing, with Brayden Barrington as the coach. Everyone knows Brayden Barrington. He’s a legend. Dad and I used to watch old videos of his games.

After heading to the bleachers, I drop down with my phone and am about to read an article, but I stop when I notice Zoey running onto the field, dressed in football gear and putting on a helmet.

Is she on the football team? I know Edenbury High had a female quarterback years ago. She was Brayden’s younger sister.

As I continue watching practice, I realize Zoey is the quarterback as well. Odd. She’s so tiny, I didn’t peg her for a jock.

Then again, I don’t know anything about her.

Chapter Three

Zoey

“Great arm, Zoey!” my uncle and Rylee’s dad, Coach Barrington, says. “Yes, that’s it!” he calls out to the team, clapping his hands. “Peterson, head in the game!”

Uncle Brayden is a former pro football player who was quarterback for Edenbury High, and then he went on to play for Astor University before joining the Silverton Sharks. He’s a tough coach, but fair. He’s also our PE teacher.

“Eyes on the ball and not the cheerleaders, Peterson!”

It’s a pretty good practice, but honestly? Chefield is in the bag, so we really don’t need to practice so hard. Uncle Brayden is all about hard work and dedication, though, so we can forget about possibly ending early.

As I run around the field, I feel someone watching me. I ignore it because kids are always sitting in the bleachers and watching the football players. Mostly girls because apparently guys look hot in a football jersey? I mean, ugh, they’re my teammates and I would never think about them that way. They’re like my brothers and we’re like one big happy family.

“Nice, Hastings!” Wide receiver Jason Monroe, Mason’s twin brother, claps my back. “You’re killing it out there.”

“Like I do every day?” I joke as I punch his arm. “You’re not so bad yourself, Monroe.”

He chuckles as he claps my back again and sprints away.

As we continue practice, I feel those eyes on me again. I glance at the cheerleaders, thinking it might be Rylee wanting to send me a quick wave or greeting, but she’s focusing hard on her routine. My gaze roves around the area and settles on the bleachers, where sure enough, lots of girls are sitting and ogling the football players. I’m about to put my attention back on practice when I notice someone else in the bleachers, practically hidden behind the girls. A tall guy with long light brown hair.

Kade.

He’s looking at his phone, but his eyes lift toward the team from time to time. Toward me. I can’t read his expression from all the way back here, so I don’t know if he’s impressed or finds it hilarious that I’m the quarterback. Not that it matters what he thinks, but I won’t welcome his negative energy if he thinks I’m a big joke.

So I ignore him and focus on practice.

After some time has passed, I notice Aunt Ally has perched herself next to Kade. She’s trying to have a conversation with him, but he looks like he wants to be alone. But I actually can see his expression this time, and I know that despite the frown on his face, his eyes tell me a different story. He’s thankful for whatever my aunt is saying to him. There’s…hope in his eyes, maybe?

Aunt Ally waves at me. With a big smile, I wave back. She barely ever watches me practice, just comes to games with the rest of the gang, so it’s awesome to have her here.

Kade’s gaze is back on me. He freezes for a second when he realizes I’ve caught him watching me. And for some reason, I don’t look away.

“Oof!” Someone crashes into me and we tumble to the turf.

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