Page 108 of Cruel Steps

Oh. Right. I’d nearly forgotten.

“Keep your focus on the game. If Langston finds out, he’ll use it against us.”

“Shit. You’re right. Okay. Blinders. I got it.”

The team stood and headed back out to the field. The Wolfettes were finishing up on the field, and we caught the last of their routine. Someone had put Emerson in the back, but she still out-danced every single one of them. The Crushers were already out on the field, and a few of their teammates were mimicking the dance moves and laughing.

The crowd cheered for the Wolfettes as they ran off the field, and we took their place. I tossed the ball back and forth with the trainer to warm up. When it was the start of the second half, I kept my gaze off the sidelines and focused on the game I loved.

The third quarter was about the same, with no one scoring, but Langston managed to get a throw to his wide receiver in the fourth, and they took the lead. Pressure pounded in my head, and my muscles became tighter.

I wouldn’t lose this game.

“Blue, 88. Blue, 88,” I shouted. Daniels tossed the ball, and I pulled my arm back to toss it to Wilder, but he was covered. I felt a tingle and turned to look where Colter was. He cut through their defense, and I redirected my throw to him. My hand left the ball just as a defender slammed into me.

I hit the ground hard, but all I could focus on was whether or not Colter caught the football. The roar of the crowd set my heart at ease, and I pulled myself up. Colter had made it to the ten-yard line.

This was it.

If we could score on this drive, they wouldn’t have enough time to get down the field. The O-line hustled down and huddled around me.

“Trips Left, Slippy 951, Fade,” I said. We broke apart and got in line. I hated that Colter was out, but after that run, he’d need a rest. I zeroed in on the defensive line, watching them as they shifted. I’d watched a lot of films this week, and as they moved, I knew what they were going to do. In a split second, I changed the play and called an audible.

“Red 22, Red, hut!”

The ball was snapped quickly, and I took advantage of the Crusher’s distraction. It was a thing of beauty when a play came together. My line blocked and opened up the perfect hole, and I jogged right into the endzone. Quarterback sneak.

The team jumped on me as we headed off the field, and my eyes locked with hers. I hadn’t meant to, but something about this moment drew me to her, and I was unable to stop.

Completely and utterly enraptured.

I couldn’t look away. Not when we scored the PAT or when the quarter ended and we won the game. My eyes held hers, and I never felt more at peace in my entire life. I never craved attention from a girl like this. But it was obvious Emerson Adams wasn’t just any girl, and I’d be willing to do anything for her.

Even give up football.

And that fucking terrified me. I didn’t know who I was without the game.

Would she even like me if I wasn’t the star QB?

But most importantly, was it worth the risk?

I didn’t know. I didn’t fucking know.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

EMERSON

The next three weeks flew by with papers, practice, and a weird popularity on campus. I wasn’t quite sure how to handle it yet. Years of waiting for the shoe to drop had me constantly looking around the corner for the boogeyman to jump out and scare me. Which maybe wasn’t all that unrealistic since I had a stalker… not that he’d made his presence known since that first home game.

The night air buzzed with excitement and celebration as the Hayward Wolves clinched another win, bringing their record to 5-0. It was the team’s best start to a season in years, and everyone at Hayward was feeling it. The last two games had been away, so I’d worked those Saturdays at Ember since the Wolfettes didn’t travel with the team.

I told myself it was to make more money, but really, it was so I didn’t obsess over the game. I hadn’t ever cared about football prior to this year. And while I didn’t necessarily care about the sport all that much, watching Holden and Colter play was sublime.

All the possessive, demanding, and obsessive tendencies Holden had in real life transformed him on the field. There was no doubt he commanded the field. There wasn’t a player on it who wasn’t drawn to him. And the way he and Colter communicated was breathtaking.

And if they worked that well together in the bedroom… Fan self. I wasn’t sure my pussy would survive.

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