Page 64 of How We Fooled

I didn’t tell Eli I’d be here. I knew before baseball games he wanted to, as he said, lock in, so we only spoke after the games, never before, so I felt I’d give him that same respect when it came to football.

It’s quite the spectacle, the way they’re entering the stadium, and when the first players come into view, my chest tightens at the sight of Eli leading the team.

The closer they get, the harder it is to breathe. He and one other guy are holding hands as the entire team walks in twos, all clasped at the hands.

He’s dressed in his full gear, helmet and all, but we’re still able to lock eyes. Seeing him like this excites the hell out of me and melts my heart, all at the same time. I’ve never been so proud to call someone mine, even if I can’t tell a single soul that he is.

I open the gate, and the girls enter first, then the drumline. Eli never takes his sight off of me, and I thank the Lord that he has a helmet on so no one can tell. He’s walking on the right side of the line, and my heart starts to beat faster because I know he’ll walk right by me.

I have my hands clasped low in front of me, trying to calm every aspect of my body down, but nearly fall over when he walks by, running his finger along mine so slyly that I know no one else notices since he has to basically squeeze through the fence I am holding.

That one touch, our first touch since he left my house the last time we were together, sends jolts of electricity through my entire body. If we aren’t soulmates, then I don’t know what or how he does that to me. I just pray it never goes away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Eli

No matter how much I don’t want to be here—again—I’m here, at Ben’s house, just like I was last night after our football game. Hanging out at Ben’s barn is just what we’ve always done. I’ve never minded it until now.

All I want to do is go hang out with Liza, and knowing I can’t is fucking torture. Being here is just a notch better than being alone, so here I am, putting the truck in park, right next to Ashley’s car, who just arrived as well.

Sundays are normally just for Dalton, Maya, Ben, and me, but Marcus, our team running back, has joined our crew lately as well. Seeing that he’s here with Ashley means he finally got off his scared ass and made a move.

Proud of my guy.

We all exit our vehicles, and I walk straight up to Marcus, holding my hand up to him. “What’s up?”

We slap hands, and then I nod my hello to Ashley as well, not asking about her being here. If I know anything about Ben or Dalton, they will absolutely give him shit when we enter, so I’ll let him think he’s being sly for a few more minutes.

We walk into the barn to see Ben and Maya cuddled up on one couch, watching a football game, while Dalton is lying on the other.

“Well, Ashley, good to see you,” Dalton says way louder than he should have, just like I expected. They didn’t make it two steps in the door without being called out.

She turns bright red, and Marcus closes his eyes with a chuckle as he slaps Dalton’s hand hello.

“Way to be subtle, bro.”

Ben and Dalton laugh.

“You know we have to give you shit. Your flirting ass was taking way too long,” Ben says.

“Yeah, well”—Marcus grabs her and brings her closer with a quick kiss—“she’ll be hanging out with us more often now.”

“Yay! More girls.” Maya slides her legs up under her from where she’s lying with Ben on the couch. “Take a seat.”

Ashley and Marcus sit on the end of the couch as I take my normal spot on the chair beside them, instantly taking out my phone to see if Liza texted me.

“And you, Eli? How’s that phone?” Dalton asks.

I sigh and put it away. “Sup.”

Ben and Dalton eye each other, putting me on edge. They know something’s up, which means I’ve made it pretty freaking obvious by being on my phone too much so I make a mental note to chill with it while I’m here.

After a while, Dalton grabs the guitar sitting in the corner of the room, which he does often when we’re all hanging out like this.

“Are you working on anything new?” Maya asks.

“Yeah, there’s a few that I’ve been playing around with, but one is really sticking with me right now that I heard on the way here, and I want to learn it.” He grabs his phone to play it for us. “Have you heard the song ‘Pretty Little Poison’ by Warren Zeiders?”

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