Page 2 of Holding On

Despite it being a done deal, my dad did everything he could think of to change my mind. Bought me a shiny new red Ferrari. An apartment in Malibu. Even set me up with one of the high end prostitutes he hires for his clients when they need to de-stress.

That's how he treated me. Like a client, trying to win me over with gifts and money and girls. But it didn't work. I was determined to get far away from him.

Now, three years later, he's accepted my decision but only because I've excelled on the football field and because Laytham is a top football school among small colleges. The past three years, I've led the team to more wins than the school has ever had, boosting our rankings and getting me noticed by League scouts. That last part is all my dad cares about. Getting me in the pros. It's been his dream since I was a kid and now it's going to be a reality. Next spring I'll get drafted and my career as a professional athlete will begin.

Jason glances at his phone. He swerves in the other lane, then quickly rights the car back to the proper lane.

"Maybe you should keep your eyes on the road," I say.

"Baby, you okay?" Lyndsay rubs Jason's neck. "Maybe you shouldn't be driving."

"Why is everyone getting on my case? I had two beers. That's nothing. I feel fine."

Kasey scoots back on my lap and lowers her head like she's about to go down on me. I pull her face back to mine. "Not here."

"I'll get on the floor," she whispers. "He won't even see."

"Believe me, he'll know."

I look at her, so willing and eager to please me. I just met this girl. I know nothing about her, and yet she still wants to be with me. Just like every other girl on campus.

Her green eyes are taking me in like I'm a prize she's won for the night.

Ethan Baxter. Star quarterback. Soon-to-be professional athlete. Future millionaire.

Just as Kasey leans in for a kiss, I turn my head and yell up to Jason. "Are the guys there yet?"

"Brent and Jackson got there an hour ago. Sounded wasted when I called them." He chuckles. "Brent couldn't even remember the name of the girl he was with."

Brent is a tight end and a year older than me. He graduates next week. He's headed for a career in pharmaceutical sales, which he's not happy about but it's the only job he could find. He starts in a couple weeks and has promised to party nonstop up until then.

Jackson is a running back. We both just finished our junior year. He's a psychology major, like me. We picked psychology because we thought it'd be easy. A throwaway degree, since we both figured we'd end up with a career in the pros. But so far, it's not looking good for Jackson. He didn't play well his first couple years and spent most of last year on the bench.

The cabin we're going to belongs to Jackson's parents. They live a couple hours away and use the cabin during the summers. During the school year, we use it as a place to party. It's nothing great but it's big, with four bedrooms and a large open living room.

"Babe, can you find my phone?" Jason says to Lyndsay. "I dropped it between the seat."

She reaches over and starts searching the area between his seat and the middle console. "I don't feel it."

"I think it fell closer to the front." He looks down and I feel the car swerve.

"Jason, watch it," I tell him as a car approaches.

He looks up. "Yeah, I got it."

It's dark and we're on a two-lane road and he keeps swerving in the other lane, crossing the center line. Now I'm convinced he's had too much to drink, but the rest of us have had even more so it's not like we can take his place at the wheel.

Maybe I should say something. Ask him to pull over. Except I know he won't do it. He'll insist he's okay to drive.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Kasey asks.

I glance back at her and see her frowning, her lips coated in bright pink lipstick that I'm surprised hasn't rubbed off from all the kissing we've done.

"Nothing's wrong," I tell her.

But it is. Something doesn't feel right.

Kasey kisses me but I break from her lips and look around her to the front seat. "Jason, maybe you should pull over."

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