Page 26 of Blood Sport

The roar of the crowd from inside the stadium makes my eardrums ring, and I can’t help but smile. I’ll never get used to hearing the loud cheers and excited claps from the fans in the seats, waiting impatiently for the game to start. The feeling of seeing thousands of our black and red jerseys scattered around the stadium provides a rush of adrenaline that I crave, always wanting—needing—more of.

“Damn, they’re fucking loud tonight,” Ethan says from beside me as he slides his socks over his shin guards. “It’s probably our biggest home game to date.”

I nod, slipping my foot into my cleats, making sure to readjust my socks over my shin guards. “They’re mental, and I love it.”

“The Dolphins haven’t lost a game all season, so we have our work cut out for us,” Preston says from behind us, slipping his jersey over his head.

“Good thing we have a great captain that’ll hopefully get us the win tonight.” Ethan winks, nudging my shoulder. He was perkier than usual after our afternoon feed when we got back to my apartment after practice. We needed it to keep our energy up for the game.

I roll my eyes and lean my elbows on my knees for support. “You know I’ll do my best. I always do.”

In my freshman year of college, Miles and I decided to try out for the Raiders after doing so well for our high school team. Miles had gotten a sports scholarship that helped get him into the engineering degree we both wanted to do, but I didn’t have the grades in school to quite make the cut, so I had to try out just like everyone else, while Miles was more than likely guaranteed a spot on the team.

Being who I am, I had to pull back on my abilities to make me appear just like everyone else. I couldn’t allow myself to show my full strength and potential for fear of people growing suspicious. It’s been that way my whole life. Over time, I’ve settled into a rhythm whenever I play soccer, knowing how much power to use and when. The last thing I need is for someone to realize that I’m not like others. I’m different.

“That’s why you’re the captain and not any of us.” Preston laughs as he walks around to stand in front of us. After a moment, his eyes scan the locker room where the rest of the team is getting ready for the game. “Where is Miles?”

I pause, sitting up straight to glance around the room in search of my best friend. When I don’t spot him, I shrug. “Who knows? I know he went to see the girl he’s hooking up with after practice.”

“What was her name again?” Ethan rubs his chin as if hoping that’ll make him remember her name. “Oh, right. Cindy. But why would he go see her right before the game?”

“That’s his business,” I say, getting to my feet.

“He better not be fucking her so good that he misses the start of the game. We need him.”

I understand Preston’s concerns, but I know Miles and I know he’ll wrap up whatever he’s doing to be here on time. He knows how important this home game is to the club; it’s not something he would miss on purpose.

“There is nothing to worry about. We just have to—”

A loud bang from the door swinging open and colliding with the wall behind it sounds through the room. Miles rushes in, all eyes on him, with his black gym bag slung over his shoulder. His green eyes are wild, and his hair is disheveled as he makes his way to his locker, unable to make eye contact with anyone as he passes.

Preston walks over to him and claps him on the back, about to open his mouth to say something when Miles jumps at the touch, whirling around to face him. His chest is heaving as he fights to catch his breath. I can hear the stutter in the rhythm of his heartbeat and feel the nervousness radiating from him.

I frown at his reaction. What the fuck is going on?

Preston takes a step back. “Jeez, man, chill out. Is everything okay?”

Miles inhales a long breath and nods, his shoulders slumping forward. “Y-Yeah, I’m all good.”

“Where were you?” I ask, curious to know what could’ve set him on edge to be jumping like a scared cat. If he just came back from seeing his girl, he shouldn’t be this on edge. Unless he’s just nervous about the game tonight.

Miles spins around to open his locker, retrieving his jersey. “I was with Cindy. You know how it is.”

I nod, though I don’t believe him. His reaction doesn’t make sense. But I’m not one to judge, especially not about what he does in his spare time. He’s here now, so that’s all that matters.

“How was she?” Preston asks with a wink.

I roll my eyes. “Enough about who Miles was fucking. We have a game to prepare for so get ready and be at the tunnel in five.”

The team scrambles around the locker room, making sure their gear is on, shin guards ready, and fucking game faces on. The Raiders are a great team—we have only lost one game this season—but the Dolphins are just as good, so we need to make sure we’re prepared for a tough ninety minutes.

With the team in formation in the tunnel, standing alongside the Dolphins, we walk out onto the pitch. My ears are ringing from the loud cheers, although my heightened senses make it seem louder inside my head. I do my best to block out the noise, glancing around the stadium as I take in all the occupied seats.

As we stand in a line, the team side by side ready to sing the national anthem, I glance up to see doe eyes looking back at me, and a warm smile touching her lips. My body ignites at the sight of her, in desperate need to be cooled down despite my already cold skin. This isn’t a new sensation to me—I’ve always reacted this way around her, especially as she got older and I started to really take notice of her—but ever since she learned my secret, it’s like a flip has been switched within me, out of my control.

And now, I just can’t get enough of her, which is driving me insane.

Evie smiles in my direction before waving at Miles, who waves back from beside me as the national anthem starts. It amazes me that even though she has to deal with that fucker Roman harassing her by threatening her with nude photos, she still manages to smile and be her usual self. It makes me want to rip Roman’s head off even more for hurting her the way he is.

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