Page 62 of Sack

But the time he spent with her, he also forgot about football. And that was something he couldn’t allow to happen once the season officially started. He needed to stay focused.

Colt glanced at the scoreboard. Two minutes left to play, and they were up by ten and still had possession of the ball. Even if the other team made a touchdown it was doubtful there’d be enough time left on the clock to score again. Looked like they had this one in the bag.

Now if they could just keep that up, then the Super Bowl would be in their grasp.

Ivy

Ivy looked down onto the football field. Today was a first for both her and Colt. His first official game of the season. Her first live football game, ever.

Workers, film crews, and cameras lined both sides of the field and Ivy counted seven officials in black and white striped shirts huddled in the center. The game would be starting soon, and she was excited to see Colt take the field.

“I cannot believe the sweet seats we got.”

Ivy looked at her brother, sitting next to her. Colt had arranged it. When he’d said he’d gotten her and Jason passes to the game, she assumed they’d be sitting in nose-bleed general seating. She never expected to be sitting on the fifty-yard line so close to the field she could practically touch it.

“Colt explained the basics of the game, but I’m still a little fuzzy on the details.”

“I’m here if you have any questions.” Jason reached into the bag of chips he held, popped one in his mouth, and crunched in her ear.

Ivy gave him a shove, pushing him out of her personal bubble. “Do you have to chew so loud?”

Jason’s eyes widened. “It’s a chip. They’re crunchy. So yeah, I do. Why are you so grumpy anyway? That time of the month?”

Ivy rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the field. She knew why she was on edge and it had nothing to do with her period and everything to do with the anvil-sized weight of anxiety filling her stomach. She was stressed over the outcome of the game.

This game—the first game—Colt said was important to win. Said it would set the mood for the whole season.

So, if it was important to Colt, it was important to her.

She was ignoring the fact that today’s grumpiness wasn’t a new development. She’d been growing increasingly short-tempered over the past few weeks. Ivy knew why that was, too. And it had everything to do with Colt. Or technically, thelackof Colt. Though they’d touched base every night, filling each other in on their days, she’d barely seen him. And when they did manage to get together, not a lot of talking was done during that time. If they kept up as they were, she wasn’t sure they would last until the end of the season.

The thought of never seeing Colt again made the anvil in her stomach seem like child’s play compared to the crater-size hole his absence would leave in her chest. She had no one to blame but herself. She knew going in that her time with Colt had an expiration date. She was mad at herself for growing so attached. She should have been smart and protected her heart better. Or smarter yet, walking away before she’d lost it in the first place.

And so, her bad mood was self-induced, wishing for a seemingly impossible future.

But none of that was Jason’s fault. Inhaling a deep breath, she sighed, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I guess I’m just on edge. Nervous about the game.”

He nudged her with his shoulder. The universal sign all was forgiven. “Try not to tie yourself in knots. It won’t change the outcome.”

Ivy nodded, but it was easier said than done.

Balling up his bag of chips, Jason stood. “I’m going to hit the can before the game starts. Do you need anything while I’m up?”

“No, I’m fine. Thanks though.”

He flashed her a smile then turned to make his way down the row of seats.

The stands were full. All Ivy could see was a blanket of black and silver, finger pointers waving high in the air, and posters declaring a variety of encouraging statements. The fans were hyped for the game to begin and all their cheers and shouts proved it.

“Ivy?”

She whipped her head around at the sound of her name. “Emerson?”

“Oh, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see a friendly face.”

“What are you doing here?” Emerson was the last person she expected to see there.

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

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