Page 73 of The Wrong Quarterback

The snap, and I took the ball, feeling the weight of it settle into my grip. I dropped back, scanning the field. Matty was already cutting across, weaving through Vanderbilt’s defensive line like it was easy. I launched the ball, a tight spiral, and watched as he snatched it out of the air, gaining us a good fifteen yards.

The crowd roared, but I barely heard it, already lining up for the next play. Hurry-up offense was my preference, and I grinned as Vanderbilt scrambled to get to the line. I did a quick handoff to Griffin, our running back, and he barreled forward, muscling through, dragging two defenders with him until he was finally brought down, but not before we’d clawed our way another ten yards closer to the end zone.

“Let’s keep it moving,” Coach yelled from the sidelines, his voice urgent as he motioned for us to line up fast. I called the next play, eyes scanning the defense, watching as they shifted, their safeties moving up, ready to blitz.

On the snap, I took off, running to the right with the ball tucked tight against my side. The defense shifted, leaving a gap just wide enough for me to exploit and allow me to sprint down the field. The crowd was going nuts, the sound shaking theground under my feet, but all I could think about was getting to the end zone. Getting to her.

I faked left, then darted right, slipping past one defender and narrowly dodging another. With every step, I closed in on that end zone, and I could feel the anticipation thrumming through my veins. There was just one guy left between me and the goal line, his eyes locked on me, ready to take me down.

Normally I’d run out of bounds, but today, with Casey’s eyes on me, I felt invincible. He dove forward, and I launched myself in the air, hurdling over him in one clean motion.

For a heartbeat, time froze, the world blurring around me as I sailed over his back. And then, with a thud, my feet hit the turf. The crowd erupted.

Touchdown!

I straightened, holding the ball high, my chest heaving. This—this was why I played this game.

My adrenaline was spiking as I glanced back at my teammates running to celebrate with me. But I wasn’t done. Not yet.

I jogged toward where Casey was sitting, my heart hammering with anticipation. The crowd was still going wild, the cheers echoing in my ears, but my focus was on one thing. One person.

Her.

Ripping my helmet off and throwing it on the ground, I hoisted myself up onto the railing, my eyes locked on hers. For a split second, I saw the surprise flicker across her face.

I didn’t give her time to think.

Without a word, I wrapped my hand in her hair, leaning in and kissing her, the noise of the crowd fading into the background as I tasted her, licking deep into her mouth like I’d licked her pussy just the other night. She whimpered against my lips, and my kiss turned rougher, more desperate. I made it last,even with the roar of the crowd around us. I wanted her to know exactly what this was. I wanted him to see this, somewhere in the stadium. I wanted him to watch this on the screen and know…

This girl was mine.

When I pulled back, I grinned, pressing the football into her hands. “This is for you, my lady,” I said, my voice low enough that only she could hear.

Her eyes were wide, her breath coming out in cute little gasps as she stared at me, still processing what had happened. I gave her one more kiss, and then I jumped down, becoming aware of just how loud the crowd had gotten, that the ref was blowing his whistle…and that Coach was literally losing his mother-fucking mind.

I smirked and waved at the crowd before grabbing my helmet and jogging over to the team. But I couldn’t help glancing back at her one last time.

She was still watching me, clutching the football like it was some kind of lifeline, her expression a mix of confusion, excitement, and something else. Something that told me I’d gotten a little bit closer to getting her.

The game wasn’t over, but in my mind, I’d already won.

“Knew you were still thinking about getting your dick sucked,” Jace mentioned as I made it back to the sidelines, elbowing me with a huge, goofy grin on his face.

“Go fix your hair,” I scoffed. But I was grinning back.

This was just another reason why Casey waseverything. She made everything better. Even the game I’d loved my whole life.

CASEY

“I can’t breathe,” Nat squealed, grabbing my arm and literally shaking me.

“You can’t breathe? He just did that in front of everyone…ESPN is at this game!” I gasped, feeling a little light-headed because I was still hyperventilating over what had happened.

I would think I was just dreaming if it weren’t for the fact that Nat was rattling my brain with her excitement. Pretty sure my dream wouldn’t be creative enough for that.

“You’re the luckiest daughter of a bitch I’ve ever met, Casey Larsen. And also, I’m pretty sure that I have telepathic skills…because who told you this was going to be your year? This girl,” she said, finally releasing me to point at herself with two thumbs.

“Did you just say ‘daughter of a bitch’?” I asked, trying to ignore the people around us that were now all staring and talking about me.

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