Page 73 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Phillip tossed the ball up in the air. “Probably begging him not to kill you.”

They finally made it to the center of the field, where David turned to Phillip and gestured to him with his chin. “Phil, you’re with Elliot. Craig, you’re with me.”

Fe let go of Craig’s arm finally, turned toward her brother, and frowned. “And where am I?”

David shrugged, then pointed to the closest sideline. “You’re not playing.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “The hell I’m not!”

Craig lifted his shoulders, his brow set with determination. “It’ll be uneven. Go sit down, Fe.”

She started to protest, but Elliot stepped toward her, grabbed her around the waist, and kissed her. He wasn’t sure what possessed him. All he knew was that it felt right. If she was his girlfriend, that’s exactly what he would have done. Exactly what he would do to shut her up. He’d do it every time they argued. Every time she worried. Every time he wanted.

Her body stiffened, but he began walking her backward toward the tree. “Play along,” he said against her mouth. Then he placed one hand at the nape of her neck and softened the kiss. His thumb ran across her jaw, easing her until she finally relaxed, settling her hand at his waist. “You’re an ass,” she said into his mouth.

He grinned in response, but kept on kissing. Soon they were at the base of the tree, where he stopped moving, and reluctantly pulled away. Damn, she was a good kisser. He searched her dazed eyes, and smiled.

“Why did you do that?”

“For good luck.”

She grinned softly, then looked to her brothers and narrowed her eyes. “Play nice!” she yelled to them.

Elliot turned around, winked at her over his shoulder, then ran out to the center of the field.

When he was a good distance away, Craig clasped Elliot on the shoulder and glanced around the group. “Phil, Elliot, you’re offense.” He then took a quarter from his pocket and threw it in the air. “Heads or tails?” he asked Elliot.

Elliot shook his head, unsure what they were flipping over, but replied anyway. “Heads.”

The coin dropped to the grass, where they all gathered around to see the results. “Tails,” Craig said. He looked from Elliot to Phillip and narrowed his eyes. “You’re skins. Take off your shirts.”

Elliot was pretty sure they would have been skins no matter how the coin dropped, but he’d play along anyway. He pulled off his shirt, walked toward Fe and tossed it in her lap. “Watch this for me?”

She grinned. “Sure, sweetie. Anything else?”

He narrowed his eyes and studied her a moment. “Nah.” He shook his head. “But if there is, you’ll be the first to know.”

When he got back to the fifty-yard line, they were all there waiting. Philip turned in Elliot and draped one arm over his shoulder. “I’ll hike the ball. You run. All you have to do is catch it, okay?”

Elliot nodded, then glanced over to Dave and Craig who were in much the same position.

“As soon as you have a good grip on the ball, take off running,” Phil continued. “That way.” He pointed toward one end of the field. “I’ll run that way.” He pointed to the sidelines. When you see me open, throw it. Any questions?”

Elliot shook his head, gripping the ball tighter.

Phil took the ball from his hand, positioned his ring and forefinger over the laces. “Thumb on bottom? Like this.”

Elliot cleared his throat. “Got it.” They broke huddle a moment later, then gathered at the fifty-yard line, where Craig and Dave were already waiting.

“You look different,” Craig stated, getting down into a three-point stance.

Elliot did the same, positioning himself behind Philip. “Your sister has that affect on me.”

“Hut one, hut two, hike!”

Craig narrowed his eyes. “I’ll give you to three Mississippi.”

Phillip snapped the ball, hitting Elliot square in the stomach, and all the air expelled from his throat. He started running. “What the hell is three Mississippi?” he yelled, but no one answered him. He ran toward the cones, as fast as physically possible— then out nowhere he could see Dave in his peripheral vision. He turned to the left, trying to evade a tackle, but there was Craig, right on the other side. Then BOOM! The next thing he knew, the ball slipped out of his arms, as he was tackled to the ground, Craig’s full body weight on top of him.

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