Page 40 of Fair Catch

Because, despite my immediate judgments of him, Hayes Lancaster is actually a good dude.

“Thank you for this,” I tell him, my tone instantly sobered in gratitude. “Seriously. You didn’t have to.”

I get another shrug. “Don’t mention it. All things considered, it was kinda fun.” He smirks before adding, “Even if thatonewin you managed to take means I now have to attend a Leighton football game.”

“A deal is a deal. Your ticket will be left at will call for the game this weekend,” I muse, smirking at the thought of Hayes up in the stands without a clue to what’s happening down on the field. “And that’s what you get for underestimating your opponent.”

He rolls his eyes, unamused. “Well, I expect the same show on Saturday, or I’m leaving a terrible review with the school paper. Maybe even pay them to slap it on the front page.” Holding his hands up between us, he makes a show of reading the fiction article. “‘Leighton’s Star Tight End Fizzles Out.’”

I snort. “No pressure or anything, right?”

“It’s my one and only football experience. All I’m saying is you better make it worthwhile.” There’s another damn shrug before his arms cross over his chest. “If anything, in return for taking me to the world’s worst first college party.”

Mention of the party has my smile faltering slightly. The dryness of his humor has gotten a lot easier to read as of late, so I know he didn’t mean anything malicious by the comment. But regardless, I find myself leaning away from him against the booth’s backrest while a bit of guilt laps at me like waves on the shore.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel like you had to come with me tonight.” The words come out low, a bit like they’re being dragged over gravel. “But I really hope you know I had a good time regardless. So again, thank you.”

He arches a brow across from me and leans forward, crossing his arms on the table in front of him. “Tell me, Kase. Do I seem like the kind of person who can just be guilted into doing something I don’t wanna do?”

“No, not at all.” The answer comes out immediately. If I know anything about Hayes Lancaster, it’s that he’s stubborn as a mule and doesn’t give on much. But I’ve also started to realize, on the rare occurrences that he does, it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

This is one of those instances.

“Then what makes you think you had any control over my choices tonight?”

“It’s not that so much as knowing you only did it for me, and I…” I trail off, not knowing how to put what I’m thinking into words. Not just because I feel stupid saying it, but because Hayes makes me nervous as hell.

We’re still on rocky terms at best, and half the time, I don’t know if I’ll get someone who takes me seriously or the slightly dickish side who loves to be a smartass. From the look on his face, the slightest amount of concern creasing his forehead, I’m hoping it’s the former.

“Spit it out, Kase,” he says slowly, eyes locked with mine.

Gnawing at my inner cheek, I finally sigh and manage to vomit out the thoughts plaguing me. “I don’t want to just replace him with you. Phoenix, I mean. I don’t want to use you as a crutch or whatever the same way I did with him, and with you helping me tonight, it kinda feels like I was.”

Hayes leans back, mirroring my position across from me. “First of all, I wouldn’t let you if you tried. Like I said, I don’t do things I don’t wanna do, so if I didn’t want to go with you tonight, I would’ve stayed home. No amount of begging, pleading, or guilt-tripping on your end would’ve changed my mind.”

“Then what made you say yes?”

He glances away for the briefest second. It’s only when his eyes return to mine, bluer than the ocean, that he admits, “Because, despite our rocky start, you’re kinda growing on me.” Frowning, he adds, “Like a fungus or something.”

I can’t help the sardonic laugh that slips from me. “Thanks, I think?”

Hayes raises his beer toward me in acknowledgment. “It’s the closest thing you’re gonna get to a compliment, so you might as well take it as one.” He takes a drink from the bottle, and I do my best not to watch the way his throat works to swallow.

Unfortunately, my eyes are glued to it.

Looking away, I clear my throat and attempt to get my head on straight. After the guy caught me checking him out half-naked earlier, the last thing I need is for him to discover me staring again.

“Truthfully, you don’t give yourself enough credit,” Hayes murmurs, pulling my attention back to him.

On some level, I know he’s right.

If this had been last year—before I’ve put so much work in with my therapist to break out of the toxic cycle Phoenix and I found ourselves in—I wouldn’t have offered Hayes an out. And yeah, I probably would’ve begged him to come with me.

I’m not perfect by any means, and I still have a lot of growing left to do, but I think it took this experience with Hayes to realize just how far I’ve come.

“That really was a compliment,” I tell him, a little smirk forming on my lips. “I hope you know that.”

“Yeah, well…” He trails off, simply shrugging before taking another drink of his beer.

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