Page 73 of Fair Catch

“Mhmm,” he murmurs, the dubious look on his face letting me know he’s less than convinced. “You know scouts are gonna be here today. I’m gonna do my best to make you look good out there, but you gotta be in the zone.”

“I got it, Hold. I will be.”

His hands raise in surrender and he takes a step back. “Okay, okay. That’s all I needed to hear. I just think you’ve got one thing to take care of first.” His eyes shift over my shoulder again before he motions with his chin to the stands behind me.

Glancing over, I find Hayes has arrived, and he’s now standing at the edge of the stands a few rows in front of Phoenix. He’s wearing one of the biggest smiles on his face that never fails to make my stomach do all kinds of cartwheels, but that’s not the only thing causing my insides to get all bent out of shape.

It’s him…wearing my jersey.

The sight does something stupid to my chest, causing it to squeeze just a little bit tighter, as I run toward him. That’s before I see the heart-stopping grin on his face.

I glance at Holden, who is clearly trying not to smile, before heading over to where he’s waiting. The only thing separating me from Hayes is an eight-foot wall, and more than anything, I wish I could scale it and kiss him for luck—PDA be damned.

Instead, I settle for smiling back as I look up at him.

“Hey, I didn’t realize you were here already.”

He nods. “Just got here. It didn’t take me nearly as long to find my way now that I know where I’m going.” He’s still grinning down at me when he adds, “Plus, I wanted to be early to give you this.”

He produces a bottle of blue Gatorade from behind him and it makes my stomach drop.

It doesn’t take a genius to realize Phoenix must’ve told him about our old tradition the first time he came to our game. He’s left a few in the fridge the past couple weeks and I’ve always made sure to put one back after taking it, but when there wasn’t one waiting for me this morning, I must’ve thought it was a fluke.

Him handing me one now proves it wasn’t.

And it also proves he cares enough to pick up where Phoenix sort of…left off.

A mix of bittersweet emotions clogs my throat as I take the sports drink from him. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” He looks up to the field, jutting his chin toward where some of my teammates are already warming up. “And kick some ass down there today.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Another smile sends my heartrate into overdrive. “I know you will.”

I’m full of butterflies and stupid, silly emotions that have no business taking up my mental space—at least, not right now. But there’s something about Hayes that reduces my brain capacity to nothing.

“I’ve gotta get going before I get reamed a new asshole,” I tell him, my lips tugging up at the corner.

“No worries, I’ll see you at home.”

“Will you wait for me after the game outside the locker room?” I ask hesitantly, not wanting to push for too much. “Phoenix can help you get there. If you want to go.”

Hayes glances back over to where my best friend is watching us, the biggest grin on his face, before meeting my gaze again. “I think I can be convinced.”

That damn answer again. I swear, he gets off on being as elusive as he can. But if he wants to play hard to get, fine. Then I’ll just have to be convincing.

“I’ll make it worth your time once we get home,” I say as quietly as I can, but not bothering to hide the suggestive wink I give him.

There’s a devious sparkle in his eyes now, and he nods.

“I’m holding you to it.”

The game ends in a win for Leighton over our rivals at Blackmore University, and as expected, the entire team is on a high as we leave the field. After Coach gives us his typical post-game run-down—and the threat to behave ourselves if we go out to celebrate—plans and parties become the only chatter I hear spreading through the locker room.

I’m quick to shower off the sweat and grime, ready to get the hell out of here and back home with my guy, especially knowing he’s waiting for me just outside these four walls.

God, it’s still so weird to think those two words in reference to Hayes. Almost like it’s too good to be true, and that the other shoe is gonna drop, sending us right back to barely tolerating each other’s existence.

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