Page 78 of How to Score Off Field

Drew: How long exactly have you had the hots for me?

Tess: The HOTS for you?! Oh brother, you’re starting to sound like Drake.

Drew: I mean, we are identical.

Tess: Ha.

Tess: And. I don’t know. I had a tiny crush on you in middle school.

Tess: And high school. But it was harmless.

Drew: I’m sorry, I had no idea.

Tess: Why would you be sorry? You were busy, and you barely even looked at girls.

Drew: That’s true. I don’t think I went on an actual date until I came to college, and you see how well that’s working out for me.

Tess: I think people expect you to be a certain way, and you’re just not, so girls have these expectations, and if you don’t meet that, that is NOT your problem. It’s their problem.

Drew: What do you mean, expectations…?

Tess: You’re this big, good-looking dude who’s in the spotlight (for lack of a better term, right?), and they expect you to be cocky (like your brother) and self-assured, but in reality, you’re a bit shy and a bit reserved and not in everyone’s face, and you certainly don’t put the moves on everyone.

Tess: Like MY brother. Who even did he go home with the other night??

Drew: No idea. Some redhead…

Tess: Chelsea something or other, I think that’s her name, but she’s friends of the bride. There are so many bridesmaids I can’t keep them straight.

Drew: Ahh. That would explain why she didn’t look familiar…

Tess: You’ve been gone a while.

Drew: Yeah. Sometimes I wonder if that was a good idea or not

Tess: What do you mean?

Drew: Sometimes I think maybe I should have gone to a state school and played ball for fun—like D2 or D3—and just had fucking fun instead of a place where I feel all this pressure. I might have been able to sustain a relationship and done more normal shit…

Tess: You don’t think you do normal shit?

Drew: Eh, not really. I mean, yes—but being part of the Colter Duo doesn’t make us inconspicuous. Even people who don’t watch football and aren’t fans know who we are. I can’t even run into Walgreens without someone saying something or looking into my basket.

Tess: At your rash cream?

Drew: Exactly.

Tess: So sexy.

Drew: You think so?

Tess: Ha ha, yes. I think everything you do is sexy, Drew Colter…

CHAPTER30

TESS

THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM THE WRONG PHONE NUMBER…

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