Page 19 of Fumbling in the Dark

Before I can let my brain go down the spiral of Janae, Coach is explaining our next drill. I line up on the line of scrimmage next to one of our offensive line men, Blake Scott, and get ready to run my route. I’ve been working on them for weeks now to prepare for the game. Since I’ve been in the clouds the last few days, it’s time to show them that I know my stuff.

“Ready. Hut. Hut. Hike,” the center calls and then the ball is snapped.

I slide past one of the defensive men and make it out to the sideline. Thankfully, the quarterback sees me and throws the ball. It comes right into my hands and I’m able to catch it. Doing as planned, I move and start to run toward the end zone, but Coach blows the whistle before I get too far.

The coach claps his hands looking at me and yells, “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Next is to put it in the game.”

For the next hour, we continue running different routes. I’ve been studying since I got here to show them that I know the plays. By the time we’re done, I’m exhausted. Making my way to the locker room, Kade and Blake jog up next to me, sandwiching me in between them.

“What’s been going on with you, Mitchell?” Blake asks me.

When I go to open my mouth, Kade beats me to it. “He’s pouting about a girl I set him up with.”

I try to respond but Blake jumps in first. “Oh, the girl from the article? She’s hot.”

My body tenses at the way he says “hot.” I’m about to tell him to go shove it when Kade keeps going, “Yep. He didn’t tell her he was a football player.”

Blake stops with those words, forcing us all to stop while he stares me down. “Why didn’t you tell her you’re a football player?”

This time Kade doesn’t interrupt. I guess it’s my turn to talk now. “I didn’t say Iwasn’ta football player, I just didn’t confirm it either.”

“Why?” Blake asks again.

This time Kade doesn’t let me answer. “Because he’s stupid.”

Turning toward him, I narrow my eyes as I protest, “Hey.”

But Kade doesn’t back down, he crosses is arms over his chest and gives me a look that says “don’t even try to deny it.”

My shoulders slouch and I concede, “Okay, yes. It was stupid. But I’ve had people use me before, all because I’m a football player. When she didn’t seem to know who I was, I saw it as an opportunity for her to get to knowme.”

Blake slaps his hand down on my shoulder. “That’s commendable but you should’ve known that she would find out.”

“I know. I just hoped it wouldn’t be so quick. Now she’s blocked me, but I’m going to figure out how to get her to go out with me again.”

Kade shoots his hands up in the air and shouts, “I know. I know.”

“You look like an idiot,” Blake tells him while grabbing his arms to pull them down.

“What do you know?” I ask him.

“You need a grand gesture,” he says like it’s an obvious answer, and that’s because it is.

“I know that. Butwhatgrand gesture?” I ask.

“Let’s go get some food after practice. I’ll text Sam. I have an idea, but we’ll need her help,” he says, and that’s exactly what we do.

I went to dinner with Kade and Blake. Sam met us there. Kade’s idea was a great one except that it meant I wouldn’t be able to talk to Janae for two weeks, the day of our first game.Doesn’t he realize how awful that is?I’m not sure I can do it. Which is why I’m now standing in front of her house, or at least I think it’s her house. This is the address she sent me before everything erupted. I was supposed to pick her up for what would be our second date two days ago.

Now I’m just going to actually do this. Maybe she’ll just let me explain and it won’t matter. But I don’t have any more time to contemplate because suddenly the front door opens and a raging Janae comes out. “What are you doing here, Shane?”

Every word that I wanted to say gets stuck in my throat as I take her in. Fuck, she’s even more gorgeous than the last time I saw her. She’s standing there in running shorts, a t-shirt, no makeup and her curls are wrapped up. I could stare at her forever.

She pulls me out of my trance when she snaps, “Are you not going to say anything?”

I take a few steps to eat up the distance between us, towering over her. “Janae. I’m sorry. I—”

But she cuts me off before I can keep going. “You’re sorry? Do you know how foolish I looked? And youliedto me. Why did you lie?”

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