Page 18 of Scoring His Obsession

6

Micah

Nerves collide in my stomach like two high-level linemen duking it out for the Super Bowl. At the front of the room, our offensive coach talks strategy about Saturday’s game. Usually, I’m all in on these conversations, but today, I can’t keep the conversation I had with Raeann earlier out of my head.

For two weeks, I’d been checking up on her. Sending her random texts to keep in contact on a personal level, but then passively? Driving by her business on my way to the stadium to see if I could get a glimpse. Every practice, every team meeting. It was a crap shoot. Some days I got lucky. Some days I didn’t. She was so close, I could nearly hear her country twang saying my name like she said in the video.

“But I ‘ove him.”

“Who?”

“Micah Freeman.”

Even replaying it now, goose bumps sprout up and down my arms like she’s the best thing that could ever happen to me.It’s a feeling that shines straight out of the cosmic universe and straight into my bones.

Showing up at her store the other day only solidified it for me. I thought maybe I’d overhyped how pretty she was.

I didn’t.

I thought maybe I’d ballooned the light she throws out into the world.

I hadn’t.

I thought maybe I’d exaggerated how sexy I found her.

I fucking did not.

I jerked off in the restroom facilities before practice that day so I could get my head on straight.

I haven’t even had her yet, and I’m already addicted.

Coach wraps up the meeting, and I grab my granola bar from the small desk in front of me and head toward the locker room. The sweat from practice earlier has long since dried on my skin, and I’m desperate for a shower. I check my watch, making sure I have time, and I’m glad I decided to bring my tux to the arena, or I’d be late.

“A few of us are heading out to get some drinks, Freeman. Want to come?”

I peer over my shoulder and find the rookie, Cade Farmer, strolling behind me. He was a great draft pick. He and our QB have amazing chemistry since they played together in high school and are still good friends.

I usually don’t pass up an opportunity to hang with the guys—it’s great for team building—but I have something extra special planned for today. “Sorry, man. I’m headed to a charity event. Some other time though.”

“Ah, one of those black-tie deals?”

“You know it.”

He follows me into the locker room and sits a few spaces away at his cubby. “I hate wearing a suit. It makes me feel all uptight.”

“You’ll get used to it,” I tell him. If there’s one thing we have to do around here, it’s dress up. For a sport that’s rough and dirty, they make us clean up a lot. Social events, outside sponsorship deals, game fits, you name it. We have to look our best.

Tonight, though, I’m only dressing up for one person. Seeing Raeann at the store wasn’t enough. My attempts to subtly work my way into her life aren’t moving nearly as quickly as I want them to. When the charity fundraiser came up, I knew this could be the way I’d make my move. An internet search of this weekend’s events was all it took for me to deduce which one. The Pet Coalition’s Gala.

And Raeann, Athena, and Tab were announced as special guests.

As it turns out, The Pet Coalition had already contacted Joey asking if I would attend since the Wildcats donate annually. He’d told them no since I have a game tomorrow, but they were very happy to receive the call that I’d changed my mind. Fate is most definitely on my side.

In a couple of hours, I’ll be in the same room as Raeann again, and I intend to secure our first date by the end of the night. By any means necessary.

Anticipation makes the hour go by fast. My teammates who are still in the locker room when I change into my blue tux lined with dark blue velvet whistle and talk trash. One of our linemen grabs a towel and flaps it at me like he’s cooling me off.

I do a three-sixty for them. “I’ve got a date with destiny tonight, fellas.”

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