Page 7 of Calm Before the Score

I cut him off quickly. “Hartley. Please. I shouldn’t have been a brat and ruined your night. I’m working on it. When I tell you things, I don’t need you to bulldoze. I just need someone to listen.”

“You did come in like a little tornado, but you know I’ve got you no matter what.”

“I know.” I give him a tight squeeze.

“I’m not tired. Can we binge90 Day Fianceto get my mind off of everything?” I ask him with puppy dog eyes. I know he’ll groan but ultimately say yes. He loves the show but will never admit it.

“I’ll get the M&M’s and ice cream. Grab the fluffy blankets from my room!” he yells behind him as he dashes into the kitchen to whip up my go-to dessert. After three episodes, Hartley is snoring on the couch, so I turn the TV off and sneak into my bedroom.

I choose my comfiest pajamas: an oversized T-shirt and boy shorts. Not even mind-numbing reality TV can help me. I toss and turn the entire night, praying to get at least an hour of sleep, but thoughts of Ryan’s lips, his woodsy smell, and the way his head tipped into mine tonight kept my mind racing.

It’s 3 a.m., and I haven’t fallen asleep. My phone vibrates loudly on my worn wooden desk that I use as a nightstand. It’s one of the last pieces of furniture I kept from my grandpa. Each wooden grain holds a different story of us that I hold close to my heart. We spent so much time in his office, and he always let me draw next to him while he worked quietly at this desk. I drew him so many pictures. Most were horrendous, but he hung up every single one of them around the paint-chipped walls of that room. I snap out of the memory and roll over to see who’s texting me. It’s odd for me to get texts, especially in the middle of the night. My only friend is Hartley, and he’s passed out on the couch.

Liza: Hey girl!!! Let’s go grab dinner tomorrow in the dining hall. BTW Ryan came back to the party and demanded your number from me with that hot, brooding scowl. Weirdo. I gave it to him and also told him that you are way out of his league. LOLLLLL

Me: Hahahaha. Sounds good. 5ish? Please tell me you didn’t really tell him that.

Me: He left as soon as he realized what he did anyway. I’m embarrassed to even show my face around the team anymore.

Liza: EMBARRASSED?! You don’t know half of the things they have gotten into. You have nothing to worry about.

Me: Ugh. I do though. They were prob laughing at me.

Liza: OMG I FORGOT. One of the guys asked me about you!!! He said he’s never seen you before :)

Me: Why would he ask about me?!

Liza: bc you were looking like a snack tonight. Duuuuhhhhh.

Me: Snack?

Liza: The kind that all of the guys want to try

Me: LIZA

Liza: What?! You’ll see how it is!

Me: haha ok I’ll see you tomorrow, and you can fill me in.

Liza: YES MAM! Nighty night :)

I laugh softly because this girl has a way of pushing me out of my comfort zone. I hope I’m ready for it. I put my phone down and adjust my pillow for what feels like the hundredth time tonight. I can’t fall asleep unless my pillow is at max comfort. It’s a thing. My phone buzzes again, and I chuckle, knowing it’s Liza following up on party drama, probably a thread of emojis, but I am wrong, so wrong.

MaybeRyan: Violet, I got your number from Liza at the party. I thought it would be funny to give Locke a taste of his own medicine during that game. Didn’t mean for you to get stuck in the crossfire. Anyway, see you around.

Me: Who texts without saying their name?

MaybeRyan: It’s Ryan.

Me: I figured. Thanks.. I guess?

Ryan: See ya.

8

Ryan

Early morning practices are my comfort zone. They make me feel alive, and I don’t mind pushing my body to its limit. The pain of my muscles screaming is my drug of choice—the high that I chase every single day. That’s why I don’t drink much. I need to keep my focus on what’s important, and that’s football.

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