Page 61 of Second Down Darling

Charlotte tugs on my jersey. “Do you mind if I take some pics tonight?” she yells over the stereo system, which is blasting our classic rock warmupplaylist.

“’Course not. Do yourthing.”

She gives me one of those lingering smiles that makes me wonder if my mom is right. If Charlotte has had feelings for me since highschool.

I watch her walk away. She’s wearing some cutoffs that make her ass look amazing and her slender legslong.

“Just friends, huh?” Billy elbows me hard. “Best rethinkthat.”

“Why are you always pesteringme?”

He holds a hand over his heart. “You wound me, bro. I’mtryingto be a good person. Which means I’m not making a move on your girl like I wantto.”

I don’t even bother arguing that she’s not mygirl.

Because Charlotte feels like she’smine.

Fuck it. I’m done debatingthis.

I’m going after what I reallywant.

23

CHARLOTTE

With the bonfireflames licking into the night sky, I focus my lens on the cheerleaders in theforeground.

I ignore the sharp sting of the pebbles digging into my knees as I shoot Roxy getting tossed up into the air. She seems to defy gravity as she and her fellow cheerleaders twist and tumble in tandem. With her hair flying and skirt flaring, she spins as though she’s as light as the embers floating off thebonfire.

After Coach Santos introduces the team and warns everyone to be safe tonight, the music kicks back on, and my attention drifts to the football players off to the side. Jake’s eyes immediately meet mine, and I smile. He crooks a finger, calling me over, and my heart kicks into highgear.

“You getting some good pics?” he asks when I reachhim.

“You tell me.” I scroll through the shots on my camera as he peers over my shoulder. The wind shifts, and I catch his scent, the ocean breeze of his body wash and his sexycologne.

His lips meet my ear. “You’re so fucking talented, cupcake.” Shivers run up and down my arms. “Are youcold?”

He strips out of his letterman jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. I close my eyes, freaking out a little on the inside. Jake has no idea how many times I fantasized about a moment like this in high school. The letterman is probably a stupid tradition, but the football players always had their girlfriends wear their jackets, and my weak teenage heart wanted that sobadly.

He’s just being nice, Charlotte. Don’t make more of this like you alwaysdo.

“Thanks.” His scent surrounds me, and I wish I could bottle up this moment. The chilly breeze. The warmth of the fire. Jake’s jacket keeping mewarm.

He leans close again. “Can I ask afavor?”

“Ofcourse.”

“Some of my teammates and their girlfriends were hoping to take a group photo. Would you mind shootingthat?”

“Not atall.”

I slide my arms through his jacket as Jake steps away to talk to one of the guys. A minute later, several huge football players hoist their girlfriends onto theirshoulders.

“Aww, this is so cute.” I direct them to move closer, and then I have to step back and squat to get everyone in oneshot.

After I take a few, Jake tells the guys to hold up and then turns to me. “Can you ask Roxy to take a pic? Basically the same shot you just took, just with one morecouple?”

I tilt my head, confused, but he’s already called herover.

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