Page 41 of Fair Catch
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. Why?”
“You don’t think maybe you’re a little homesick, or feel off-kilter in a new place or anything?”
“I felt some of that during the summer, but now? I think I’ve just been so focused on football I haven’t had time to feel much else.”
Zeke stopped, and I did, too, facing him as he chewed his cheek.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing, it’s just… you’re a little tense in your reps. And you pop off at anyone who so much as looks at you wrong.”
“If I were a guy, you’d admire me for that.”
He chuckled. “I’m just saying… maybe focusing on football as much as you are is weighing on you. When we were in high school, you had your friends outside of football, and your family, and your room filled with all the things you love. You went to museums on the weekends, hung out with Gavin more… dated.”
My cheeks heated. “Not much.”
“You and Peter Garrett were pretty serious for a while.”
I rolled my eyes. “Peter Garrett took my virginity and taught me all the things I don’t want a guy to do to me in bed. That’s about the only purpose he served.”
Zeke’s eyebrows shot up at that, and my cheeks flamed more before I cleared my throat and waved him off.
“Anyway. I’m fine. The average amount of stress any college athlete has — that’s what I have.”
“Well, maybe you should think of ways to take the edge off. We put a lot on our bodies and our minds. It might help to…”
He paused, mouth still open like he was muted mid-sentence before he clamped it shut.
“To what?”
Zeke looked around before stepping closer, his voice low enough that I felt it rumble when he said, “Find a release.”
I frowned, shaking my head as I looked up at him. “Could you be any more va—”
The word was cut short when I saw the mischievous gleam in his eyes, the salacious curl of his mouth.
And at that, mine popped open.
I shoved him back. “Are you seriously telling me I need to… to…” I looked around, making sure we were alone before lowering my own voice to a whisper. “Have sex to get my game back?!”
Zeke shrugged on a laugh. “Not necessarily. Just… take the edge off. You know… with a friend or…” His eyes slipped to where my hand was curled into a fist at my side. “With yourself.”
My jaw dropped, and I shoved him again before stomping off toward the locker room with my neck a thousand degrees hotter than the cool fall weather rolling over campus.
“You’re a pig, Zeke Collins.”
He just laughed and let me go, and by the time he checked the footballs back in and made it to the locker room, I was on my way out and headed to the dorm.
But as I walked across campus, I couldn’t think about anything other than what he’d said.
And I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he was on to something.
Zeke
The night before our away game at New Hampshire University, Coach sent us to our dorms early and told us to get a good night’s rest. We’d be meeting at the stadium bright and early to load the buses, and he expected all of us to be on time.
So, of course, Ramirez, Sanders and I went out to the bar.
Leo was trying to hook up with one of the cheerleaders, and Clay wanted to have a beer, and I just wanted to unwind a little. We all knew we couldn’t be out too late, otherwise we’d be paying for it tomorrow — both on the field and off it if Coach caught on.
And as much as we liked to party, we loved football more.
So, we decided before heading out that we’d make it an early night. I was just happy to have a night of rest after another grueling week.
“So, you really think it’s serious, huh?” I asked Clay, taking a sip of my drink. Leo was already making out with Mindy in the corner, and Clay was in the middle of telling me how amazing his girlfriend was.
“Yeah, man. I really do. I could see us getting married.”
My brows shot up at that. “Whoa. That’s serious talk for a nineteen-year-old.”
He shrugged. “She’s the real deal. She’s the kind who sticks by your side through the ups and downs, you know. The one you take pro with you.”
I smiled, but couldn’t help the suspicion that washed over me. I’d met Clay’s girlfriend, and even though it was only once, and it was just a small get together after our first home game, I didn’t get that vibe from her.
Maybe it was the way she was watching every other football player at the party, or the way she subtly shifted away from Clay when he reached for her, but something told me she had other things on her mind than marriage.
