Page 5 of #Beautiful

Sighing, I go back to the bathroom and brush them again for good measure before grabbing my book bag from next to my bedroom door. Sliding my keys into my pocket, I head back downstairs, feeling more in control than I have since yesterday, ready to really take on the first day of classes.

This year is going to be fine. And I will keep telling myself that if that’s what it takes for me to believe it and keep a positive outlook on this semester.

Chapter 4 - Declan

Tonight is the first football game of the school year. It’s not the first game of the season, though. That isn’t until two weeks from now. No college would put a season start on the second night of the next semester. U of W wanted to do something fun to get everyone hyped about this coming season, so they scheduled a scrimmage game with another team. Standing in the tunnel, the screams and cheers coming from the field, it sounds like we have a full house tonight.

Lena said she’ll be right in the front row behind the team— just like always.

That’s one of the amazing things about her. No matter what, she always keeps her promises, and that is something I know I need to do better on. Last year, I made so many promises to her about being there when she needed me, and then I never showed. In some of those instances, Bo and Sigma Nu got me so messed up on drugs and booze that I’d be the total opposite. So not only would I not show up, I’d be a complete asshole when she texted— and then didn’t remember any of it.

“Alright, men,” our coach yells, “let’s kick this year off right. Go out there, have fun, and show your school why they love you!”

The roar of cheers in the tunnel is deafening, but I join right in. With Bo and most of his cronies gone from the team, the guys have formed tighter bonds. We all agreed this year would be focused on the game, the brotherhood, and classes. The last thing we need is our star players, or any player, flunking off the team. Like Jackson lectured me to get it through my head, this isn’t high school anymore. If you screw up, no one is going to overlook it and excuse it as kids just making stupid mistakes.

We’re adults now, and we’re treated as such.

The music starts on the field, and the coach turns and jogs out. We follow— Jackson, Justus, and I leading the rest of the team. As soon as we’re clear of the tunnel and my eyes adjust to the stadium lights, I scan the crowd for my girlfriend. She’s standing right where she said she’d be, looking overly beautiful in leggings and one of the oversized, off-the-shoulder sweaters she knows I love.

I whistle to get Jackson’s attention, and the moment he looks at me, I hand him my helmet. His brows come together as I pick up speed and then cross the team and head right for the stands where Lena is. The crowd goes crazy shouting at me, and the commentators for the night point out what I’m doing, which means the local TV crews are probably following my movements. When I get to the stands, I jump and grab the railing to hoist myself up.

As I stand, Lena steps closer, and I reach out with one hand, grabbing the side of her neck and pulling her to me, not stopping until I’m leaning down and pressing my lips to hers. When I finally pull back, she’s smiling and shaking her head.

“I love you,” I shout over the noise of the crowd.

Lena pushes up on her toes and kisses me again. “I love you, too. Now, go kick some butt.”

I laugh loudly and turn, dropping back to the field and heading over to the team. Jackson gives me back my helmet as he shakes his head and laughs at me. It’s going to be a great year.

* * *

That is a win to start the season!

Though getting sacked twice kind of hurt my ego, but not as bad as my head bouncing off the ground. As the guys and I leave the locker room for the parking lot, I put my hand to my temple.

“D, man, you good?” I turn my head and lower my hand as Tyler comes up next to me.

“Yeah, bro,” I say as Jackson and Justus join us, “just got my damn bell rung tonight.”

Tyler lightly claps me on the back. “Well, take tonight easy. Lena looks gorgeous, but you need to put some weight back on her, man. All y’all too damn skinny,” he says playfully as we hit the parking lot, and everyone fans out to find their cars or respective friends waiting for them.

Looking across the lot, my eyes find my girlfriend with Tyler’s words still ringing in my ears. Lena hasn’t lost that much weight, has she? Given everything, we haven’t been overly intimate this summer, but I still would’ve noticed substantial weight loss, right? I did when she got too stressed out senior year, and we got her through it.

As we get closer, though, I let my gaze roam over her. The area not covered by her sweater makes my stomach drop a little. Lena’s collarbone sticks out way more than it used to, and the hollow at the base of her throat is way more prominent. Walking right up to her, I grab her hips and lean down to kiss her. She sighs and puts her arms around my neck, which gives me the perfect opportunity to let my hands roam up her sides.

The fact I can almost tag every rib as I go bothers me more than I can say. But I know my girlfriend. If I say something, she’s going to tell me whatever she has to so that I don’t worry. And more than likely, this is just her not eating enough because she’s stressed, which is a terrible habit of hers, but it’s not intentional. Lena is just one of those people who doesn’t eat if she isn’t hungry. But she forgets that when she’s stressed and has less appetite, she needs to force herself to still make her calorie intake. Especially when the start of the soccer season is just around the corner, too.

“What was that for?” she says softly as she pulls back.

I keep my hands on her waist and her body close to mine. “No reason. Listen, how about we grab dinner from that little pizza shop you like, go back to the house, and binge Netflix until we pass out?”

Lena gives me the brightest smile I think I’ve seen in months. “Want to share those stuffed breadsticks?”

Leaning down, I kiss her again before standing next to her and putting my arms around her shoulder. “We can share whatever you want, babe.”

She doesn’t need to know that I’m pushing her to eat. Hell, it’s easier when I do it this way because Lena never says no to me when I say I want to take her out or get us something. She learned that lesson when we met. If I want to spoil her, I will, and it’s easier for us both if she just lets me.

While she’s stressed, I will just have to change tactics to spoiling her with food.

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