Page 1 of Big Tex

1

Rescue Mission

NOW

COLT

I feel sweat trickle down my neck.

“I’m sorry, man. I wouldn’t ask if there was anyone else I trusted who lives close to Layla,” my teammate and friend, Zachary Wilson, apologizes.

“No problem, brother. I understand,” I reply, like the stupid moron I am.

My heart beats a mile a minute, and I wipe my sweaty forehead with the back of my hand. It’s not the hot Texas weather that’s making me reach dehydrating levels of perspiration. It’s the prospect of having Layla Wilson, MY Layla, at my ranch, in my house, with me, for fucking days!

“Thanks, man. I really owe you. You don’t even know how relieved I am. We’ll come get Layla as soon as we return. Butright now she needs to rest, and be looked after, not hop on a plane to Cali to be alone at our folks’.”

Zach, his wife, Emma, and their parents are on a family vacation. His sister, Layla, who’s a grad student at the University of Texas at Austin, didn’t go with them. Apparently, she’s been studying and working nonstop, to the point of exhaustion.

“I still can’t believe she fainted, man.” Zach marks a pause, letting out a deep sigh. “That girl never takes a fucking break. First it was the internship, now it’s her fucking dissertation. It never fucking ends with her.”

I picture the deep frown on his face, the way he grabs the back of his neck and paces around when he’s worked up. All things I’ve seen him do hundreds of times since we started playing together for the Dallas Ranchers.

It’s almost funny hearing him complain about someone else being a workaholic. The guy’s a beast. I bet he’ll be back at conditioning as soon as he lands. And I’m thankful for that. It takes a QB like Zach Wilson for a team who hadn’t made it to the playoffs in years to win two consecutive Super Bowls and make it to the finals a third time after that.

Yeah, I love the guy like a brother. I respect and admire him as a teammate, and I owe him for being the best leader our team could dream of. I’d do anything for Zach. And looking after his sister for a few days is no sweat off my back, especially since I’m spending the off-season on my ranch, on the outskirts of Austin. The only issue is that Zach’s sister is Layla Wilson…

“Don’t worry about it, man. It’s no big deal. I’m on my way to get her. A few days away from the city. Nothing but fresh air and rest. We’ll get her back in shape in no time.”

Yeah, and while that’s happening, I will not perv over her fucking perfect shape. Fuck!

“Thank you, man. You’re a lifesaver. Just keep her away from her laptop, yeah? We’ll be there in five days.”

“Don’t worry, man. I got you.”

“Thanks, brother.” Before hanging up, Zach’s low baritone deepens by a full octave when he adds, “and Tex? She’s my sister.”

I stay silent for a few seconds before answering, “I know that, man.”

“Good. Try not to forget.”

Fucking hell.

* * *

I park my truck in front of the campus health center and pull a baseball cap low on my head, using the bent visor to try to at least partially hide my face. We’re in Texas where everyone eats, sleeps, and breathes football. And I’m the main wide receiver of the State’s star team. My face is on so many TV ads, billboards, and magazines, even people who are not into the sport recognize me. And I really don’t mind taking pictures with fans, signing autographs, or exchanging a few words, but right now, my priority is to get to Layla, assess her state, and get her to my place.Layla Wilson in my house… Fuck!

I walk into the building and make my way to the main desk. A woman in scrubs types away on a computer keyboard.

“Hi, excuse me. I’m here to pick up Miss Wilson.”

Without looking up from her monitor, she indicates a hallway with her thumb.

I ask, “she’s in there?”

“Yeah, room five. Just waiting for the doctor to discharge her.”

The woman finally raises her gaze, and her surprised expression would have made me smile if I wasn’t reduced to nothing but a giant ball of nerves.

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