Page 1 of Always Mine

SYNOPSIS

Paxton-

I had it all. An amazing boyfriend, a full-ride scholarship, and so close to achieving my NFL dream. The future was headed my way, like a perfect spiral, straight down the field.

Until I fumbled the ball.

Everything I cared about was ripped away, and now my life has turned into something I no longer recognize. When I’m forced to move back home, I find myself face-to-face with the reminder of my own self-destruction.

Wyatt Clayton.

He wants nothing to do with me and I don’t blame him. I irrevocably broke us, and he made it clear there's nothing I can do to change the past. But I've lost too much to add him to the pile, and I’ll do anything it takes to get him back.

I need him. He’s my rock, my true dream, my everything.

My Wyatt.

Wyatt-

I thought I was done feeling pain like this.

When Paxton left--turning his back on me and everything we'd shared--I shattered. It took years to put the jagged edges of myself back together, but I managed to create something whole, if not imperfect.

Then he came back, and the shaky foundation I was standing on crumbled.

Now I’m adrift, drowning in the memories, while choking on his presence. He says he wants me back in his life--but my heart won't survive another break.

I have to resist him, and my long-buried emotions, but it's starting to feel impossible. How can I stay strong when he’s the same boy I fell in love with.

My Paxton.

PLAYLIST

Spotify Playlist:

Always Mine - playlist by T. Ashleigh | Spotify

PROLOGUE

Paxton

The concrete tunnel is filled with a nervous buzz as we wait for our cue to get on the field.

The restless tapping of shuffling cleats, loud cheers, and clapping hands ricochet off the walls in a mix of energy and excitement. We’re all eager to not only do the best we can but make our families and fans proud by winning.

I give my hands a little shake, trying to calm myself. It doesn’t matter how many times I do this, I’ll never get over the edgy feelings it brings. Luckily, it all fades away once I’m on the field.

My heart pounds double-time inside my chest at the thought of what’s to come and sweat already pools at the small of my back under my jersey. I don’t know if it’s from the nerves or the California heat. Probably both.

Jennings, the defensive captain, gives my shoulder pad a slap before moving on to the next player. It’s his thing. His superstition. His last ritual. I’ll be doing mine in just a second too.

I’m jostled by my teammates as they bump into me, ready to get out there and do what we all love.

Football.

Most of us have the same story, starting off playing Pee Wee and youth divisions when we were kids before moving on to high school ball. Now, here we are, some of us getting to the end of our ropes with college, while the others—myself included—are preparing and hoping to sign with the NFL draft.

It’s the dream, or at least, it’s been mine for as long as I can remember.

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