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Except Meghan…
Coach Foster noticed it before I did.
He watched me hang on her every move.
“You and Meghan, you’re close. I can tell you’re the type of boy who would do anything to make her smile. As her dad, I hope you never stop. As your coach, I hope you put your head on straight. When you’re on the field, find that place where distractions can’t reach you. Not the girl you love or the people you hate. The only thing that matters is on that field.” It was solid advice I always followed.
Relationships didn’t fit in the game plan.
Was that what I wanted with Grey? A relationship? None of the girls I’d dated in high school were officially my girlfriend. I never asked, and neither did they. Exclusivity led to trouble that I didn’t have time for.
Meghan was next level. Compared to other girls, she was the NFL, and they were the little leagues. I had a hard time figuring out where Grey fell. She wasn’t the girl from my past. How would she affect my future?
“Could you stop that?” She nudged my side.
Apparently, while I was deep in thought, I had started tapping my knee against the chair. A piece of metal hit my jeans, making a continuous cycle of annoying sounds.
“Can we please just hang out? I need this. You. I think I need you.” I put my heart on my sleeve.
Chapter 11
Meghan
Chase: Can we have lunch again today?
Lunch was becoming our customary procedure since he asked if we could hang out. I hadn’t lifted the “no football” rule, yet, every day he placed a football on top of our picnic table in the quad.
Me: We’ll see. I’m dissecting a rat in my biology class today. I may not be in the mood.
Chase: Sounds very ritualistic and very you. ;D
A few hours later, Chase waited for me in the food court. The smell of greasy cheeseburgers and fried foods swirled in my nostrils.
“Hey.” He walked up beside me and took my backpack off my shoulders. “You don’t look so good.”
“Today really isn’t a good day for lunch.” I swallowed the smells I’d been avoiding. My legs grew week and wobbly. My heartbeat raced. Did I eat today? My mind went blank and my body melted.
“Woah,” The voices around me were distant echoes.
Strong arms wrapped around me.
“I need to– I need...” I pulled my head back to hurl. Whoever was holding me up, probably Chase, moved me to a large trashcan. If people were watching, I didn’t care. I puked, emptying all the contents of my stomach.
“Let’s get you out of here.” Chase picked me up, bridal style, and carried me into fresh air. He sat me in a truck. My eyes fluttered close. The window was cool on my forehead. The vehicle began to move, putting me straight to sleep.
“What?” Someone moved me, shifting me from one place to another. Dizziness made the world shake. I could barely tell what was happening around me.
“Sleep.” Chase whispered, or maybe he didn’t, and I was losing my hearing.
***
Stop growling.
Some kind of beast or bear was right beside me.
I popped open my eyes, ready to fight off a grizzly.
My stomach tossed and turned, rumbling and roaring.
