Page 8 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

I put on my best fake smile as I look at them both. Vivi doesn’t acknowledge me, and Jonah’s eyes catch mine and hold. His gaze is intimate, as if he is concerned for Vivi, and gratitude pours out of them. My stomach dips. It might have been over two years since I’ve seen him in person, but I remember his eyes as well as his hands and how they feel when trained on me. They are hypnotizing and lethal, which I cannot be a victim to once again. And it’s with that thought that my fight or flight kicks in, and flight is telling me to get out of the room as fast as possible.

Chapter 3

Team Chat

Sully: Anyone else notice there’s a strange odor coming from Darius’s locker?

Darius: Bro, what are you going on about now

Sully: Your shit stinks

Darius: No, it doesn’t. And why are you lingering near my locker in the first place?

Dylan: You know he does this. He gets bored and starts sniffing around, literally, making sure we’re up to code

Sully: It’s like you left something in there from the postseason, and it’s died

Ryder: Code for what?

Dylan: Rookie, did you not read your welcome packet?

Ryder: Are those crickets chirping?

Sully: Ryder, I gave it to you when I gave you the tour

Ryder: You mean there are things in there you didn’t go over?

Titan:

Sully: Bro. You have to read the code of conduct for the locker room.

Titan: Just give him a candy bar, and he’ll quiet down

Sully:

Darius: Stay away from my locker

Sully: But what is that smell?

Darius: Could be my lucky potato

Sully: WTF is a lucky potato

Darius: My son gave it to me. He drew a face on it and gave it a red cape. Said it would bring me luck.

Titan:

Sully: All capes belong to Camden

Camden: Why are you dragging me into this

Sully: Your locker is near his. How do you not smell it?

Camden: Oh, I smelled it. It’s just none of my business

Darius: I bet it rotted

Sully: Clean that shit out.