Page 58 of The Penalty

“See you there.”

He leaves first, and I take a minute to collect myself before I follow at a respectable distance.

When I see him again, he’s by the field with his game face on. I love seeing him in his element. I’ve taken way too many pictures of him like this, but I can’t help but take a few more. These aren’t for my class. These are just for me.

The game is uncomfortably close up until the last quarter. Everyone was on edge and frustrated. I hate it for the team, but it’s incredible to watch them give it their all and come out with a win on the other end. It makes the celebration that much more exciting.

I run into Hayes and Ryan back in the field house before they go into the locker room. Hayes grabs me and pulls me into a sweaty hug.

“McKenzie. Glad you’re back.”

“Thanks. And thank you for the flowers you sent. They were truly beautiful,” I tell them. A few guys on the team had gotten together and sent an arrangement to my mom’s house. It was unexpected and, of course, made me cry all over again when I realized who it was from. My brothers were pretty excited about it, though.

Ryan waves me off. “Ah, it was nothing. Although it was interesting to have a group of football players pick out a flower arrangement.”

Hayes laughs. “We couldn’t agree on the flower type. That’s why it ended up having like ten different kinds of flowers. The florist was not impressed with us.”

It warms my heart that they went out of their way for me and my family when they hardly know me. It makes me feel like I’m part of the team.

“Well, they were beautiful. You guys did a great job. If football doesn’t work out, you should definitely look into floral design.”

“That was my backup, actually. Football or flowers,” Hayes jokes. “Hey, we’re going to Murdocks tonight to celebrate. You should come. Bring Kylie.”

Murdocks is a bar close to campus. It’s a popular hangout spot, particularly for the sports teams at La Vista. I’ve been a few times, but the crowds aren’t really my thing. Maybe I’ll make an exception for tonight. It’d be fun to hang out with everyone and take my mind off the last few weeks. And I know Kylie would want to go.

“Yeah, sounds fun.”

“Sweet. I’ll text you the deets.”

They head into the locker room to get cleaned up for the press conference they have to attend shortly.

I walk down the hall to leave when I hear my name. I turn and, before I can confirm who said it, am pulled into a supply closet.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

“I’m headed toward the press conference, but I wanted to say goodbye,” Tyler tells me with a sly smile on his lips. We’re sneaking around in a supply closet at school. This is dangerous. But I love it.

He kisses me like he can’t get enough of me. His tongue slides across mine. My teeth nip at his bottom lip. It’s messy, but it’s so, so good.

“I’ve got to stop,” he pants as he pulls away from me. “Fuck, I don’t want to, but I can’t go out there looking like I just made out in a supply closet.”

I smile, thinking about how one day I would love for everyone to know that I’m the one who puts this smile on his face and makes his lips swollen from kisses.

“I know.”

“I could kiss you all night.”

I rub my nose against his. “Please do.”

He kisses me again quickly.

“Oh, some of the guys asked me and Kylie to go to Murdocks tonight. Are you cool with that?”

He groans. “I guess I have to be.”

I know he worries about her, and I like to think he worries about me. But he knows that we’re in college and need to have these experiences even though he’d rather keep us at home where he can see us.

“We’ll be careful and won’t be out too late.”