Page 19

Chapter nine

The crowd’s roar is so loud I can feel it in my chest.

Sweat runs down my back, but all I feel is the rush, the adrenaline burning hot through my veins as I adjust my helmet. The scoreboard shows it’s a close game, too close for my liking, as rain wets the field.

My cleats dig into the turf, and the scent of grass fills my lungs. Classes, homework, all the confusing shit with Xed—it all fades away. Right now, it’s just me, my team, and the ball.

The quarterback barks the play, and time slows down. I drop into position, feeling every eye in the stadium on me. The ball snaps, and the world explodes into motion. I push off, my feet pounding the ground, my eyes locked on my team. Nothing else matters.

As the clock runs down, I narrowly avoid being taken out as I dive for the ball when the other team fumbles. Once it’s in my arms, that’s it. The end zone is within reach, so close I can taste it, and I sprint for it with every ounce of stamina I have left. Seconds before the timer hits zero, I slide over that line, and the entire stadium erupts in a cacophony of cheers. The Utes have scored the final touchdown, and my team just won our last game of the season!

My teammate Oscar pulls me up just in time for the rest of them to crowd us in, everyone yelling and slapping my back, a grin on my face so wide it’s painful.

I may be a clambering idiot in my day-to-day life, but on the field, I’m a fucking machine.

As we all jog beneath the stands toward the locker room, I spot my best friend leaning against the wall, waiting for me. His lips quirk when he spots me, dressed in black and purple, mohawk styled high. My dick twitches, remembering how he dry-humped me last night for the first time and then again this morning before we parted ways for class. How we spent a solid thirty minutes making out with tongue.

It was…incredibly hot. But also terrifying and confusing as hell.

I may have looked up ace and demi at lunch, but it only gave me more questions. Apparently, ace, or asexual, means lack of sexual attraction. There’s also gray-ace, which means some sexual attraction, but demisexual means sexual attraction only after a strong bond has formed. And demi falls under the ace umbrella.

So, where does Xed fall? Where am I? Am I still straight?

“Hi,” I mumble when I get closer to him, pulling off my helmet, suddenly feeling bashful for no damn reason. My cheeks heat when his smirk deepens, eyes taking in my sweat-soaked skin.

“Hey, big guy,” he answers, throat flexing with a swallow. “You played good out there. Jenna and your parents say they’re proud and wish they could be here.”

“Thanks.” Running a hand through my damp strands, I gesture toward the door awkwardly. “I have to, uh, debrief with Coach and rinse off. There’s a party at the dorms, wanna go?”

Xed shrugs. “Not really. You can, though. I’ll pick you up when you’re ready.”

“What? No, why would I go without you?”

He cocks his head, pushing off the wall as he turns away. “No reason. Meet me at the car.”

“Kay.” My gaze dips to his ass as he walks toward the parking lot, the way his cheeks jiggle in those skinny jeans, and I quickly make my way inside before I pop a boner in the locker room. That’s the last thing I need right now.

Everyone’s about done when I enter, the huddle disbanding, and Coach stops me before I can get to my locker.

“Great job out there, Albrecht. Glad to see that scholarship is paying off. Keep playing like that, and I think you’ll have a bright future ahead of you.”

“Thank you, sir, I appreciate that.”

His praise lights me up, and I feel like a beast when I pull off my gear and stuff it into my locker. As I grab my shower caddy, Oscar and his twin Pika plop down on either side of me, tugging on their shoes.

“You partying tonight, Matty?” Oscar asks, and I quickly shake my head.

“Nah, Xed isn’t feeling it tonight.”

They exchange a look, identical hazel eyes communicating some silent conversation, and Pika lifts a brow. “That’s like the third time you’ve bailed on us because of your shadow.”

Peeling off the rest of my uniform, I wrap a towel around my hips with a frown. “My what?”

Pika huffs. “Your best friend, man. The guy that follows you everywhere.”

A protective pinch twists my gut, and I turn to scowl at both of them. “No, he doesn’t. Not everywhere.”

We don’t even have the same classes. Plus, he goes to work. But other than that…okay, maybe, but it’s none of their business.