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“Fee, baby, get over here.”
“Asher?” I smiled, surprised to see him standing at the bar next to Jason and… “Mya!”
A high-pitched squeal broke from my lips as I bypassed Asher to go straight to his girlfriend. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Girl, it’s been three weeks.”
“Three weeks too many.” I hugged Mya tighter, uncaring that she preferred to keep PDAs to a minimum. “Tell me everything. How are classes? The new place? I want to know it all.”
“Are you okay?” She eyed me with suspicion.
“What? I can’t be happy to see one of my best friends?” I smiled, but it felt weak.
“Don’t worry about me or anything,” Asher grumbled, making Jason, Gio, and Jordan laugh.
“So needy.” I locked my arms around his neck and hugged him. “It’s good to see you, Ash.”
“Not as good as it is to see you.” He held me tight until familiar fingers pried me away.
“Okay, put my girl down, Bennet, before I have to snap your fingers and ruin your football career before it even gets started.”
Asher released me and Jase pulled me between his legs. “I missed you.”
“I want to say I missed you too, but the shelter had two new rescues, Pug puppies... they were so cute.”
“Great, I’ve been axed for goddamn dogs.”
“Aww, you still own my heart.” I kissed the corner of his mouth. “But these were some really, really cute puppies.”
“Well if you'd rather stroke those than…” he whispe
red the words only meant for me as he trailed a finger down my neck. A shiver rolled through me and I swallowed a whimper.
“Didn’t think so.” Jason kissed the end of my nose. “Hey, Hugh, get my girl a drink,” he called over to the bartender.
“Sure thing. Your regular, Fee?”
I nodded. “So, what have you guys been talking about in my absence?”
“Oh, you know, trying to deflate this one’s head since he got promoted to captain.” Asher pinched Jase’s cheek, and he batted him away. “How does it feel to wear the crown?”
“Asher,” Mya sighed.
“He knows I’m proud. I’m like the proud brother he never had. But that shit’s got to weigh a ton.”
“I was born ready,” Jason said, but I saw the tightness in his eyes. He was having doubts about his ability to lead.
We all knew he had nothing to worry about though because he was born ready.
“That’s the spirit, bro.” Asher clapped him on the shoulder. “Now Fee is here, we should toast.”
“We don’t need to—”
“To Jason,” he thrust his beer in the air, “may your leadership be firm and your game strong. Congratulations, man.”
Jason
I tried to heed Asher and Gio’s words. Every day we practiced, every day we studied game tapes and devised new plays, I tried to hold onto the fact that I’d waited for this day my entire life. But with the opening game finally here, I couldn’t deny I had a constant gnawing in my stomach.
