AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The crowd is cheering loudly in the stands.
We’re packed in like sardines, bumping shoulders at the edge of our seats as the scoreboard continues its countdown.
There’s nervous energy amongst us, several fans closing their eyes and mumbling some sort of prayer to the polar opposite—profanities being yelled against the already loud noises coming from the stadium speakers.
Our team is killing it. Although I don’t consider myself a huge sports fan, I came for the buzz. From the loud music blasted each time a team scored to the exhilaration and adrenaline that pumped through the crowd, the chants unite strangers as we sway, arms around our neighbors with a sense of pride.
Inside my pocket, my phone buzzes again. Not wanting to miss anything important, I quickly pull it out to see my sisters and cousins’ group chat out of control once again. It’s not unusual for me to mute our conversations, especially when I’m trying to study or do anything productive.
Ava:I want updates, Addy. Any hot guys at the game?
Millie:You’re married.
Jessa:Ohhh… yeah. Updates please.
Luna:YOU ALL HAVE MEN
Ava:I’m looking for potential life partners for Addy.
Jessa:Luna… you need to get laid.
Luna:I’m satisfied, ladies. I don’t need a man.
Ava:Or pussy?
Millie:Oh God… Ashton just saw that, and I had to tell him you were looking at adopting a cat.
Ava:Meow… hahahaha
A laugh escapes me, but instead of defending Luna, I quickly type back to save myself from Ava’s obsession with my dating life. I almost preferred it when she was single and too busy to focus on anyone else.
Me:I’m busy supporting my best friend. And for the record, I can find my own man and preferably one who isn’t drenched in sweat giving his friend a wedgie.
The messages in the chat continue to appear, none of them relenting, so I place my phone back in my pocket and ignore the girls to focus back on the field.
My eyes wander to where Cruz is standing with a serious expression. Even with the helmet on, his body language appears frustrated with the way his hands rest on his hips while his coach yells from the sideline.
Sixty seconds are left on the clock, each number drawing down with the pressure mounting. The beat of my heart is drumming so loud, ready to burst through an oversized jersey I’m wearing. Any second now, it will splat onto the floor in front of me as I bounce on my toes, unable to control my movements from the build-up of anticipation.
Even though they were in the lead, the final buzzer will dictate the official winner.
C’mon, guys. You can do this.
I’m biting my nails, a habit I broke in middle school only to pick up again at moments such as this. The pressure is killing me, so I shift my gaze away from the scoreboard and back onto Cruz.
He’s in his element—game face on and ready to kill. He’s cute when he’s in game mode but don’t get me wrong, there’s no harboring of romantic feelings toward him.
Cruz is my best friend—that’s all.
We’re close, just not in the way everyone assumes, and when I say everyone, I’m referring to my overbearing family. Growing up in a family with sisters only, Cruz is the brother I’ve never had.
If only I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to clarify that, I’d probably be as rich as myfather.The great Lex Edwards as he’s referred to. I don’t know why people jump to conclusions when no one really questioned Andy and Jessa when they were close.
Cruz is a good family friend and has been for as long as I can remember. His parents, Haden and Presley, are super tight with my parents. They even have business ventures together.
People—and I mean my sisters—need to mind their own damn business. Of course, when they found out Cruz and I were going to UCLA, it stirred the so-called thoughts inside their close-minded brains. I want to major in psychology with the flexibility to visit home when I feel like it. As for Cruz, he got accepted into the Bruins football program.
This is his last year, making this game bittersweet like all of them as we draw closer to the end.
