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She was different.
Smoothing her note out on the desk, her one-word response wasn’t any surprise.
No.
I scribbled a reply underneath.
You should come. I heard Bryan might be there.
Passing her the note back,I waited for her reaction. She smothered a snort of laughter, but not enough because Mr. Jenkins' head shot up and he fixed his eyes on me.
“Problem, Mr. Thatcher?”
“No, sir.” I couldn’t even be angry he’d singled me out instead of Lily.
She waited until the coast was clear and slipped me the note back.
If I did go, and I’m not, I wouldn’t be going to see Bryan…
Her words hitme dead in the chest. Lily Ford, the quiet girl scared of the world, was flirting with me… at least, I fucking hoped she was.
Shit.
What was I saying?
I wasn’t supposed to be encouraging this. If Coach Ford found out I was actively pursuing his daughter, I wouldn’t step foot on the football field again this season. And I needed game time. I needed to get in front of scouts.
But I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I hadn’t been able to stop Saturday when I’d watched her staring at the simulator, a mix of fear and frustration glittering in her eyes.
And I couldn’t stop myself now.
I didn’t reply. I didn’t want to push her, and I didn’t want to cross a line we couldn’t come back from.
Even if I reallyreallywanted her to show at the party Friday.
* * *
Friday was bittersweet torture.On one hand, I was so fucking ready for a new season of football. But I didn’t want it to be like this; playing with a team who didn’t want me here anymore than I wanted to be here.
“Hey, Thatcher, hold my shit for me, will you?” Monroe called over. “Since you won’t be playing, I figured you might as well make yourself useful.” He and his guys exploded with laughter.
“Ignore him. You’ll get to play,” Gav said.
“Yeah, whatever,” I grumbled.
My mood had only gotten darker as the week went on. The atmosphere at home was unbearable. My old man wasn’t working due to a flare up with his back, but me and Mom knew the truth. He’d relapsed, and I was pretty sure it was all because of me.
So I’d avoided the house as much as possible. Part of me hated leaving Mom alone, but I couldn’t be there. I couldn’t be there taking his constant taunts and jibes. It was like picking at a scab, picking until it festered and festered, poisoning your bloodstream, infecting your soul.
Now I was about to walk out on the field and watch another guy steal the spotlight.
I checked the laces on my cleats before grabbing my helmet. Coach Ford entered the room, ushering everyone into silence.
“First game of the season and we’re the ones to beat. Marshall is going to come at us and come at us hard. Work together, push hard, and follow the playbook. Monroe, you feeling good, son?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” His hard gaze flitted over me like I was no one. Fuck. It stung. I didn’t expect him to welcome me to the team with open fucking arms, but I’d hoped for more than… this.
