AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“All right, we’re out. See you after the game.”
“Okay. Good luck!” I holler as my brother heads out. He closes my door securely behind him.
Finally, I reach for the bag and pull two large white boxes from within. The first one contains a replica black jersey with a big red number three on the back, the name Henderson printed boldly above it. I smile, so very proud of my brother. It wasn’t easy being a former NFL great’s son, but my brother has held up well. Even as a young player, he tried to forge his own path, not taking the easier one paved by our dad. When everyone expected him to play quarterback like the infamous Richard Henderson, my brother realized his passion lay in kicking. And he’s done well too. Caleb was a Pro-Bowl player last season and has earned several records for the team.
Setting aside the box with my brother’s jersey, I reach for the second box, already knowing what it contains. I peel off the top and gaze down at the number eighty jersey staring back at me. While Caleb’s is black, this one is white, with black and red numbers and letters. Those letters, of course, spelling out Williams.
As I pull the jersey out of the box, I find a sheet of paper tucked beneath it. A smile instantly spreads across my face as I reach for the note.
Princess Joey,
Once upon a time, there was a handsome football player. He was at the top of his game, and all the maidens in the land loved him. However, the handsome football player wasn’t interested in the other maidens. Oh, no. He had his eyes set on the fairest princess of them all. One day, he presented her with a jersey. One bearing his name and number on the back, and all he could think about was seeing the princess in it. Would she wear it to the game? He couldn’t wait to find out.
To be continued…
A smile was already spread across my lips as I set the note aside and grab the jersey, bringing it to my nose and inhaling deeply. There’s definitely that new clothes aroma with a hint of plastic, like it was taken out of a plastic bag. But also there, ever so faintly on the fabric, is the scent of man. Musky, clean, and with a touch of sandalwood. I’ve become all too familiar with it in recent days.
Brock.
I lie down and curl back up with my pillow, the number eighty jersey cradled in my arms. As I close my eyes to catch a few more minutes of rest, I hold the material against my cheek, catching whiffs of the light fragrance of Brock’s aftershave. It’s what accompanies me as I fall back into more Brock-filled dreams.
CHAPTER
NINE
Brock
There is nothing like the first game of the season—from the roar of the crowd filling the stadium to the smells of popcorn and nachos that fill the air. Football is its own season in my world. It’s not fall. It’s football.
Preseason games are a good way to gauge how our team stands up in the league, but at the same time, it’s… fun. The fans are on point. The team is pumped to be back on the field. Hell, even the announcers are joyous and overflowing with positive comments of what the season might hold.
Today is all that and more. It’s more because I’m on a new team. I’m a Rambler now, and for the first time in years, I’m playing on the same side as my best friend. That alone makes this day great. However, there is a little something that makes it even better. Or should I say, someone?
Joey.
I can’t exactly pinpoint how it happened, but she’s become… more than just Caleb’s little sister. I want her with an intensity that’s bigger than football. That’s really the only way I know how to explain it. I think about her all the time, and I find myselfdoing things like lingering in the kitchen just to get a few more minutes of her time.
She’s turning me inside out.
“You ready for today?” Caleb asks, taking a seat next to me on the bench.
“Born ready.” I flash him a grin.
“Good to have you, brother,” he says, clamping a hand down on my shoulder.
“Is that a tear I see?” I goad.
“Fuck off.” He laughs, dropping his hand. “I’m just saying. It’s been years since we’ve been on the same team, and it’s going to be nice to have you out on that field and not be the enemy.”
“I get it.” I nod. “It’s been too damn long.” He looks down at his phone and furrows his brow. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. At least, I don’t think so. I texted Joey to see if she made it to her seat okay, and I haven’t heard from her yet.”
“I’m sure she’s just stocking up on snacks,” I say the words as I reach for my phone just in case by some chain of events, she sent me a message and not her brother. I fight not to let my disappointment show when there are no messages waiting for me.
“Something’s going on with her. She keeps telling me that we’ll talk, but it’s yet to happen.”
My heart begins to race as the worry in his voice grips my chest. “You think she’s in trouble?”
