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“It’s usually not.” Jules laughs after finishing chewing. “It’s one of the least popular sports in the country, but we have a football team that sucks, a non-existent hockey team since it’s Florida, and the baseball season isn’t until later, so everyone needs something to cheer about and a reason to get drunk.”
We laugh because she makes sense.
After the girls chow down on their food and I sip on my Coke, we wait for the game to begin. There are announcements here and there going off about a variety of things from where to buy clothing to support the team and other knickknacks to how much longer until the game begins.
When the announcer starts telling everyone to get on their feet to welcome the teams, the stadium gets louder, which I didn’t think was possible. People are stomping their feet and shaking something that sounds like cowbells all around us. It is a madhouse.
The opposing team comes out from the locker room in a separate building and are greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos. More boos than cheers, I notice. In the stands across from where we’re sitting are fewer people and they are wearing gray-and-red-colored clothing, matching the colors of the team’s jerseys.
The stadium goes quiet as the opening to “Can’t Stop” by TheRedHotChiliPeppers comes over the speakers and I smile as the team comes walking out of the locker room, Camden leading in the front. He has a serious look on his face, and I know he is focused on getting into his game mode. The guys are all wearing blue jerseys with gold-colored letters and numbers and blue shorts. Aside from Levi, who is wearing the same shorts but a long-sleeved jersey that is bright yellow with his number and name in blue and a pair of oversized gloves on his hands that he is clapping together.
The team makes their way to their benches and Camden scans the stand before making eye contact with me. He gives me a wink before turning back to listen to their coach. That single gesture has those darn butterflies fluttering in my stomach again.
Beside me, I can tell Emree is hurt that Conrad didn’t do the same for her by the sad look on her face. She shoves the hot dog into her mouth, taking a giant bite as she grumbles about ‘stupid soccer players.’ While I have not asked her what is going on with her and Conrad, I can tell there is something going on between them and hope it works out in the end. She seems to really like him and he is a nice guy.
Camden and Maddox head out onto the field at the same time two players from the opposing team do, and meet one of the referees in the middle. They flip a coin and Camden says something none of us can hear, and after the coin lands on the ground, Maddox pumps his fist. Guess they won the coin toss.
The players shake hands and return to their sides of the field. Braxton’s coach calls the players into a huddle, giving some kind of pep talk, and before Camden takes the field again, he looks over at me and points, bringing two fingers to his mouth and kissing them. My cheeks redden at his gesture.
The start of the game is intense. Levi is jumping around as he stands in the goal, not taking his eyes off the ball from the beginning. Camden and Maddox work in sync and it’s quite a show. They pass the ball so fast between the two of them, I’m not sure how the other team even has a chance to catch them to get it.
Maddox has the ball and is running toward the other team’s goal, when another player slides in front of him, but Maddox jumps, missing the player and gaining control of the ball again. I’m on the edge of my seat as Maddox bypasses player after player, dribbling the ball closer to the goal. Camden is beside the goal, waiting for Maddox and being shoved left and right by two Cornwall players.
Just when I think Maddox is going to pass the ball to Camden, he fakes and kicks it straight into the goal. The Cornwall goalie misses it as he dives toward the right corner.
Our side of the stadium goes crazy, everyone standing, jumping, and cheering. Emree, Jules, and I are along with them, clapping with enthusiastic school spirit. Maddox and Camden high-five as they run back to the middle of the field to get back into the starting position.
The game goes by fast and before I know it, it’s half-time. The score is now 2-1, with Braxton leading. Levi cursed up a storm when one of the Cornwall players got the ball past him but blocked the last three attempted shots.
The next half has me biting my nails. The teams have switched sides, making it harder to see Levi in goal on my left. I can tell Camden is getting more exhausted because his movements are slower, but he is still dominating the field. His shorts and jersey are covered in grass stains and his hair is soaked from sweat.
Something wet hits me in the eye and I look up, feeling it again but on my forehead this time. Raindrops start coating my face as they fall from the sky. Within seconds, it is pouring and most of the people around us are groaning, grabbing their ponchos or umbrellas.
Jules pulls out her own poncho and looks over at Emree and me, who are among the few without protection. “Erm, I’d share, but it’s kind of a single person use. We’ll get some for you both before the next game,” Jules says to us sympathetically while covering her head to protect her hair.
There should only be a few minutes left in the game, according to Jules, and Braxton is dominating with a lead of 4-1. Emree and I are soaked through our clothes and my hair is sticking to my face and neck. I can’t help but laugh. We look like a couple of wet dogs.
The referee blows his whistle three times, signaling the end of the game and, while everyone jumps up to cheer, it is not as loud, and I think some people are happy it is over to get out of the rain. Camden and his teammates are jumping around in a mosh, celebrating their win. We make eye contact before he follows everyone else into the locker room after being lined up to slap hands with the other team and his smile makes me being soaked and now cold completely worth it.
Emree, Jules, and I wait under the covered awning near the locker rooms and each time that door opens, my heart rate speeds up thinking it is Camden. He is taking his sweet time, though, and with every passing minute, I am ready to go in there and find him myself.
Just when my patience is about to run out, the door swings open and there he is. Freshly showered wearing a pair of fitted, dark jeans that hang low on his waist, a white T-shirt that is a little tight around his biceps, and a pair of beat-up Vans. His roommates are around him, each of them carrying a bag over their shoulder, and Maddox is tossing a soccer ball up in the air, catching it when it comes back down.
Without thinking, I run toward him, leaving the safety of the awning. When he sees me coming toward him, his face lights up and just as I’m about to collide with him, he drops his bag, catching me effortlessly in his arms and lifting me. My legs automatically wrap around his waist and his hands go to my butt, holding me to him. Our lips clash as the rain pours over us and I can’t help but moan at the feeling of having him against me. His lips on mine. His tongue seeking entrance into my mouth.
I allow him in, and our tongues mingle. He tastes like mint mixed with the Coke I drank. He squeezes by bottom and my hips grind involuntarily against him. One of his hands snakes up my side, tangling in my wet hair, pulling me closer to deepen the kiss.
Around us, through the sound of rain, I hear hooting and hollering. Pulling away from Camden’s lips, I see his roommates standing by Emree and Jules. Maddox is gripping the air, grinding his hips against the spot in front of him in a crude gesture. Mateo and Levi are cheering us on while Jules laughs beside them. Conrad and Emree are behind everyone, huddled and talking.
I can’t help the blush that burns my face and duck my head into Camden’s neck. “Oh my gosh.”
He laughs and his grip on my butt tightens. “That was some greeting, Gray Eyes.”
Slowly, he releases me, and my body slides down his, feeling every inch of his hard frame. The rain has slowed to a light drizzle, but we are both drenched now.
“I’m so happy for you,” I tell him, smiling, thinking about how exciting his game was to watch.
He smiles proudly. “You have a good time?”
