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“Hell, yeah. But what about you? Are you really okay to go to a game?” He searches my face for any trace of discomfort, and I know in that moment I could say no and Wes would skip it. Just like that. For me.
He’s the only person, besides my mom, who has ever offered to give up something they want on my behalf. That makes my chest ache. Why does he have to be everything I imagined the perfect guy to be? I focus on the TV before he can see the tears gathering in my eyes.
Wes
Theguyswerepissedwhen I told them I wasn’t going to go to the dance, though once they learned why even they couldn’t argue. This could very well be my only opportunity to tour an NFL stadium or get down on the field, and when you weigh that against a high school dance I’ve been to several times already, well, there’s no contest. Especially since I get to spend the evening with Sawyer.
It didn’t escape my notice that she got a little flustered when she invited me to come. Her cheeks got a little pink when she first broached the subject, and she chewed on her lip when she thought she might have to find another game if I wanted to go to the dance. And that was after she dropped the bomb about me making football almost fun to watch. Okay, maybe not fun, but tolerable. In her book that’s massive. Take all those things together and it's obvious I’m not the only one who feels something beyond the sibling relationship people expect us to have. That makes what I’m doing incredibly stupid, but for the next twenty-four hours I resolve not to think about that.
When we get to Colt’s he ushers us outside where he’s grilling chicken and vegetables. After handing us each a soda and taking a water for himself he gestures for us to take a seat. “So, Wes. You’re a senior this year?”
“Yes, sir.”
“My name’s Colt, not sir. I don’t need any reminders about getting old.” He shudders as he turns the chicken. “College next?”
“I’m headed to Oregon on a football scholarship.”
“So, my daughter hates football and gets stuck with me for a dad and you for a stepbrother. What are the odds of that?” He winks at me before turning to Sawyer.
“Probably pretty good since most of the city is obsessed with the Stallions.” She doesn’t miss a beat even though she’s staring at the pool, her cheeks heating the way they always do when people refer to us as brother and sister.
“I’ll have you know, I recently met a woman who doesn’t know a thing about the game.” Colt grins proudly, like he’s expecting Sawyer to approve.
She scrunches up her nose, and it’s all I can do not to stare at those cute freckles. “Recently? How recently? I thought you abstained from dating during the season.”
Colt barks a laugh, but I notice his ears are slightly red as he answers, “She’s a business associate.”
“What sort of business?” Sawyer cocks her head skeptically.Damn that's cute.
“She’s helping me plan what comes after football.”
“You’re really ready to retire?” I ask, dumbfounded, because even though Sawyer alluded to this, I didn’t think she was serious. Colt’s playing too well this year.
“Not sure I’ll ever be ready.” He rubs his chin thoughtfully, “but it’ll happen whether I want it to or not. Best to be prepared. Which reminds me, if you’ve got someone willing to give you a degree you make sure you get it instead of cutting out early. Gives you more options.” He points at me with the grill tongs. “What will you do after football?”
“I don’t know yet. Ideally, I’d love to be involved with it permanently, although I’m not sure in what capacity.”
“You don’t have to know that yet, but make sure you get a degree before you leave so there’s no need to go back for one later. You won’t want to put your life on hold to do that when you could’ve got it the first time.” He flips the chicken.
“You sound like an after school special. Since when are you so concerned with getting a degree?” Sawyer wrinkles her nose again.Why the fuck are freckles so sexy?
“Since your grandma made sure I got one. It was good advice, and I’m paying it forward.”
“Are you sure you don’t have a concussion?” She narrows her gaze.
“Why do you keep asking me that?” He twists to look at her, his arms hanging limply at his side.
“Because you’re not talking about football with someone who plays football.”
“You got me there.” He laughs good naturedly and turns back to the grill. “But this is part of what comes after I retire. I’m practicing.”
“You’re practicing what, public service announcements?” She reaches for her soda.
“Something like that. But no more work talk. Tell me all about school this year.”
We spend the rest of dinner talking about our classes, what type of car Sawyer should get now that she has her license, even a little bit about my football season. Colt’s incredibly laid back, which makes it easy to hang out with him. I’m conflicted about that because part of me still resents that he has a habit of treating Sawyer as an afterthought, although seeing them together it’s clear he loves her, and that she accepts him as is. It makes me respect her even more, because she has every right to resent him, and she doesn’t. I can see why she says she likes him as a person despite him being unreliable, though it seems like he’s trying to change that, starting with this meal.
It’s still early when Colt turns in so he can get enough sleep before the game, so Sawyer and I head to the theatre room to watch a movie. I’m expecting her to pick a sports comedy, since I know that’s what she watches with her dad, but she cues up one I’ve never heard of before, The Princess Bride.
