AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The way he moves.
The way he seems to know exactly where everyone on the field is at all times, throwing perfect passes to receivers he’s not even looking at.
The way he dodges defenders and seems to be able to make plays even when there is no play to be made.
It’s true what they say about him; he really does have ice in his veins. At no point does he ever seem rattled. Even with defenders jumping in his face, he remains eerily cool and calm, hitting his target nearly every single time.
I may not be an expert on football, but I know enough to know that this man is going somewhere. And somewhere big too.
I feel proud wearing his jersey. I didn’t expect to feel that way, but there it is.
I wish I could say that I had time to reevaluate the situation and have decided that Archer Copeland is not worth the risk. Only, that’s not the conclusion I came up with. In fact, I reached the exact opposite conclusion. Because, as surprised as I am to admit this, I think that maybe he is worth it. The risk, I mean.
“There they are!” Alina points to the players as they slowly begin to file out of the stadium, most carrying duffle bags, all looking freshly showered as they slowly start to load the buses. We’re hanging back toward the rear of the building, where Enzo told Alina to wait.
“So is this it?” I ask her, smiling at the sight of her with Trojans written across one cheek and #55 written across the other... Enzo’s number. She tried to write Archer’s number on my cheek, but I thought that was a bit much and settled for USC on one cheek in red and Trojans on the other cheek in black. “You’re ready to make it officially official?” I ask. “The Alina Stryker is going off the market?”
She was supposed to do it last night, but I guess Kim showing up put a wrench in her plans, so she made me stake out the buses with her so she could tell him before he leaves.
“I’m ready.” She seems ready to jump out of her own skin she’s bouncing with so much excitement.
“Do you see him yet?” I press up on my tiptoes, the slight buzz of alcohol making me sway ever so slightly before I’m able to right myself. I only had three draft beers, but apparently, I’m a lightweight. Then again, I already knew that.
I’m not like Alina, who can drink twelve White Claws between her and Kim, wake up, and drink six more beers at the game, and still be able to hold her head up straight. In fact, she seems oddly sober for how much alcohol she has consumed in the last eighteen hours.
“There he is!” She finally spots Enzo, who seems to spot her at the exact same moment, quickly breaking into a jog.
“Hey, babe! I don’t have much time. Coach said we’re to go straight to the buses.” He tugs her into his chest the instant he reaches her, kissing her in a way that probably shouldn’t be acceptable in front of other people... mainly me. “But I couldn’t resist.” He smiles against her lips.
“You were awesome today,” she tells him, pressing her hands to his chest.
“Thank you.” He kisses her again before his head swings to me. “What did you think of your first college football game?” he asks, tucking Alina under his arm.
“It was fun. You played great,” I say, even though if I’m being honest, I couldn’t find him half the time he was on the field. His position isn’t as visible as Archer’s. Then again, most of them aren’t.
“Nice jersey.” He smirks, gesturing to Archer’s number.
“Thank you. It was a gift.”
“Oh, I know who it was from.” He chuckles. “Anyway, I gotta go. I don’t want Coach penalizing my ass.” He drops his hold on Alina. “I’ll meet up with you when we get back to campus,” he tells her, walking backward so that he can move and still have eyes on her.
“Wait.” She seems to remember the whole reason we’re here. “About your question. The girlfriend one...” She hesitates. “My answer is yes.”
He stops abruptly, a smile stretching across his entire face.
“Yeah?” He seems almost hesitant to believe it.
“Yes.” She nods enthusiastically.
And just like that, he’s in front of her again, her face in his hands. It feels personal, like I shouldn’t be watching, and yet, I can’t seem to look away.
“You have just made me the happiest man alive,” he tells her, sliding his nose against hers.
“Good. Now don’t make me regret it.” She presses up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Now go before you get into trouble.” She pulls back, pushing at his chest.
“I’m going. I’m going.” He reluctantly backs away a second time. “I’ll call you as soon as we’re back.”
“See that you do.” She giggles, watching him turn and jog back to the bus seconds later.
