Page 9 of Everything In Between

SEVEN

jersey

The fingernail polish cracks on my thumb as my teeth nibble nervously at my cuticle. I pull my hand away and glare down at my finger. There’s now a huge chunk of the polish missing from the nail. Damn it.

I worry at the dead skin on my lip with my teeth, my nerves getting the better of me as I wait for a response.

Hayes Vogt is a busy man, with a million things on his plate.

He’s got a game this Sunday—I may or may not have looked up the schedule for the Milwaukee Majestics while waiting for his reply—and he has a goal of leading his team to victory.

Which were his exact words in the interview I watched of him from last week, also while I’ve been waiting.

He’s probably asleep already. Maybe he’ll respond in the morning when he sees it.

That’s what I tell myself, as I settle back into the couch cushions and close my eyes.

My phone vibrates on the coffee table a moment later, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I reach for it, and a bubble of excitement and trepidation blooms in my belly.

Hayes

Oh hey, Jersey Matthews. Bout time I heard from you

I grin like a schoolgirl at my phone and catch myself nibbling on my thumbnail again.

I don’t know why, but I’m surprised by him setting the flirty tone of our conversation right out of the gate.

It’s refreshing, and mentally, I dust off my flirt game, hoping I still have what it takes to keep up.

Pressing my lips together, I type a quick response out.

Jersey

I know, I know.

Hayes

I was wondering if I would ever hear from you…

That was a valid fear for him to have. Until I sent that text message, I was wondering the same.

Panic settles in my chest, and I mull over what I’m going to say to him next.

Flirting is equal parts exciting and nerve-racking.

It’s been a while since I’ve done this—years, even.

My relationship with Corey was significantly lacking in the flirt game, both from him and from me, so I’m way out of practice.

My fingers fly over the screen and I hit send.

Jersey

Honestly, me too.

Hayes responds right away with a laughing face emoji. His response time has me smiling down at the phone already, some of the panic easing.

Hayes

Brutal. I like it.

How was your day? Plan out any more world stopping tours?

I’m grateful Hayes has taken the lead and started up a real conversation.

Jersey

It was okay. My life isn’t nearly as glamorous as the tabloids make it out to be. A lot more toeing the line than daydreaming these days.

Hayes

I can believe that. Want to talk about it?

I consider his question, and I’m surprised to find that, yes, I really do want to talk to him about it all.

Maybe it’s the fact that he is a complete stranger that makes him safe.

He’s not a part of my world, aside from his brief visit with his involvement in that music video, so he’s entirely unjaded and unaware of most of the goings-on in this realm.

Jersey

My manager and I got into it again today. I always feel like I can never win with him. Or any of them.

Hayes

Why do you feel like that?

I sigh to myself, wondering where in the world to begin.

Jersey

The contract I’m under with my label sometimes feels suffocating.

Hayes

How so?

Jersey

My manager is very controlling about most of my career, with everything from album titles to song choices.

He even has things to critique on my choreography when he’s the one who hired the choreographer.

To be fair, I switched things up at my Milwaukee show, so he and I got into a giant argument about it right after.

But still. It’s the principle of the matter.

Hayes

Hey, I was at that show! I thought everything was perfect. You have no complaints from me about any of your dancing. I loved it all, and I really mean that.

My face breaks into a huge smile as I read his text.

Jersey

Thank you. I wish my label felt that way too.

Hayes

I’ll be honest, when my sister asked me to go with her to your concert, I wasn’t really sure I’d like it. I’m much more of a country or a rap kinda guy.

Jersey

I can respect that. Is that why you were in J-Money’s music video?

Hayes

Did you watch it??

Jersey

I may or may not have.

Hayes

I had a blast. Never done anything like that before. I’ve always been into that kind of music more than anything. But then I went to your concert…

Jersey

And?

After I send the text, I get off the couch and trek over to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water before heading into my bedroom. He’s responded by the time I toss myself onto my mattress.

Hayes

And I was completely wowed. By the show. By you. One of the most pivotal nights of my life. You’re extraordinary. Your label is full of fools if they don’t see that, too.

I take a moment to think about how to respond to such praise. He texts again before I can reply right away.

Hayes

And my sister loved it too. She couldn’t stop gushing about you on the ride home.

Jersey

What’s your sister’s name?

Hayes

Riley. She’s twenty, younger than me by about thirteen years. She lives back home with my parents in Bowling Green, but she came up to see me when you were in town for your show.

I guess I never thought to have questioned how old he is or where he came from, but I’m thankful he gave me that information even though I could have easily Googled it too.

Jersey

That’s quite an age gap.

Hayes

She’s been a handful her whole life, but we love her even more for it. You have a brother, right?

Jersey

I do. My twin, Roman.

Hayes

Who’s older?

Jersey

He is, and he never lets me forget it.

Hayes

Ha. I bet not. What does he do?

I pause at the question, rolling my lips together and fighting off a smirk. I have no doubt that if Hayes has looked me up, he’s seen the connection to my Hollywood heartthrob brother, but still, he’s waiting for me to share this part of my life with him personally.

Jersey

He’s an actor. Roman Hendrix. He uses his middle name as his stage name.

Hayes

The Matthews twins, taking the entertainment industry by storm.

Jersey

Something like that

Hayes

I’ve seen his movies. He’s good. Not as good as you… of course.

I bite my lower lip, choosing to change the direction of the conversation away from my brother.

Jersey

How was your day?

Hayes

Honestly, not too bad. Had a workout with my friend, Beckett. He’s one of the tight ends on the team. Then we watched some tape for the game coming up this weekend. Typical Wednesday.

Jersey

What is tape? I know nothing.

Hayes

I have access to watch past games. That way I can study defensive plays and get a feel for what we may be up against in the upcoming games. There’s a lot of strategy that goes into being a quarterback.

Jersey

So Beckett is one of your friends on your team? You said he’s a tight end? I’m trying to keep my mind out of the gutter.

Hayes

LOL. Tight end is a position on the offensive team in football. He can tackle as a lineman or he can catch the ball as a receiver. Kind of a jack-of-all-trades.

I’m in way over my head. I’m a complete newbie when it comes to football—or anything sports related.

Jersey

I see. Are you pretty close with everyone on the team?

Hayes

As much as I’d love to be, that is hard to accomplish. The team is huge, way bigger than just the guys you see on the field. But I’m closest with three guys. Beckett, who is my most reliable tight end. Xaden is a fast as fuck running back. And Quentin is my center.

Jersey

Now it’s my turn to be honest… I don’t really know much about football, if you haven’t guessed that already. So all those words you just sent… mean nothing to me, lol.

There’s a slight pause in his response, and for a moment, I’m worried he’s rethinking this whole thing based on my ignorance.

Hayes

Don’t worry. I can teach you everything you need to know I kind of like it. Maybe we’ll even get you out to a game one of these days.

Jersey

I’d really like that. After I master all the football things so I can keep up with what’s happening.

The idea of going into this with Hayes—whatever this is—completely blind sends a cascade of apprehension down my spine. While I wait for his next text to come through, I reach for my tablet on my nightstand, opening a browser and typing into the search bar, football for beginners.

I nibble on the edge of my thumbnail again as my eyes fly over the screen, seeing lots of results pop up from my simple search and I decide I’ll have to start doing some homework, so I don’t come across as a complete dummy when it comes to Hayes’s whole profession.

I click on the first one titled “Football 101” and scan the words, starting with the positions that he mentioned until my phone buzzes again.

Hayes

If I can learn a Jersey Matthews album front to back, you can learn football. I have faith in you.

I laugh and stare down at my phone. There’s no way he’s been listening to my music, is there?

Jersey

You’ve listened to my album?

Hayes

Like I said… I was wowed.

The grin that takes over my face should be illegal.

As I snuggle into my bed with my tablet, I start my self-study on football, texting Hayes when I have questions. My eyes start to get heavy as the night ticks away.

Jersey

Hate to be a downer, but I’m getting sleepy, and I’ve got an early day tomorrow at the studio. I’ll talk to you tomorrow!

Hayes

Sweet dreams, Jersey.

Something foreign flutters in my chest—a sense of anticipation for what this might become. For the first time in a long time, I fall asleep, not worried about what tomorrow might bring.

I know it’s going to be a bad day when I’m summoned to Cal’s office as soon as I walk inside the studio. Sure enough, Cal is waiting for me with his arms crossed and jaw set.

“Did you have time to review the song choices?” he asks me, not bothering with pleasantries before diving right into business.