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Nothing was quite like scoring in the first possession.

It took another play until we were at the five-yard line.

We lined up for the snap. The ball was hiked.

Kylian rolled out to the right, and I slammed into a defender our line missed.

A gap in the defense opened, and Kylian sprinted through, walking the ball in for a touchdown to the deafening roar of the crowd.

The extra point was good, and the scoreboard lit up, giving us a seven–zero lead.

I practically vibrated with energy on the sideline, bursting to get back on the field. On Minnesota’s possession, they tried to score, but our defense was solid. They barely managed a few yards before being forced to punt.

We took over at our forty-yard line, ready to get back to work.

Each possession needed to result in another score, and we were determined to put in the work and make it happen.

A mix of runs and short passes got us to their thirty-yard line.

A long pass into Liam’s hands, and a burst of speed, resulted in another touchdown for a score of fourteen–zero.

After trading places with our defense, I paced the sideline.

Minnesota tried to advance, but our defense continued to dominate.

A sack on the fourth down stopped them from punting and pushed them back even farther.

We had a great position when we retook the field and wasted no time.

The play was set up for a long pass, but Kyl read the field—Liam and Chris, another receiver, were under double coverage.

He adjusted with a short pass to me. I tucked the ball and stiff-armed a tackle.

A pivot to avoid another defensive opponent, and I had a clear path.

I ran it into the end zone then pointed the football in Preston’s direction in the stands.

The score was twenty-one–zero, and we had control of the game.

Minnesota was rattled. They struggled to drive the ball as our defense continued to pressure them.

Our offense was in top shape and chomping at the bit to retake the field.

It didn’t take long. A sack in the third quarter, and they punted the ball.

Our special teams ran it in to give us field advantage at Minnesota’s thirty-yard line.

We moved methodically down the field with a series of runs and short passes. When the ball got tipped in a pass to Liam, I lunged and caught it by my fingertips. Tucking it into my body, I plowed through two defensive players and ran it in.

The final score was twenty-eight–zero. The crowd roared, and we gathered in the middle of the field, helmets held high, basking in a shutout victory.

After congratulations from the coaches and answering press questions, we left the field, reveling in the satisfaction of a game to remember.

Mom, Preston, and Aurora waited when we left the locker room. I ruffled Preston’s hair. “Told you I’d do it.” I referenced my promise to score one for him.

“That was awesome.”

We high-fived, then I wrapped Mom in my arms to her muffled, “Great game, Ares.” Aurora echoed the sentiment, and I squeezed her shoulder before Kylian drew her to his side .

“You guys hanging around, or do you need to go?” I was pumped from the game and didn’t want to return to the condo. Not yet, anyway.

Mom sighed. “We’ve got to go home.” She nodded toward Preston, who rolled his eyes. “This one is grounded. I just made an exception for your game.”

I lightly punched Preston in the shoulder. “Remember our talk.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He hung his head, but not before one side of his mouth curved up.

I would take it. I noticed the embarrassment in his expression before he looked away. If we were lucky, that talk would sink in and he would make some needed changes.

I walked them to their car, the guys and Aurora following. When my family left, I turned to my friends. “So? We going out? I’m too keyed up to go home after that win.”

“That wasn’t just a win.” Aurora laughed. “It was an annihilation. Did you see the other team leaving with their tails tucked between their legs?”

I ruffled her hair before she swatted my hand away. The girl knew her football and was at all our games. I only hoped Liam and I would get drafted to the same team as Kylian. It was unlikely, though.

“Let’s go to Last Call,” Liam suggested as we headed to our cars.

It was a popular bar close to campus—one we could walk to—that most of the team went to after home games. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

“We’re in too,” Kylian confirmed before opening the door to his SUV so Aurora could get in.

When we got there, the place was packed.

A few teammates saw us and waved us over, making room for us by the bar.

Moving through the crowd wasn’t easy. Everyone wanted to congratulate us.

The guys were relatively simple to say thanks and move on from.

It was the girls who clung to us. Liam loved it and already had one on each arm.

After the tape fiasco, I wasn’t interested and shifted my body to avoid them without being too obvious.

I ordered a beer and nursed it, preferring not to go out to drink but more to unwind.

I chatted easily with my friends, the adrenaline after the game slowly settling.

It wasn’t long before Kylian and Aurora left to return to our place.

I didn’t plan to stay much longer either.

The girls were only getting more aggressive.

Liam’s girl posse expanded, and as much as I tried to keep them away, one or two kept hanging on me. But I’d had it when a curvy brunette tugged me down enough to whisper in my ear.

“Want to get out of here? We can make our own video together, much wilder than the last one.” Her fingers tightened on my arm. “I’m totally into bondage and am up for anything… even more than one person.”

“Sorry.” I plucked her hand off my arm and moved back a step. “Not interested.”

I motioned to Liam that I was heading out. “You okay? Or do you want to go too?”

Liam grinned. “I’m good. I’ll see you later. Or tomorrow.” He winked at the blonde on his arm.

We were closer to the patio exit than the front of the bar, so I headed that way.

I passed by a table of drunk girls, frustrated as they reached out to latch onto me, which made me careless.

And as I stormed to the outdoor section of the bar, I bumped into a woman’s soft body.

Jolts of electricity shot through me where we came in contact.

What was that?

She gasped as her wine spilled across her chest. My brain seemed to slow down, short circuiting from the electric buzz coursing through me over our contact.

I got lost in absorbing every visual detail of the long, thick honey-blond hair that fell to her mid-back.

An ivory silk dress hugged her gorgeous body, adhering to her wet breasts.

I couldn’t tear my gaze from her perfect mounds and how her nipples strained against the fabric. “I’m so sorry,” I mumbled before reaching toward the table to my right and snagging a few napkins. I started awkwardly patting the spill.

Her hands batted at mine, breaking the spell her body and my embarrassment had over me. I stopped groping her long enough to bring my gaze up her perfect curves to take in the rest of her, and I groaned. The girl was Miss Sinclair—my nephew’s teacher.

What was with the universe and both Preston and me ruining her clothes?