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hawke

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The ball sails through the air, perfect arc and right into the arms of the waiting receiver, just as I called the play.

He runs a few yards before being tackled, but the play worked and that's all that matters. After reviewing hours of tape on our opponent for this Saturday’s game, I am confident this play will work against their defense.

Coach is on board, having complete faith in me. The team, however, is struggling.

The rumors circulating around campus aren’t helping matters.

Riggs delighted in telling me this week I’d earned the reputation of being ruthless.

Selling out my old team, abandoning them in order to get here, and then stole the girlfriend of another athlete.

No one seems to understand that he cheated on her or that essentially, she was mine first. Emmarys has been mine for the past six years, since the first time I saw her.

Our time apart doesn’t diminish the fact that I will always come back for her, and now that she is starting to come around to accepting our relationship, I can finally lay down the groundwork to keep her forever.

I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it.

After practice I make my way to the locker room and for once the buzz in the room quiets when I enter.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what they’re all talking about.

My brow rises and I let all emotion leave my body.

The hard, unyielding man I used to be takes over as I face off with my new teammates.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

A few of them look at each other, some shake their heads and go back to minding their own business. The only person who decides to grow some balls, surprisingly, is Parker.

“It just doesn’t seem right, to walk onto campus and steal another man’s girl,” he says while shrugging his shoulders.

I stare at him before letting my eyes wander over everyone who is now silently watching the drama unfold. “What happened between me and my girl is no one's business. I don’t owe anyone an explanation. Kellan is a big boy and he knows what he did.”

“Still, a man swooping in and stealing what doesn’t belong to him. Turning your back on a team that worked hard for you. Just wondering what kind of man does that, you know?”

“You must have some big kahunas, Parker, to be making accusations about something you have no idea about,” Riggs jumps in.

Parker scoffs and rolls his eyes. “I’m not so sure you should talk, Griffin, since you practically rode his coattails here.”

Riggs busts out laughing, almost doubling over. Despite the jovial mannerisms, his eyes are burning with murder. “Is that what you were told? Did daddy coach have to hold your hand and feed that line to you?”

Parker snaps and charges at Riggs who stands, ready to take him on. Intervening, I rush Parker and push him back until his shoulder blades connect with the lockers.

“If you want to spout off shit, then be prepared for the consequences, Parker.” I get in his face before letting his jersey go.

His body slumps. “Texas didn’t give me anything.

We played as a team under my instructions.

You want to have a winning season too or do you like being done before bowl season?

That's up to you. I’m here to win. Win a championship and win my girl.

Tell Jax Kellan if he wants to own up to his screw up, he can come talk to me.

His loss is my gain. Keep Emma out of this. ”

Turning, I grab my bag and meet everyone’s waiting eyes. “This episode of Gossip Girl is over. If you have something to say, do it to my face and we’ll deal with it. Anyone who wants a ring this year better get with the program and get on board.”

I head out of the locker room, leaving my words to sit with the team. I don’t have time for their shit. If they want to cling to the past they can. The present is now and I have everything to fight for. They can call me ruthless and question my motives, but my actions are speaking loud and clear.

Riggs’s feet hit the pavement behind me and he’s wearing a grin by the time we get to the lot. “So we’re not making more friends?”

I scoff and throw my bag into my truck. “I don’t have time to babysit idiots who want to live in the past. My record will speak for itself come game time.”

“First home game this weekend,” he reminds me and I nod in response.

“We’ll be ready.”

The season is in swing and while we’ve managed to pull it together for an out-of-town game, there's something different about a home crowd. I’ve barely noticed though with fighting to win Emmarys back and making sure everything she needs is taken care of.

Unlike in high school, I don’t have to hide my infatuation with her.

Taking care of her, though, is almost like a full-time job, one I’m gladly taking responsibility for.

It doesn’t matter that she’s paying me in snarky comments or eye rolls because I see the blush she tries to hide or the way her lips almost give way to a smile before frowning.

She wants my attention, but she’s been afraid to show that she does, probably fearing it will go away again.

For me to keep showing up, everyday, that is how I prove to her that she can depend on me.

Riggs bumps my fist before getting into his car and I head to my apartment.

Once I’m there, I check my phone and look for a response to my dinner request text to Emmarys.

Once again, she’s turned me down. I need to up my game.

It's time to play dirty again, seems to be the only way to get her to open up to me. Fuck, I can still taste her on my tongue and I need more of that tangy sweetness. I want more though than her body; I want her heart and in order to get that, she needs to know I’m committed. So I’ll wait and give her another day.

After eating a quick dinner at home, I grab the bag of her favorite Blow-Pop suckers from my pantry and continue tying them together to make the perfect candy bouquet.

I have one ready for every away game she has for her upcoming season.

While Emmarys appreciates flowers, she doesn’t like to get them.

That and she usually kills them by forgetting to water them.

Candy bouquets are safer and she can enjoy them while on the road.

I need to do something to get back in her good graces after our time in the library. She’s pulled away again, avoiding me. I should give her space, except I don’t want her to think that she can get away from me. I’m in this with her, ready to play the long game.

By the time I’m ready to climb into bed for the night, my phone vibrates.

FALCON: Just so you know you’re trending on social media. The “Ruthless QB.”

RIGGS: Some of the team is adjusting to the new information.

ME: Can you two be helpful here? How do I shut it down?

RIGGS: I don’t think that's how it works. We’re not exactly able to shut down every person who is posting it.

FALCON: You’re better off just embracing the title, brother.

ME: Ruthless QB? Fuck that shit.

FALCON: I don’t know. It kind of suits you.

RIGGS: Please, no. That's the last thing we need here.

ME: I’m not embracing the stupid title. Is there a way you can spin it so that it doesn’t hurt Emmarys?

FALCON: The ladies in the comments are already calling it romantic. It's the guys who are second-guessing your playing ability because of her.

RIGGS: Our own kind is so stupid sometimes.

ME: Shut down anything negative toward her.

FALCON: Already on it. You should also consider maybe posting her or something about you two. Just saying.

RIGGS: Before the draft?

ME: The draft doesn’t matter when it comes to her. Just wait and see how the season plays out. People will shut up when they realize I can win a Natty and get the girl.

I turn my phone to silent and set it on my nightstand.

I trust my brother to do his thing and I know they’ll both back me up.

The one person I do not want anything negative to affect is Emmarys.

I need her to trust me, to know she’s it for me and that I’m hers completely so that when the media fires off shit, we can both let it roll off of us.

I’ve worked too hard to get her, some stupid social media posts aren’t going to tear her from my grasp.

I might have to amp up my plans to keep her, to tie her to me forever.

I just hope she’ll believe in our love enough not to hold it against me.