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Hope the bus ride to Georgia is smooth. I know how those South Carolina roads are.

H oly Shit. Am I seeing things?

I look over to Graham for some affirmation, but he has his Beats on, eyes closed, and head leaned back against the seat.

Focusing back on the text, I scroll up and see the hundred before, from me to her, that went unanswered.

I’ll take any type of progress when it comes to her, and something about this feels huge.

I’m about to ask Grant to pinch me. Am I dreaming right now?

Don’t be so dramatic

Seeing her name on my phone again reminds me of the excitement I felt as a teen when she first texted me. It’s even more special now. It gives me a sliver of hope that’s she’s thinking of me and intentionally reaching out without me initiating.

Nah babe, no drama here. Just living on cloud nine right now.

As for this shitty ride. You’re too late. I think I have a concussion from the number of times my head has hit the window.

I can’t help but look up to the middle of the bus to see if Carter is texting too, and it kills me, knowing he has every right to be talking to her. But somehow, I also feel no remorse for kissing his girlfriend the other night or falling asleep with her in my arms a few days ago. I have no problem being that guy in this scenario. This isn’t a contest; this is the love of my life who I let others’ bad decisions affect. I won’t let her go completely unless she asks me to. Unless she tells me that he’s who she really wants, and even then, I may put up a fight.

So yeah, fuck bro code. He ain’t my brother anyway. He hasn’t been my friend since I got the starting quarterback position in our eighth-grade year on the middle school team. The jealousy ate him alive, and I knew the days of him being my buddy were gone.

Welp, maybe it will knock some sense into you.

If it doesn’t, I’m sure Georgia’s linebacker, Solomon, will. Have you seen that dude?

Yeah, more QB sacks than most of their defensive ends. But you’re quick, and you have a tough o-line.

True. But I’d be even faster if you were going to be there.

Heavy on the charm today, huh?

Always for you, BB.

I’ll be watching. What are Dad’s manifestations for this week?

Five touchdowns, and two drives that get our kicker close enough for field goals. At least two of those touchdowns will be passes to Nola. He thinks this one will be a closer game since they have the home-field advantage.

Sounds like a good game.

You got this.

Can I tell you something?

It depends…

Maverick told me they were coming and Bellamy too. My heart sank when they said you weren’t coming with them.

I know even if she came, I wouldn’t be the only one she’d be coming to watch. But just having her there is all I care about. The rest will work itself out.

Sorry, I have to work.

Tell Phil… Outlaw said you need the night off.

I have no doubt he would prob give it to me, but I’m covering someone’s shift this weekend.

I don’t want to push it, so I let it go. I have no right to demand things from her, and I’m semi-reasonable enough to know that.

Opening my photo gallery, I smile at the happy, beautiful girl looking back at me. Briefly, I wonder if she kept any of our pictures. Doubtful. Unlike me, who has a whole album dedicated to her in my phone and a closet door that haunts me daily.

Can I tell you something else?

I have a feeling even if I said no, you’d still tell me.

I’d give anything to look in the stands and see this again…

[Picture message]

The picture is of her in the stands, wearing one of my practice jerseys on my senior night. The sports photographer at our school captured it perfectly, of her right after I ran a touchdown in from the 20-yard line.

Oh geez,I haven’t seen that in forever. I look so young and innocent… And happy.

My chest constricts at the thought I damaged that happiness.

You’re still young. And let’s be honest, you weren’t innocent then either. Do you remember what we did afterward…in my truck?

The thought has me adjusting my cock in my pants. Berkley and I could never keep our hands off each other. She doesn’t respond immediately, and I torture myself by glancing up in Graves’s direction again. This time, he has his phone up to his ear. It fucking guts me that it's probably her on the other end. I imagine going up there, ripping his phone from his ear, and throwing a Hail Mary out the window.

A few minutes later, she responds

I remember.

The next day, we beat Georgia 40 to 28. Five touchdowns, three with two-point conversions, one with an extra point from Pike, and one we didn’t quite get the extra points across the line on. The only prediction of my dad’s that was off was the field goals; we managed to put our kicker in position for one in a fourth down, which Pike kicked beautifully. Nola scored three of our five touchdowns, turning the buzz about his abilities up even further. And I only got my block knocked twice by Solomon, so I’ll take that as a win.

Now, the guys have convinced me to sneak out of the hotel and go to a house party. Apparently, our linebacker, Williams, has a cousin in a sorority here. It sounds like an awful idea, but I know I’ll just sit in my bedroom and wait for Berkley to text me if not. I get in the Uber with Nola, Graham, and Maverick. Cash and Bellamy decided they didn’t want to go. Checking my phone for what feels like the hundredth time tonight, I scroll to the last messages between us.

Good game, Outlaw. Brian’s predictions are almost so spot on it's scary.

Thanks, BB. Yeah, I’m starting to think he’s got a magic ball or some shit.

How’s your head? Solomon is a beast, huh?

Nah, barely felt it.

I’m sure, tough guy.

What you doing tonight?

Working the late shift. I’ll be here with the drunkies all night.

I know the guys said we’re holding off on Sunday dinner since we’ll all be driving back from Georgia, but I’m free once we get home if you are.

She still hasn’t responded to that. I’m trying to convince myself that it’s because she’s busy at work and not avoiding gently letting me down.

We arrive at the Delta Phi Epsilon house that’s already thumping with people and music. Supposedly, no Georgia football players will be here, even though I find it hard to believe since this is a big campus.

Most of my teammates are talking to girls or playing drinking games. I’m standing beside the pong table, babysitting my beer, watching Graham and Nola flirt with two sorority girls. I’ve kindly avoided all the flirty whispers and little touches throughout the party. No part of me even wants to entertain another woman.

Almost worse than a flirty Georgia college girl, Carter Graves walks up beside me. I bite my tongue from saying something smart. I’m not sure how he’s going to play this since he typically just avoids me altogether.

He looks out toward the pool behind the pong table. “This party reminds me of the summer before college. The party at Berk’s place.”

I grind my teeth, remembering the way his hands were on her that night. The visions of them coming to fruition make me want to vomit and break his nose at the same time.

“I knew that night you’d break her heart. And I knew I’d be there for her.”

I tilt my head, looking him straight in the eyes, heeding a warning.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. And I’d tread lightly if I were you.”

“No, Outlaw, you should tread lightly. She’s mine now. I heard how chummy y’all were at the pool party on Sunday when I conveniently wasn’t there.”

I push my finger into his chest. “There’s your first mistake, Graves; she isn’t yours.”

He pushes my finger away, and I let him, knowing I can’t put my hands on him here, of all places. It would jeopardize my whole team. And he knows that, too, which is why he approached me.

“Well, that isn’t what she told me at breakfast yesterday or on the phone earlier. She made sure I knew exactly how she felt about me before I left.”

His words slice through me. I try to school my features, not wanting to give him the satisfaction, but just picturing her and him after everything from this past week feels like a knife digging into my chest.

“How long did it take you to make your move freshman year?” I ask him, partly curious, partly to act unaffected by his previous words.

He raises an eyebrow with a slick smirk that I want to knock off his face. “We hung out before she moved to Mountain Ridge.”

My response is instant. “Bullshit. You left not long after me for football.”

His smirk turns into a smug smile, and I hate that I showed my emotion. “Yeah, but I drove home almost every weekend until school started. She needed a friend from the broken heart you left her with, and I was happy to oblige. Happy to help her forget you .”

I crack my knuckles, begging my rational brain not to punch him. I want him bleeding at my fucking feet.

“But she never forgot me,” I retort, and he tries to hide it, but I see the anger from the truth of my statement as it flashes over his face. I take a threatening step toward him, and I see Graham move from behind the pong table.

“You can try to convince yourself that she has, but you know who she sees when she closes her eyes,” I whisper in his ear.

“Woah, woah, come here, Outlaw,” Graham says, dragging my ass away.

I comply, not saying a word as he questions me about the altercation. Just running Graves’s words over and over in my head as my fists clench tighter and tighter.

“I’ll call myself an Uber; you stay with Nola and Mav. I’m good,” I finally say as we get to the front of the house.

“You sure?” he asks, concern marring his face.

I nod.

“That bullshit between you two has got to stop.”

“Don’t,” I warn, trying my best to hold my shit together.

Happy to help her forget you.

Graham doesn’t say another word; just stands with me until my Uber comes.

I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t fucking help it.

So, you moved onto Graves before you even left for Mountain Ridge, huh?

Fuck, I’m pressing my fucking luck, but for some reason, I need her to confirm it or, even better, tell me it’s bullshit.

But just like my earlier text, this one goes unanswered.

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