Page 30 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Shelby

“You’re breaking my teammates’ hearts, Shelby, I hope you realize that?”

I pick at the grass, then roll onto my back, the mid-morning sun warming my skin. “It was one date.”

“Still a date.”

I look up to Travis from the picnic blanket we lay on in the middle of the quad. “I guess.”

“It was with Christian, right?”

“Yes!” I look at him questionably, like who else would it be.

“Just checking, because my sources tell me there were at least four other players at the table.” I throw the grass at him, but it barely makes it halfway and falls among the container of blueberries.

“Either way, they mentioned that you were fraternizing with the enemy and asking why the no-touching rule didn’t apply to the footballers. ”

I shade my eyes with my hand and face Travis as he sits, unwrapping sandwiches. His green hat making his bright green eyes even more vibrant.

“So, I’m in the penalty box? ”

Letti pops a strawberry in her mouth. “Yep, apparently you should be prepared to be booed out of the arena next game.”

“Uh-huh, I will prepare for the public shunning. Should I wrap myself in plastic wrap to protect myself from the egging?”

Travis passes me a sandwich. “We are hockey players, Shelby, we throw punches…not eggs.”

“Bubble wrap then.”

Letti laughs, sitting up and taking her sandwich from Travis’s outstretched hand. “Maybe we will get some when our costumes arrive.”

“You ordered them already?” Travis asks between a mouthful of his turkey sandwich; I swear, four bites and it’s gone.

“Yes, I kind of had to, it’s Halloween, Travis, and they run out of sizes quickly. Plus, you remember last year the delivery took over three weeks.”

Travis rests his arm on his knee. “How could I forget, you made me call the company because they kept hanging up on you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not using that company this time,” she grumbles.

Travis picks up another sandwich. “So, what are you going as?”

I swallow the bite of my sandwich. “Umm, Mavis from Hotel Transylvania for my first-ever Halloween.”

“Your first, a Halloween virgin, look out,” Travis whistles. “And what are we going as, babe?”

“Bonnie and Clyde. ”

“Perfect.”

***

We had a two-hour break for lunch, so we decided to have a picnic and enjoy the sunshine.

I smile as I slowly turn my head and take in the grounds and the students making their way to and from class.

People are scattered around as I watch a nearby group of students play soccer using their backpacks as goals.

Other students are throwing a football back and forth just like a quarterback would, reminding me of the bet I made with Randy.

“So, I may have gotten myself in over my head.”

Letti raises a questioning eyebrow at me. “Go on.”

“I made a bet with Randy, the quarterback?”

Letti and Travis share a look.

“What was the bet?” Letti asks, leaning forward.

I fall back and rest on the palms of my hands as I swallow the last of my sandwich. “That I could beat him at a game of Call of Duty…well, best out of five games, actually.”

“Okay,” Travis says.

“And how did all this come about?” Letti asks.

I take a sip of my drink and wipe my lips with the back of my hand. “At breakfast with Christian. The guys were there…”

“Again?”

“Yeah, but only briefly this time. Anyway, he was going home to play the PlayStation. I asked what he played, he said Call of Duty. I said I play that, he asked if I was any good, I said yes, the gauntlet was thrown and somehow, we made a bet.”

Travis laughs. “So, are you actually any good?”

Letti answers for me. “Yeah, she is awesome.”

I turn to her. “Yes, but I don’t know how good he is. I took the bet without really thinking about it all. Now, the bet’s done, the stakes are made, and I’m freaking out.”

Letti leans in. “Oh God, what are the stakes?”

I cringe, showing my teeth. “If I lose, I have to sing the national anthem at one of their training sessions.”

Travis barks out a laugh, almost choking on his second sandwich. “You’re kidding? That’s fucking hilarious…you’ll be on YouTube within minutes!”

I shake my head in disbelief, still mortified at the thought of doing something so embarrassing.

“Oh my God, Shelby, what did you do?” Letti says with a slow shake of her head.

“I don’t know,” I moan, throwing my head back and looking to the sky. “That would be so humiliating.”

Travis gathers himself. “Wait, what if you win?”

I turn toward them as they watch me, and I can’t help but smile. “Well, it was Christian’s suggestion. I just want to make that perfectly clear, but if I win, he has to run out onto the field at one of their training sessions in only a jock strap.”

They both lose it this time, each shaking with laughter. “That is awesome,” Letti snorts. “Oh my God, you have to win! ”

“Hey!”

“What?” she replies sheepishly, “I don’t want Shelby to sing in front of everyone…that would be so embarrassing,” she turns to me. “Can you sing?”

“Not a key, and I don’t even know your anthem.”

“See, very embarrassing,” she says back to Travis, defending herself. “I’m just looking out for my girl’s best interests.”

“Uh-huh,” he says with a flick of his eyes, not believing for a second her real intentions.

I lean forward and start gathering up the empty containers and wrappers. “Our first game is Wednesday night, so I guess I will find out what I’m up against then. I’m going home to practice after this last class.”

“Right, well, I can pick up dinner from the dining hall. You need to practice. You have to win!”

Travis clears his throat.

“She can’t sing, she said so herself.” She flutters her eyelashes at him.