Page 45

CHAPTER 45

SIENNA

I will be forever grateful to Mrs. Ward. She’s watching Zoey for me so I can come to this game. It’ll be past Zoey’s bedtime by the time I go back to collect her, but so worth it. Hopefully Zoey won’t turn feral. If I’m lucky, she might even fall asleep on Mrs. Ward’s couch, and I can just bundle up her sleepy little body and take her home to Football Frat.

Man, I love living there.

It’s been awkward some of the time, I guess. The house isn’t really set up for a toddler, but Zander’s been doing little things to make it safer. He even bought a car seat for his SUV. It was the sweetest thing. Zoey was stoked, excitedly climbing into it and demanding a drive.

She loves Zander so much. She loves all the guys, even Carson, who tries to avoid her like the plague. If he’s ever home, she’ll always try to interact with him. I should put a stop to it, but it’s so funny watching Carson squirm.

Oh man, he wants us gone so badly. I cringe and try to flick the thought from my mind. Darting my eyes away from his helmet, I focus back on my man.

I’m so freaking proud of him right now, leading his team onto the field like the champion he is.

He’s told me about his dreams to play pro ball, and I’m going to support him all the way. I don’t care where we live next year, as long as we can be together. If he gets drafted, I’ll just follow him. I’ve got no ties to any place in particular, but I’m tied to him, and I’m happy to stay that way for life.

Russell doesn’t know about any of this.

I’m pretty sure he’d blow a gasket if he found out. He’s still annoyed with me for staying away for so long. One night has turned into three weeks, and he is riled.

Thankfully, he hides that whenever I take Zoey over to play or catch up with him at the park, but the rest of the time, I’m getting a steady stream of texts that constantly question my sanity. He loves to complain about my choices. But after each rant, I then get a thread of apologies and begging not to cut him out of Zoey’s life.

Honestly, he’s infuriating.

But Zoey loves him.

He is really sweet with her, and I can’t forget the fact that he and his family have been my longest friends. Growing up the way I did, I struggled to make connections that would last. But the Fishers have always been an anchor point, and even though Russell drives me bonkers sometimes, he’ll always be a part of my life.

My parents have been kind of pissed about my latest decisions, but I’m slowly trying to talk them around. They understand that Zander and I have worked things out, and they’re cautiously optimistic, but they’re really unhappy about the rift in my relationship with Russell, which is probably why I’ve been trying to appease everyone and keep Russell in my life.

Which annoys Zander, so I still can’t keep everybody happy.

I internally roll my eyes and try to focus back on the game.

Zander seemed nervous about this one. I get that it’s his old school, and I’m assuming that’s the main problem, although he won’t confirm nor deny.

He gets so hedgy whenever I mention Kelsey U. He has yet to share any details of his time there. I think he worries that it’ll just bring up that ugly memory of what I saw. But I’ve forgiven him for that. I want to move past it and just forget, which is why I probably let it slide whenever he changes the topic off Kelsey U.

But man, he was agitated this morning. He wouldn’t say he was, and he put on a smile whenever he was interacting with Zoey, but I could feel the tension pulsing out of him, which is why I was determined to find a babysitter and be here to support my man.

“Woohoo! Go get ’em, baby!” Teah cups her hands around her mouth and cheers on Grady.

Some of her sorority sisters are with her tonight. She’s introduced me to Bella and Trinity. They seem nice enough, although I thought they weren’t into football, so I’m surprised they’re here. Unless one of them is making a play for one of the football guys. Yeah, that makes sense.

I dart my eyes to them, trying to figure out who they’re swooning over, but I’m distracted by Wily’s mom. She’s still talking, telling me all about how amazing both her children are. Wily’s sister, Blake, is a freshman at a college in Chicago this year. She was valedictorian at her high school, and apparently she’s going to cure cancer and be the first woman to walk on the moon. Okay, so Mrs. Wilson didn’t actually say that, but she may as well have. She is one proud mama. As for Wily, well, the sun shines out of his ass, and her “little” boy is going to play pro and one day make it to the Super Bowl, where he’ll make game-changing tackles and blocks and be instrumental in winning the team that trophy.

Phew! Talk about pressure.

I’m sure glad I’m not a Wilson.

And I’m sure glad Wily doesn’t seem to wear that pressure at all. He’s so smiley and laid-back that it makes me wonder how he came from two such intense people.

“Okay, let’s go, let’s go.” Mr. Wilson claps, watching the kickoff like it’s a life-and-death situation.

I swallow and turn my attention to the game, cheering when a Cougar’s receiver dodges two tackles before being brought down.

“Yes! Good positioning! Well done! Well done!” Mr. Wilson is clapping and shouting like the team can actually hear him.

I hide my smile and watch the game without a word, pride bursting through me when Zander steps out onto the field.

There’s my man.

He clips his helmet and bends into the huddle. I can imagine what he’s saying, calling the perfect play. He’s been studying his playbook like a freaking Bible, and his intensity around this particular game has been way more potent. He’s been staying late to review game videos with Coach. It’s like they’re on a mission to take down the Titans. They don’t want to just beat this team—they want to annihilate them.

Biting my lips together, I watch them set up for the play, tracking my man as he prepares for the snap.

He yells out a final direction before the ball is snapped into his hands. Taking a few steps back, he does a spin, then passes the ball off for a running play. He’s quick and efficient, but he doesn’t see the guy coming in from behind and gets completely slammed.

I can practically hear his bones crunching as he hits the turf. Damn, that was rough. Was it even legal?

The referees don’t seem to be doing anything about it, and all I can do is watch Zander as the guy who tackled him gets up, pushing Zander’s helmet with a rough shunt before walking away.

That asshole!

I growl, rising to my feet and feeling that fire race through me. How dare he treat Zander that way!

Zander gets up, looking a little worse for wear before jogging up the field to get set for the next play. The Cougars managed twelve yards, but I can sense that this is going to be a really tough game. The Titans seem to be out for blood, and I can’t help wondering if this is why Zander was so nervous about this game.

He knew this was coming.

What I want to know is why.