Page 86 of Touchdown, Tennessee

Andrew was right.

That wasexactlywhat I would usually do.

CHAPTER 13

ANDREW

“Holy fuck, Peachel, it’s happening!” Luke’s voice came from around the corner of the alcove.

My throat was so tight I was on the verge of crying.

My heart felt like someone was crushing it in a vise, and Gray was looking at me with an intensity in his eyes I couldn’t fathom.

You know exactly what he’s going to do.

Coach is never going to trust you again, because of everything you’ve hidden.

And as usual, I had to keep it all under wraps, because Luke couldn’t find out about this, too.

“What’s happening?” I asked him as he bounded around with a beer in his hand.

“You’re about to be a star,” Luke said, smiling and happy as always. “Coach just called. ESPN wants to interview us. You and me, baby!”

I nodded, sucking a breath of air deep into my lungs.

My blood was still swimming in liquor. I’d been so drunk I texted Gray that Imissedhim.

How stupid could I have been?

“ESPN interview,” I said.

It was the kind of thing I’d been wanting for years. Any attention on me now only meant good things for next year, when I was going to be up for the draft. ESPN was already seeking me out, and I should have been overjoyed.

But I couldn’t feel anything right now.

“Finish your fuckin’ drink, Peachel, because we’ve got togo. They want to interview us out on the field.”

I furrowed my brow. “Now?”

“They’re going to be there in an hour.”

I was going to be sick.

“They can’t be doing itnow.”

“They’re doing a tour of the colleges in Tennessee today and then Kentucky tomorrow.”

“Fuck. I’m too drunk?—”

“Nothin’ wrong with that,” Luke said with a laugh. “I’m going to go close out our tab.”

Panic flooded my veins.

No, no, no.

I couldn’t handle this even if I were sober.

“First step is water, Andrew,” Gray said. He went over to the bar and I watched him walk off.