Page 33

"Oh. My. Goodness. Archer, you are impossible!" I huffed as I swatted him away.

"Hmmm?" Was his only response as he pushed my hair away from my neck. His slow kisses along my collar bone sent a shiver through me.

We were currently sprawled out on his king-size bed, surrounded by textbooks and binders.

The month of January had been extremely busy for Archer so we'd taken to studying together whenever possible.

It was basically the only time we could be alone.

Unfortunately, I'd learned that my boyfriend was a freaking horndog, so it's up to me to make sure we actually study.

"Archer, your test is tomorrow. If you can't focus with me here then I'll go. I'm not going to be the reason you fail."

Archer let out a defeated sigh as he pressed one final kiss to my shoulder then settled back on the bed. "Fine, I'm focused," he appeased me, raising his hands up to show his innocence. "But I think I'm ready anyway."

"Prove it. I'll quiz you and if you pass we can take a break."

Archer smirked at the challenge. "Yes ma'am."

Fifteen minutes later Archer had me in a chokehold while we cuddled in bed. The butthead had passed with flying colours. I smiled as I peeked up at him from my place on his chest. His eyes were closed and his jaw was slack. There was a flutter behind his lids as he fell asleep.

I melted into the comfort of Archer's arms for a while, soaking up the intimacy that I craved in our busy lives.

My head perked up slightly as the large hand that rested on my back began to drop lower.

I watched Archer's face through narrowed eyes but it stayed relaxed as his hand perused downward.

It skimmed gently over the waist of my jean before landing firmly on the curve of my bum.

The smallest quirk in the corner of Archer's lip gave him away.

"I know you're awake," I laughed.

Archer's hand squeezed gently, sending heat to my stomach. "No, I'm not," he grumbled keeping his eyes closed. His hand brushed lower, gripped the back of my thigh then returned to its place on my bottom.

"Archer!" I wiggled trying to get out of his hold.

"Shhhh I'm sleeping," he mumbled, a full smile now gracing his lips.

"Hey." I poked his cheek to make him open his eyes. He squinted one eye open and glared at me. I poked his cheek again with a giggle as he tried to bite my finger. "Are you nervous for the game?"

Archer dropped his head back against the pillow with his eyes closed, considering my question.

"I'm nervous about the repercussions," he said slowly as he opened his eyes to look back at me.

I raised a confused eyebrow, prompting him to continue.

"There's just a lot riding on this now. I mean, it's the National Championships.

Every NFL team will be watching. If I bomb this, they won't take a second look at me. "

I nodded understandingly. Archer had really been pushing himself since we found out his parents were getting divorced.

I could tell he considered it his sole responsibility now to take care of his mom and sister.

It made me proud of the man he was showing himself to be, but it also worried me.

That was a lot of pressure for one college kid to carry on his back.

"You know what would make me feel better though?" Archer smirked as he nuzzled my throat.

"What?" I asked breathlessly. Archer flipped me onto my back as he positioned himself overtop of me.

He kept his weight off of me by propping himself up on his arms. A blush heated my cheeks as I ogled how hot he was.

The veins on his forearms popped as he held up his upper-body.

His biceps tensed when he readjusted his hands farther apart so he could drop his chest closer to mine.

I was abundantly aware of how close our hips were.

If I flexed my pelvis even slightly, they'd press together.

"Well," he said in that low, slow voice that fogged my brain. "It would probably help if I looked up into the stands and saw my girl wearing my jersey."

"W-wouldn't it k-kind of be a dead giveaway that we're dating," I stuttered as Archer dragged his lips up behind my earlobe. I felt Archer's shoulder shrug as he continued his torture along my jaw.

"You wanted to tell our families," he mumbled between kisses.

"Well, that was before all heck broke loose."

Archer stopped and pulled his head back to stare down at me. His full lips glistened from the slightly wet kisses. "If you really don't want to—"

"I do," I interjected. "I guess I'm just more nervous now to tell them because we kept it a secret. I don't like lying."

"It's not really lying. We never said we weren't dating." Archer smiled sneakily.

A soft laugh popped from the back of my throat. "I don't know if I like how easily you can find a morally grey area."

A week later I anxiously followed a girl with a clipboard through the crowd of Trojan fans.

The National Championship game was a way bigger deal than I had realized.

There were cameras everywhere with news reporters yelling into mic's and pointing out players on the field.

Several assistants walked around with headset's and black blazers making sure everything ran smoothly.

One of those assistants was currently showing me to my seat.

The players had been given tickets for their families to sit in the front row.

Archer's tickets went to his mom, sister, then my family.

I anxiously tugged on Archer's jersey as the assistant stepped aside and motioned to the seat I could take.

I beamed as I saw my family and Archer's already sitting. They all jumped up to hug me, passing me from one to the other until I finally found myself pushed into a seat between Oliver and my dad. I pretended to be really focused on the field when I noticed my dad eyeing the jersey.

"Alright, folks! We have quite the game coming your way soon!" The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers. "We have the defending champs—The Ohio State Bobcats! They've been here two years in a row now and taken it home both times!"

Sweat moistened my hands as the announcer went on and on about our competitors. I rubbed my palms on my jeans to dry them off as I sucked on my bottom lip.

"Now, trying to take the reigning champ's title is the USC Trojans!" The announcer continued. "They had a perfect season up until now and I'm sure they want to keep that streak going here in the post-season."

The booming voice continued to give us highlights of both teams' seasons but I tuned him out. My bottom lip was almost numb by how hard I chewed on it. Finally, the announcer called out each team from the tunnels.

My eyes found Archer right away as he led his team from their locker room.

The whole team bounced excitedly behind him as they got riled up for the game.

Archer jogged determinedly though, keeping his jaw locked and his eyes straight ahead.

My breath caught in my throat as I realized so much of Archer's hopes came down to this one game. He needed to win.

The game moved agonizingly slow. It felt like every second of playtime dragged on.

Both teams were so evenly matched that neither could really get ahead.

By the end of the first half, the game was tied 14-14.

I could tell both teams left the field frustrated with how hard it had been to get the leg up.

As the field cleared, the cameras that had been focused on the players swung towards the crowd. I averted my eyes as the assistants pointed the camera-men in different directions, getting shots of the players' families.

"They sure like you," Oliver laughed into my ear.

I cringed as I looked up. Sure enough several of the camera-men seemed to focus their aim towards our families, lingering on me—on my jersey.

"Probably wasn't the best idea to wear that," Oliver added as he plucked at the number on my chest. "Archer has so much NFL buzz around him. Now they're all going to think you're his girlfriend and have some insight into where he'll sign or something."

"Well,"-I cleared my throat-"actually Ollie..."

"We're back folks!" I sighed internally as the announcer interrupted me. Oliver's attention got pulled away as he screamed and waved his fist in the air with the rest of the crowd.

Maybe telling Oliver without Archer wasn't the best idea. I knew Archer had wanted to talk to Oliver alone before we told our families, but now that it was imminent I just wanted to get it over with.

The second-half moved similarly to the first. We'd get a touchdown—up seven points with the kick. Then they'd get a touchdown—tied game. My dad at one point reached out and physically pulled my lip from my mouth with a pointed stare. I licked the small amount of blood I'd drawn.

Nearing the end of the fourth quarter both teams were getting desperate —and angrier—to pull ahead.

Plays were getting dirtier and hits were getting lower.

Tears sprung to my eyes when Tyler had to be carried off the field cradling his arm as though it were broken.

Not even two minutes later though, Archer called a play that sent a Bobcat off in a similar fashion.

I didn't dare breathe as the teams set up for the last few minutes of the championship game.

The Bobcats had just scored a touchdown and pulled ahead by seven points with their kick.

The air in the stadium was thick with suspense as everyone realized how close this would be.

The Trojans only had two minutes of playtime to earn more than seven points—otherwise, they'd lose.

My ears filled with a stressful buzzing as I watched Archer lead his team. He pointed to different players, calling out plays that I couldn't hear. I could see the determination on his face as he grimaced and got into position. The whistle was blown. The ball was snapped.

The two opposing teams slammed together as they fought for these last final moments. My face crumpled in fear when it seemed like the Bobcat's had the Trojan's stopped. Suddenly, James ripped out of the grasp of the defensemen holding him and shot down the field.

Archer jumped back and readied the ball in his hand, his eyes locked on James. James raced down the field evading the Bobcats who tried to tackle him. But he was so far away from Archer.

The ball flew out of Archer's hand and sailed towards James. Everyone in the stands stood and screamed as the ball went farther and farther. 50 yards. 60. 75. James jumped in the air and snapped the ball to his chest, racing towards the end zone.

"Touchdown!" The announcer screamed as the crowd let out a deafening roar.

"That was an 85-yard pass from the Trojan's QB Archer Johnson!

That's six points to the Trojans making it 27-28 for the Bobcats!

The Trojans are going to make some tough decisions here.

If they take the kick, they'll have 30 seconds to make a play otherwise this game is going into overtime!

If they decide to set up at the 15-yard line, they'll have that 30 seconds to cross the end zone or they lose folks! "

Archer paced on the sideline as his coach yelled into a headset. Every single Trojan watched Archer—waiting to see what their leader would decide. Archer called to his Coach and they talked vehemently back and forth for a moment. Finally, the offensive lineup ran back out on the field.

"Looks like they're setting up for a new play! A risky decision by the Trojan's but if it pays off they'll win the game!" The excitement in the announcer's voice mirrored the energy in the stadium.

The Trojan's offensive squad lined up on the far end of the field with Archer standing behind them.

They had to get the ball past the Bobcat's defensive lineup and move 15-yards to the end zone.

My leg was vibrating at this point I shook so hard but no one took any notice.

Everyone was focused purely on the field.

The ball was snapped and Archer caught it, jumping back swiftly.

The Bobcat's defence slammed into the Trojans as they fought to get through.

I clasped my hands together tightly in prayer as I watched Archer look for a way through the wall of players.

He needed someone to get through the defence so he could pass to them.

There were only ten seconds left on the clock when Archer seemed to realize there wouldn't be a pass.

He darted forward, side-stepping a Bobcat and shoving his shoulder hard into another.

A huge defence-man wrapped his burly arms around Archer and tried to pull him to the crowd.

They stumbled together but at the last second Archer caught himself and twisted out of the hold.

I screamed as I watched Archer cross into the end zone. He threw the ball down hard onto the grass and raised his arms in victory. Tears blurred my vision as I realized it had really happened—the Trojans had won the National Championships.

Laughter erupted out of me as Oliver jumped five feet in the arm as he cheered for his best friend. I was pulled into a large group hug with my family and the Johnsons. Mrs. Johnson was crying like me as she kissed my wet cheeks.

One of the assistants motioned for the families in the front row to stand up and follow her.

She walked over to the entrance to the field and opened the gate for us all to go out.

I rushed forward onto the field, thanking my small size as I slipped through the hoards of people and ran towards the players.

My mind was only on Archer as I broke free of the crowd. He was still standing in the middle of the field as his team swarmed around him. James beamed at me as I ran forward. He bumped Archer on the shoulder making him swing towards me.

The most breath-taking smile I had ever seen spread across Archer's face as our eyes connected.

It stopped me in my tracks for a moment before my feet pulled me forward.

Archer broke from the crowd, patting his teammates on the shoulders as they let him through.

Our eyes didn't leave each other as we both raced forward.

"You did it!" I shrieked as I reached him.

My arms shot around his neck at the same time he grabbed my waist. I let out a loud laugh as he swung me around, both of us high on the win.

He lifted me up higher and my legs wrapped around his hips.

He grabbed the back of my thighs to keep me up as I hugged his neck tightly.

I pulled away from the hug to stare down at Archer.

My watery smile was filled adoration as I whispered, "I am so proud of you.

" My heart thudded in my chest at the intensity behind Archer's eyes.

He stretched his jaw upwards, catching my lips with his own.

The kiss was slow and hard. I clung to Archer's shoulder pads as I felt every ounce of his emotions pouring through our kiss.

A wolf-whistle broke us out of our bubble as I pulled away in a daze.

Archer looked like he didn't want to let me go but then at the same time we both remembered where we were.

My head whipped around quickly as I took in our surroundings.

Archer put me back on the ground but tucked me protectively under his arm while he surveyed the scene around us.

His teammates all watched us with goofy grins, some making kissy faces and laughing together.

The cameras were all turned towards us, catching our moment on tv.

I sucked in a breath as nerves tingled my skin.

My family and Archer's were standing there, staring at us.

My dad and Oliver were both only a few yards away with matching masks of shock.