Chapter Five
MONTANA
Igatheredthe girls in a huddle. “Okay, I can throw a ball, but who’s good at catching?”
Reagan raised her hand. “I am. My family always plays a friendly game of football on Thanksgiving.”
Reagan, the mousy girl in computer class, wasn’t so mousy. She was downright gorgeous with her hazel eyes, long dark-blond hair, and smattering of freckles. Not to mention, her voice wasn’t so nails-on-chalkboard cringey.
“I’ll cover Train,” Nina said.
I bit my tongue as jealousy, hot and fast, coursed through me. I didn’t do jealous, although part of me wanted to coldcock Nina for what she’d done to Train. Elvira had quickly given me the 411. Nina had cheated on Train. Nina was supposed to be living in Florida, and the school year might suck with Nina’s return. I would’ve asked more questions, but Nina had parked her scrawny butt on our blanket even though she hadn’t been invited.
I didn’t want to sit and listen to Nina talk about how she and Train were getting back together and how she missed kissing him. Blah. Blah. Blah. I didn’t have any claim to the guy, and I didn’t want to get serious with anyone anyway, but Nina’s thin voice was definitely grating on my nerves. That was enough to spur me into action. So football it was.
“You’re back, huh?” Reagan asked Nina in a pithy tone.
I was beginning to like Reagan. She had some moxie that told me the two of us would get along great.
Nina flattened her lips. “Yeah, I am. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Stay away from Train.” Reagan’s voice had dropped a couple of degrees. “He doesn’t need your cheating ways. And go near Austin, and I’ll tear you a new one.” The snarl on Reagan’s face was priceless.
Elvira, who was sandwiched in between Reagan and Nina, swung one arm out in front of Reagan and the other out to block Nina. “No fights. Let’s just have fun.”
Aw, I wanted to see Reagan take down Nina. That would have been more fun than football.
“By the way, we haven’t met yet,” the brunette with the ponytail said to me. “I’m Jan. Reagan and I are cheerleaders. So what do you know about football?”
“I learned a couple tidbits from one of my mom’s boyfriends.” Joey had played for the Naval Academy. “All right. Elvira, you snap the ball to me. I’ll throw to Reagan. Then the rest of us block the guys.”And Nina, keep your filthy paws off of Train.
“Why don’t we distract them by flashing our butts?” Nina asked. “That way, Reagan has a clear line to score.”
I would bet that the boys would sink into the sand. I peeked around Nina. Train had a pained expression on his sweat-sheened face. I couldn’t say for sure why he looked pissed, but I would guess that Elvira was right. Nina’s return had thrown him for a loop. I was curious if Train still harbored feelings for the pretty auburn-haired girl. Then I tossed my curiosity aside. Their relationship was none of my business.
“Girl,” Jan said, “while I would like nothing more than to tease Derek, he would freak if I showed any of the other guys my butt.”
I wouldn’t doubt that, considering he’d all but berated her for wanting to throw a football. Regardless, I had to agree with her that any game should be played fairly, not by distracting a group of guys, plus the large crowd on the beach, with our private parts.
“Come on,” Austin shouted. “Today. The beer is getting warm.”
“We’re playing football, not stripping,” I said to the group.
Everyone nodded except Nina. She rolled her eyes, and I wanted to pluck out each of those murky gray eyeballs.
Instead, I clapped. “Let’s show them how to play this game.”
We got into position, facing off with the five boys. All of them were sweaty and built, all ready to play except Train. He was still sporting a vibe that said he did not want to be there. I couldn’t blame him. If Nikko, the boy who had broken my heart, was part of the gang I hung out with, I would be snarling, sneering, and protesting.
With the ball in hand, Elvira got in front of me then bent over at the waist and readied the ball. The other girls fanned out, each matching up with one guy. Nina and Train.Argh!Reagan and Austin. Jan and Derek. That left Elvira and me with Bo and Lou. Both boys had big guts, no necks, and scary looks on their faces. Surely, they wouldn’t tackle us since we were playing touch football.
“Hike!” I shouted.
Elvira flipped the ball to me. I shuffled back a few steps while Bo was trying to get around Elvira. Lou, on the other hand, was coming at me like a rocket. Reagan had her hands up in the distance with Austin on her tail. I launched the ball at Reagan a split second before Lou’s very large hands were on my waist. I stumbled backward, praying Lou wouldn’t fall on top of me. I got my wish only because his arm went around me as he pulled me to him.
I let out a breath as our bodies mashed together. “Thank you for not falling on top of me.”
He grinned, showing his dimples. “That was some throw. Wow.”
