“No one less coordinated.”
* * *
“To be honest,I really thought you’d be slightly better than this,” said Ryan.
“I don’t have superpowers.”
He laughed as I picked the ball back up and practically rolled it to him. “You never know.”
“Just throw it again,” I grumbled.
“You got it this time,” Ryan encouraged, one hand gripping the football. “I’ll be gentle.”
I narrowed my eyes at him but lifted my hands. “Well, let’s go.”
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Are you sure?”
“I said I was ready,” I insisted.
I was going to catch this stupid thing at least once. I had no luck thus far, and I was pretty sure time was running out before the actual game started and the people filing into seats didn’t have to watch my incompetence at the American game.
Watching the ball, I reached up, barely able to catch the lobbed ball as Ryan hurled the object toward my chest. It flopped between my hands, bouncing between my palms before I grabbed it. I was holding the football.
“I got it!” I might’ve screamed.
“Now, run! Run, Luella!” he called as the others with much smaller and less enthusiastic children stared.
Still, I didn’t pause. I had the ball. I had done it!
I turned toward the other goal behind me, sprinting as quickly as I could in my boots that sank into the patches of dirt before I finally crossed the line for a touchdown. Turning back, I extended my hands to either side as Ryan carefully jogged toward me, favoring that one side, though he didn’t seem to be in any pain.
He didn’t stop as he got closer, lifting me off the ground and throwing me around in a circle as he continued to cheer, as if I had done more than run a few yards against no one.
“Woo-hoo! Look at you. Maybe Barnett will make you the new running back for the team.”
“Doubtful.”
I couldn’t stop the laughter that rolled off my tongue as I let the football fall behind his back and onto the ground. It bounced once before rolling away. Carefully, after another moment, he set me down. My arms still looped around his neck. A light bead of sweat spilled on his forehead from where his hair stuck up.
I wiped it away as I glanced down at his lips again. What would he do if I kissed him again right now, right in front of everyone? His lips were right there, perfectly parted.
“Attention, students, faculty, and visitors. Please find your way off the field and into your seats as we reset for the game in fifteen minutes,” the announcer called overhead.
“Well …” Ryan pecked my lips quickly, sweetly, for a long, lingering second before he let one hand go from around my middle. He smiled at my gobsmacked expression, mighty pleased with himself. “Better find our seats for the main event. Shall we?”
* * *
“Finally! I found you guys,”Vadika called out as she moved through the crowded row of other students in the stands. Glancing down at her wrist, she checked her watch, as if she’d truly been on the search for hours.
I scooted over, giving her some room on the seat next to me. “Where have you been?”
“A little bit of everywhere. I was running late,” she admitted without any more details.
Vadika running behind schedule rarely ever happened. With how she’d talked about it before, I’d thought that she would be here earlier, taking part in all the tailgating and schmoozing alumni connections.
