Prologue
December, 9 Years Ago
Jax
With ten secondsleft on the game clock, I take a deep breath and search the crowd for the one person I need to see most right now. If I can just find those stunning hazel eyes and let their calming effect ground me, I know I’ll be okay.
I catch a glimpse of Lauren’s golden hair, drawn back into her signature braid, and in the bright lights overhead, I swear I can see every one of her freckles on display. Her eyes are closed and her hands are clasped as if she’s praying for our victory, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
Charlie, our quarterback and my best friend, hollers to indicate the start of the play, and I surge down the field. Even in the chaos, I swear Lauren’s voice rises above the others, and I use it to push me farther and faster, like my life depends on it. With our team down by five, it kind of feels like it does.
A streak of green darts into my field of vision, and I deftly dodge the opposing player in time to catch the ball.The second I step into the end zone, the whole stadium erupts into a wall of sound. Back in Roots, Texas, everyone takes football seriously, but our stadium is nothing compared to this one, home of the Cowboys and, for tonight, our state championship game.
A group of students hop the railing that’s been holding them back the last four quarters, surging onto the field. My teammates surround me, wild grins on their faces. This is the first season in twenty years the Spurs have made it to state, and it’s been nearly forty since we’ve clinched a win.
Through the mass of people bombarding me with congratulations and pats on the back, my attention once again splits. I can’t help it. From the moment I met her, I’ve searched for Lauren in every crowd.
Finally, I catch sight of blonde hair braided down the back of a Roots Spurs jersey with Charlie’s name on the back. I’d be insanely jealous if that jersey didn’t belong to her brother. Lauren wraps Charlie up in a hug, and then the two make their way over to me. As her gaze catches on mine, the noise in the stadium quiets. All I see is her.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, and I hate myself a little bit for feeling it now. After everything I’ve been through, I know I could never have a woman as smart, kind, and beautiful as Lauren. She deserves someone brave and strong and who can give her the world, but I’m not that person. I’m good at school and football, but I’m not good at protecting the people I love. It’s a miracle my mom and I made it out of Oklahoma this summer, and that miracle had nothing to do with me.
I try to remind myself why I’m unworthy as she and Charlie continue my way, but the second Lauren flashes me a grin, the only thought I’m capable of isshe might be my favorite person in the world.
“Nice catch out there.” Charlie claps me on the shoulder.
“Nice throw.” I nudge his side.
“Just like we practiced, right?”
I don’t get a chance to answer before a group of guys dogpiles on Charlie. I may have made the game-winning catch, but he had a heck of a game tonight. We wouldn’t have won without him.
Lauren tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before saying, “Good game, Jax.”
Hearing my name on her lips cartwheels my stomach a dozen times. I love the way she says it, like I’m someone special, not just another man in my family destined to hurt those he loves.
“Thanks. I heard you cheering out there.”
“No way!” She tosses her hand dismissively. “Not in an arena this big, not with all these people.”
“I swear I heard you. You were my good luck charm.”
She grabs on to my wrist, lifting my cheesy cereal-box bracelet and giving me a pointed look. The touch sends warmth throughout my entire body. “I thought this was your good luck charm.”
It used to be. I’ve worn it to every game since I found it. My teammates thought it was ridiculous until I went on to make three touchdown catches.
I shake my head, pulling it off. “Not after tonight. I needyouat all my games instead.” I slip the bracelet over her wrist as color fills her cheeks.
“Come on. I didn’t do anything more than the rest of the fans.”
Except she did. When I came to town, Charlie was the first to make me feel welcome, but Lauren was the one whose presence silenced my mind enough to forget the painthat forced my mom and me to stay with my aunt. Two nights ago, when I was too nervous to sleep because of our upcoming game, Lauren was the one who sat up in the dim light of the Rhodes’ kitchen, hyping me up. When the nerves of the game made me nauseous during warmups, Lauren’s smiling face in the stands is what calmed me down. There’s a spark between us that I’ve felt from the moment I first laid eyes on her, and as much as I try to ignore it, I can’t.
Charlie rushes back up to the two of us. He’s drenched, and when he lays his hand on me, it’s sticky.
I jerk back. “Dude, what the hell’s that?”
“Gatorade.” He beams. “There’s going to be a huge party tonight. We have to go.”
“I don’t know. I’m not really into?—”
