“Yes, hi!” Gracie grins at me. “Danny’s here, too.”
“Aren’t you two at college now?”
“Yes…”
“So, why are you calling me? Don’t you need to go sing the school fight song or something?” Mae asks with a dose of her classic sarcasm.
“Singing the fight song is on the agenda later tonight, actually,” I tease.
Mae laughs. “Alright then. How’s move-in going?”
“It’s going great.” Gracie pushes a few stray curls out of her face. “Danny’s doing all the heavy lifting. Janie decided to drop me off first so I could spend some time getting settled. I’m here a little bit earlier than most students because of my animal sciences internship, so I haven’t met my roommate yet.”
“I hope you’ll claim the better bed, Bee.”
“Uh, probably not.” Gracie blushes.
After years of minimizing herself for her father’s convenience, taking the “better” furniture is something Gracie would never do. She’s still learning how to curb her habit of making herself small.
Mae chuckles, her voice raspy over the phone. “Make sure you stick up for yourself over there. You’re the strongest kid I know. Don’t let anyone walk all over you. Never again.”
“Or, if things get tough, maybe I’ll just come hide at home with you. You’re close enough,” Gracie teases.
“Girl, don’t make me put a barricade around this house. If I see your face in the next ninety business days, we’ll be having words.”
I stifle a laugh. “Business days? Sounds serious. Shall we prepare a presentation for our next reunion?”
“I’m not kidding. Bee needs to live it up! Pull all nighters, go to parties, dye her hair. Hell, join one of those groups where you pay people to be your friends for all I care.”
Gracie giggles. “A sorority?”
“Yes, join a sorority!”
We both chuckle, and Gracie leans her head against my shoulder.
“Thanks for your input, I’ll definitely consider it.” Gracie playfully rolls her eyes. “We already miss you, Mae.”
“Miss you, too. Well, I’ve got a hot date with a puzzle, here. I’m going to let you go. I love you like bees love honey.”
“Love you, too,” we say in unison.
“Nice set, Gracie baby. Keep it up,” I encourage as she pulls on the rowing machine handle and pushes off the foot rest with her legs.
“Thanks,” Gracie replies, out of breath. “I think that was the most resistance I’ve done. I’m going to be so sore tomorrow.”
“I’ll help work over your muscles tonight,” I promise, drawing a blush from her.
God, things are so good with us. We’ve fallen into a solid routine after just two weeks at Easton. On the weekends, we explore campus and hang out with mutual friends. Gracie’s already close with the girlfriends of the guys on the team, jokingly telling me I’ve been demoted from “best friend” to“male best friend.” On the weekdays, she joins me at the campus gym for my personal workouts, even though she hates intentional exercise. For me, all of my exercise is intentional.
Gracie may call it a “torture dungeon with air conditioning,” but I call it Monday through Sunday. Football isn’t just a sport to me—it’s a part of me. Every workout, every meal, just serves to ingrain it further into my DNA. Nearly every choice I’ve made has led me here, playing as a Division 1 starter.
I increase the resistance on my machine as my girlfriend eyes me up and down, unashamedly checking me out.
“Wow, Danny. I’m pretty sure you could lift all my emotional baggage with one hand,” she jokes.
“Ha ha. Very funny, Gracie,” I deadpan.
It’s my turn to stare at her now, and my eyes linger on the curve of her ass. The pale blue of her fitted tank top and leggings brings out the vibrant blue color in her right eye, making it appear brighter. Her cheeks are pink, and the light sheen of sweat on her face only makes her glisten. I could spend all day admiring this girl, but I tear my gaze from her to focus back on my workout.
