Kyle was clear, out ahead of the safety who was about five feet on his tail. Cash launched it at him a second before a player broke free of the block and took Cash out from the side.
The ball sailed through the air as the oxygen was knocked from his lungs, his eyes wide as he watched the ball’s trajectory as he was tackled to the ground.
He hit hard on his right hip, but he didn’t care. Only thing that mattered was that ball landing in Kyle’s hands.
Kyle catapulted himself off the ground, jumping high and snatching it from the air, exactly the way it was intended, before he went blazing down the field. His legs pumping hard as he passed by the first down mark.
With each step, he pulled out ahead of the defense.
And the entire crowd was on their feet. A thunder of excitement as Kyle flew for the end zone.
Then he crossed it.
Touchdown.
And it was complete disorder.
A charge of exhilarated energy ricocheted through the air and roared in his ears as he climbed to his feet.
Shouts and cheers and the stamping of feet against the metal of the stadium.
His entire team was jumping and smacking each other on the backs as they celebrated. Their kicker made contact with the ball and sent it sailing through the field goal posts for an extra point that sealed their win.
His team came rushing up for him, but the only thing that mattered right then was scanning that crowd, his attention skating right back to the far-right side to find cornflower eyes staring back.
The girl standing with both hands up under her chin and glee on her face.
So fucking pretty, he realized right then. Just so fucking good and right.
His chest squeezed in a fit of realization, and his heart began to pound at a wild, emboldened beat.
Because that Wallflower?
She was the only thing he could see, and he was finished denying what looking at her really meant.
Light tapping sounded at his window. Overeager, he snapped his attention up to find Daisy’s face and both hands pressed to the glass.
His pulse that had been racing all night throbbed erratically.
Nerves prickled his senses, Cash unable to process everything that he felt. Pride and joy and this strange nervous energy that buzzed through his stomach when he saw her waiting for him.
He moved to the window and shoved it open. Crisp air rushed in since they were marching toward December, but he still felt hot. The blood careening through his veins, though he tossed her as confident a grin as he could. “Hey, you.”
“Hey yourself, superstar.” It was all a tease as she slipped through the window. He took her hand, for the first time realizing how fucking soft it was, and he suddenly felt overwhelmed by the scent he could recognize anywhere.
Fresh flowers and the hint of sweet vanilla.
He helped her climb all the way in, and his head cocked to the side as he pulled her deeper into his room. “I thought it was heartbreaker?” he couldn’t resist teasing.
“Usually the superstars are the ones who are breaking all the hearts.” It was playfulness that was on her mouth, but her voice was wispy, those blue eyes flitting all over his face.
His chest compressed. Or maybe it was just that his own heart was pressing too full. Butting up against its confines and trying to bust free.
A long moment passed between them, both held in this uncertainty that he could almost taste. Something different cresting the easy connection he always felt with her.
Then her brow pinched. “You didn’t go to the dance? I didn’t think I would hear from you tonight.”
He’d texted her, asking her where the hell she was and to get her ass over to his house so she could celebrate with him.
