Because of her height, Yara could barely see over the group of men in front of us. She started clapping anyway when the teams began to file onto the field. I smiled a bit when she balanced on her toes with her phone in hand.
“Yeah, I’m a sucker for being challenged,” she muttered with a frown. “And I need to get proof…”
“Here.” I offered a hand out for her phone. She slid it to me without hesitation with a sigh of relief.
“Pays to have friends in high places,” she joked.
I laughed, nodding in agreement as I took a few quick photos of the guys on the field. My eyes found my brother and Silas rather quickly. I wasn’t sure of David’s last name, but I did know Dakota’s.
Wells was in large, blue block letters on the back of his shirt. He was number eleven — my lucky number as it happened. Not that it meant anything.
“What’s the challenge involve?” I asked when I gave Yara her phone back.
“I do something that doesn’t involve padding my resume — which I do all the time mind you,” she swore with a pointed look in her eyes.
“I’m sure you do.” I couldn’t keep the sound of amusement from my voice. Yara currently wore a blue blazer paired with dark jeans. I hadn’t known her for long, but I’d never seen a hair out of place or an eye with a precise black liner. The woman was a president in the making.
“None of which David approves of,” she finished with sagging shoulders.
“Why does it matter if he approves of it or not?” I wondered while pulling my camera back up. The referees were currently talking to the teams, indicating the clock would soon be set for the first half of the game.
“I…It doesn’t,” Yara stammered.
“Sounds like it does,” I said, absentmindedly as I zoomed into Dakota again. He looked big in the shoulder padding. And his ass in those pants…well, let’s just say I was trying to keep my looking respectful. Friendly looking. Friends could admire their new, hot friends, right? No harm in appreciating good thighs when one saw them. Good hands too. Dakota’s grip was firm when he warmed up by tossing a ball back and forth with one of his teammates. His fingers were covered in leather training gloves. I found it oddly sexy when he brushed his hair back with them on.
“It doesn’t.” Yara shook her head this time like she was also trying to convince herself.
I refocused my gaze on her and asked, “Would it be wrong if it did matter?”
“Definitely,” she said with wide eyes. “I can’t let him get to me. He’ll win.”
“So, it’s about winning the bet? I can respect that.” I was a competitor myself. It was in my blood. Even the smallest game nights in my house could turn into battle royales. I loved drawn lines and trying to estimate my opponent’s next move.
“I could help with that,” I told her. “I love winning.”
Yara’s smile grew. “Really? I’d hate to drag you into our silly game. It’s been going on since the summer. I still can’t find a way to stick it to him.”
“Well, then you’ve found the perfect person,” I assured. “I’m a professional at sticking it to men. Do you need references? I have three.”
She laughed. “No, I trust you.”
Around us, the crowd cheered as the kick-off started. Yara and I joined in to blend in with everyone else. We both laughed after realizing we were doing the same thing.
The beginning of a new season felt bright. Experiencing it with fresh possibility planted a small seed of hope in my belly that this year was the start of something good. I’d hold onto the feeling with all my might.
The Angels won by three points. Our side of the crowd rejoiced with a little too much beer chugging and excessive yelling. Yara and I had to lock hands to not get separated in the crowd as we made our way down the stands. They were letting families and journalists on the field. Dad had given me a badge pass before leaving this morning that I flashed at security.
Silas lifted me and swung me around in a hug as soon as he saw me.
“Okay, okay.” I patted his back for him to put me down. “Relax, it’s one game.”
“That sets the tone for the entire season,” he said with a wide grin on his face.
“Congrats.” I couldn’t help but laugh when he shook my shoulders, overly excited about their success. His dark curls were soaked with sweat and pressed to his forehead.
I introduced Yara. She looked a little flustered at witnessing Silas’s rampant excitement. He went on a tangent with her after they realized they’d seen each other in the same Calculus course.
My eyes scanned the crowd, falling on my dad and brother currently talking with a film crew. The small woman held a chunky microphone between them. She batted her eyes whenever one of them said something into it.
