"I know that," Ella said.
"Great, you pass." His mouth slid into a lop-sided grin. "Hey Mick, maybesheshould try out for the offensive line."
Her eyes softened as she held my gaze for a moment.
"So are we done here?" She tilted her head back and shot Seager a glare. "Done with your grudge match and your dick-measuring and all that?"
"Mine’s the biggest!" Danny called out.
"You’re an idiot. Let's get out of here." Kurt shoved Danny toward the parking lot. "See you at dinner!" He lifted an arm.
"Peace!" Danny held up two fingers.
Seager smirked. "Yeah, we’re done, cupcake." He swiped at her hair, like he was tousling it.
She gave him a pointed look. "You know Amberine’s going to be there tonight, right?”
"Oh yeah? Wicked." His face broke out into a grin. "I’ll bring the crayons. Almost makes up for the fucking bow tie."
She laughed. "Knew that'd make your day. You’ll be a great girl dad someday."
"I’ll makethe worstgirl dad." He shoved his wet hair upover his forehead again and pointed at her. "Cause I’d say things like get over your prideful ass and tell the jarheaded monkey how you feel about him."
She sighed. "Go on, you don't want to be late."
"Also, seriously?" He glanced at me out of the side of his eye. "Just wreck him."
She gasped and flushed a deep red.
He laughed at his own joke and flipped me off as he walked behind her, tongue out. Then took off at a jog.
Idiot. Asshole.My chest burned as my knee hit the ground.
"Maddox…" She dropped her shirt to the floor and slid across my lap to straddle me.
"I don't know. You looked pretty wrecked already." Ella offered me a small smile and extended her hand.
"I take worse hits in practice," I grumbled. "But he's going to pay for that sucker punch."
"I'm sure it's supposed to be high praise that I 'pass.' But I have no idea what he meant."
I rubbed at the sore spot just beneath my ribs. "It was his own way of saying…that you're worth walking away for."
"What are you talking about? You said you didn't have space in your life. You had to put football first."
"I fucked up, Ella." I took a chance and grasped her hand. She didn't pull away. "But, I didn't know how to say what I needed to—without hurting you."
She shook her head, retracting her hand. I swallowed, and fought on.
"I didn't, still don’t, want to be your rebound guy."
Two Months Ago
College National Semifinal: Strikers vs Brigadiers
I took the snap and dropped back. My receivers covered, the defense must have expected the passing play. I targeted Wheldon near the sideline, and put it too far outside. Pass incomplete.
The clock stopped again. Coach sent in a freshman receiver who gave me a look of pure panic. Kurt growled a string of obscenities, but took off to the sideline.Even if I wanted to throw a "Hail Mary" to the endzone, they just pulled my best receiver.
