Page 35 of Love, Literature, and the Linebacker

Darnell barrels into me, nearly knocking me over. “WE WON!”

“Barely,” I say, steadying him.

He lowers his voice. “You ever gonna tell me how things are going with Library Girl?”

“Shh,” I hiss. “Not so loud.”

He laughs. “Fine. But I want details.”

“I’ll tell you when there are details,” I say. “Right now, we’re just… getting to know each other.”

“Uh-huh,” he says knowingly. “You seeing her tonight?”

“After I shower,” I admit, already thinking about the library.

“You got it bad,” Darnell says, clapping me on the back. “But I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

As we head toward the locker room, Greg and Clyde fall into step beside us.

“You guys picking up the keg?” Clyde asks.

Darnell doesn’t miss a beat. “Marcus and Derek’s turn.”

I shoot him a grateful look as he jogs ahead to deliver the bad news. They’ll murder us tomorrow.

Just as I reach the locker room door, Greg catches the back of my shoulder pads and pulls me aside.

He moves into my space. “Saw you getting cozy with Meredith at the banquet,” he sneers.

I shove him off, wiping sweat from my face. “You saw wrong.”

His eyes narrow as he jabs a finger into my chest. “Stay away from her.”

“I’m not interested in Meredith,” I say evenly. “Never was.”

“Good,” he growls. “Keep it that way.”

He storms off, leaving me ready for a fight I have no interest in having.

Greg’s temper is no joke. I’ve seen him snap before. Some guy got a little too close to Meredith at a party last year. Greg broke his nose.

Greg can threaten me all he wants. Meredith has heard my answer, and it isn’t changing.

“Sharpe!”

Coach Littlestone’s voice cuts through the noise. I turn just in time to see him striding toward me, his expression indecipherable.

“Yeah, Coach?”

He stops in front of me and claps a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Great job tonight.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“One of the area scouts who’s been through here wants to sit down with you in a few weeks when he’s back in town,” Coach says. “He’s watched the last three games and likes your film.”

My pulse jolts. “Which team?”