Page 126 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

Her dark eyes meet mine. “Nico walks me to the locker room where Kenz and Penny will be to help make sure nothing happens while I get ready.”

“Don’t go anywhere without someone. Not even to the bathroom.” Eli’s voice is almost drowned out by the roar of the crowd as the others make it onto the field.

“Yes, sir.” She salutes him with a quirky smile.

“I’m going to punish you later for that, kitten.” He smirks at her before he jogs out to the field.

“I’m going to enjoy that,” she says softly as she steps closer to me.

I chuckle. “We’re all worried about you. The plan is to catch Zach in the act of coming after you. Not actually let him get ahold of you.”

She shivers and flashes me an uncertain smile. “I really don’t want that.”

None of us do. We walk out onto the track and cross to the football field. The cheerleaders are running off the field after all the players crashed through their paper. Sidney smirks at Harper like she knows something.

I’m tempted to trip her with my crutch. It would be juvenile but satisfying. Harper doesn’t seem to notice Sidney though. Her eyes are on the guys out on the field beginning warm-ups.

“Do you like doing the stats?” I ask as we make our way to the bench.

“Honestly?” She looks up at me through her lashes, and my heart throbs.

I swallow. Fuck, I’m in deep with this girl. “Yeah, honestly.”

She blows out a breath and looks back toward the stands. “I’m pretty sure they don’t do anything with this.”

She holds out the clipboard.

A chuckle escapes me. “Does it matter?”

“No.” She smiles. “I like being down here with you guys and paying attention to the game in a way I’ve never done before.”

I settle on the end of the bench and lean my crutches beside it. She looks out over the field, and I wish I was out there to show off for her.

“I miss watching you.” Her words are soft, but they settle in my heart. “Both you and Eli are perfect for what you do. There’s a grace and elegance I never really picked up on before when I watched the game.”

Her dark eyes meet mine. Her cheeks are flushed from the slight chill in the air. The stands are filled with fans, but the sounds of the carnival aren’t far away. The whole stadium is pulsing with energy.

Alumni fill the stands including our fathers. Well, except Caden’s.

I came back here to be a part of this. And in a way I still am, but I’m not out on the field. The ball won’t float into my hands. I won’t score anymore touchdowns in high school.

This is where I’ll remain for the season. Cheering on my friends while I do my best to heal. Work with my PTs to make sure I can play safely in the fall, but my season is over.

Next year, I want to still be playing with my friends in college. Though it may only be some of us, depending on where we go. We’ll never be quite like this again.

A few of the other guys who ride the bench come off the field after warm-ups. Fucking Ethan Parker gives me the stink eye before sitting on the opposite end of the bench. His gaze doesn’t even flit to Harper.

I may have been hesitant to hurt a girl, even Sidney, but him? Fuck that guy.

Everyone runs off the field and stands waiting for the game to begin. Luke and Caden go out to the coin toss, and the whole crowd holds their breaths as the coin falls. The referee shows possession to the Mustangs to start.

The way we’re riled up. This game is going to be brutal.

Harper

Would I be considered a chicken if I covered my eyes? I swallow as bodies crash against each other and tumble in a heap on the ground. Every time Eli or Luke are tackled, fear floods my gut.

I’m not built to watch my men get their asses handed to them. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen often. Not with Caden and Jack standing in the opponents’ way.