Chapter 10

Homecoming week had come around fast, and thankfully, the next few weeks were mostly free of drama. Lisa had gone back under her rock somewhere after everything came out, her reputation dragged down the totem pole after the stunt she tried to pull. It was starting to become old news, but in a small town, stuff like that left a stain. It would take a while for people to forget. If ever.

Regardless of all that, the school was pumped, especially our crew. We were playing our rival team tonight for the game. Jet had recruiters coming to watch, and Izzy was excited to be up for homecoming queen. Something I was more than happy to let her do without me.

Like the outfit she’d talked me into today. Okay, that was a lie. We looked hot.

“How did I let you talk me into this?” I teased her anyway.

Izzy rolled her eyes. “Um, because we’re twins, so it doesn’t kill you to match at least a little with me sometimes. If we can’t do it on twin day, then what even are we?”

Point.I held back a smirk, giving her a fake sarcastic nod instead.

“Besides, you also know Jet finds you freaking irresistible in his jersey. Or was that not the best sex y’all had had yet the last time you wore it?” She teased with a wink, but I didn’t even care. I smiled just at the memory.

“Okay, I’ll give you that one.”

We stopped at our lockers to change out our books, and Izzy took a minute to fix her hair in the mirror. She’d done some kind of wavy, fancy pigtail thing with black and red ties, while mine was done in a messy bun. I was not wearing pigtails. But I at least threw a red scrunchie over it.

Izzy adjusted her jersey, pulling it back as the large mum Tucker had gotten her tugged at where she had it pinned, Texas football tradition at its finest. Jet had gotten me a small one to wear on my arm. The other would have driven me crazy. That and the jersey she had on. Tucker had insisted she wear one of his basketball jerseys, digging one from last season out of his closet. It swamped her, requiring a black crop top underneath to not show off her bra or any inappropriate skin. She had us both tie our jerseys in a knot at our waists.

Black shorts and red shoes and we were done. Except I was planning to add black stripes to my cheeks for the game.

I face planted into my locker when someone checked the back of my shoulder.

“Oops. Sorry.” Lisa sneered as she passed by.

Izzy shot her a look and then touched my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I grit my teeth, inwardly reminding myself that if I fought at school, that equaled some consequences I did not want on my record. I hadn’t cared in the bathroom. There weren’t any cameras in there.

“What’s wrong?” Jet asked, coming up behind me. He slid his arm around my waist, pulling my back against his chest.

“Lisa,” Izzy answered.

“What?”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. She’s just bitter that she didn’t get away with her shit. I hope she goes to the game tonight. I’d love to see the look on her face when she sees Tucker escorting you during halftime, sis.”

Izzy took out a book and shut her locker. “Don’t make it dirty like that. I don’t even want to think about Lisa tonight. She doesn’t matter.”

“Damn straight, she doesn’t.” Tucker appeared behind her. “You ready?” Izzy nodded and gave us a wave before leaving under Tucker’s arm.

“You sure you’re okay?” Jet asked. “You feel tense. Love you in my jersey, by the way.” He tugged at the sleeve, and the corner of my mouth quirked up.

“I know. And yeah, I’m fine. I’ll get over it.”

He leaned in, nuzzling his nose behind my ear. “Need some help?” I peered at him over my shoulder. “This is your study hall, right?”

“Yes…” I dragged out the word, eyeing him. Jet just smirked.

“Come on.”

He grabbed my hand, leading me out the doors to the courtyard, and we hurried along the sidewalks, slipping into one of the other buildings just as the bell rang. Doors closed down the hall for tardies, and my heart raced, never one to miss class.

“The dead zone?” I whispered, shocked at what we were doing. Jet gave me a devilish grin, those blue eyes and dimples melting my heart and killing me from within. My panties were already wet just from his smile.

“Come on.” We darted into one of the last rooms at the end of the hall that were overflow, never used since the new building had been added a few years back, and Jet shut the door behind us.

“Are we seriously doing th–”

Jet spun me around before I could finish, pressing my back against the wall, and covered my mouth with his. I moaned, sagging against the wall as his arms caged me in. His kiss was deep. Possessive. Yet sweet and playful, just like him, and I melted between the nips to my lips and the delving of his tongue.

Reaching for his jeans, I quickly pulled his cock free, and Jet moaned into my mouth when I gripped his hard length. He pulsed in my hand, and I quickly stroked, brushing my thumb over the head in the way I knew he liked.

“Fuck, that feels good,” he whispered against my lips.

I grinned, slipping my hand lower to squeeze and tug at his balls, and he groaned, suddenly flipping me around so my face and breasts were against the wall. “Playing dirty, huh?” He pulled my ass to him, palming and sliding his hand along it before giving it a light slap, and I moaned, surprising myself by wiggling my ass for more.

“Come on, dirty girl.” He lifted me, and I had to hold in a yelp as he carried me across the room. Pressing his hand to my back, he bent me over the desk in the corner, and I quickly unbuttoned my shorts as I heard him rip the condom package open. Barely a second or two passed, and Jet yanked my shorts down, sliding his fingers through my folds before pumping twice. I moaned when he took away his touch and then gasped when he entered me from behind with one quick thrust.

Pressing my lips together, I did my best to stifle a moan. His first few strokes were slow and easy. Then it was like a switch was flipped, and he thrust fast, far from gentle but nowhere near painful. His movements pressed me into the desk, my ass in the air and my toes on the floor, while all I could do was hold on to the edges as I searched for that cliff so I could fall.

“Fuck, sweetheart, you feel so good.” Jet groaned after several minutes of just our breaths, grunts, and panting filling the room. Our movements fevered and desperate between us in our scandalous hideaway. I’d never felt so exposed, so alive, knowing how easily we could get caught, and when Jet’s cock hit that perfect place inside, I whimpered, knowing I was getting close. I reached between my legs, but Jet swatted my hand away. “Not yet. With me,” he demanded, and I swear my pussy gushed just hearing it.

I turned my head, catching Jet’s reflection in the window, and I watched in awe at the way that he moved. His hands grabbed my ass, squeezing, and his head fell back, slack jawed. He was breathtaking. What was between us was breathtaking, robbing me of my air as my core clenched with each thrust of his hips. His rhythm shifted, his telltale of when he was close.

“Touch yourself.” His hands moved to my hips, and I reached between my thighs, rubbing my clit, my legs starting to shake. I felt Jet finish right as I fell into my abyss, his hand clasping over my mouth to quiet my sounds.

He leaned over to give me a kiss, and we separated, my body feeling bereft the second he pulled from me.

“I can’t believe we just did that,” I said as I was pulling up my shorts. I went to the window to check my hair and adjust my shirt, making sure everything was in place. Luckily, there were tons of bushes and trees outside, or who knew who might have gotten a show.

“Worth it.” Jet finished adjusting himself in his jeans, a satisfied grin in place. “I’m gonna let you head out first. Just in case. Have you thought of a cover story yet?”

“Of course. Every woman’s cover. Cramps. I’ve been in the bathroom the whole time.” I grabbed my middle like I was in pain and ducked out of the room, a smile breaking my face.

My excursion with Annie stayed with me the rest of the day, but as evening rolled in and I gathered with my teammates in the locker room, I had to set that aside. It was game time. Possibly one of the biggest nights of my life.

Pressing two of my fingers to my lips, I touched them to Annie’s picture I kept in my locker just as Coach Riojas came out of his office.

“Alright, guys, gather ‘round.”

We huddled up to the front, some of my best friends there at my sides. Guys I knew would have my back no matter what, whether it was on that field tonight or off. Just like I’d have theirs.

Coach pulled his ball cap from his head and rubbed his brow before stuffing it back on, taking a moment to glance at each of us, a football gripped in his hands. “I look around at all of you and see so much potential. So much talent bursting within our seams that I’ll tell y’all right now has me damn proud to be y’all’s coach. But having talent isn’t enough. It’s what we do with it. Whether we get cocky and up in our heads when things go well or duck our heads and watch for every inch in every play that can take us further in this game, it’s up to y’all.

“This game is all about inches. The smallest of movements and choices that take grit and determination to drive us through the extra mile. With that said, there’s a lot riding on this game for some of y’all tonight, but I want you to remember to have faith in your team out on that field. You’re brothers, and brothers have each other’s backs, just like y’all do every day in practice. We leave any shit from the day back here and bring it for each other. For this team.

“Take every inch. Push through every setback. Dig deep within yourself so that the other team has no choice but to put their hackles up and stand at attention. We are a damn good team, and every move you make on that field tonight, I want you to remember your brothers. Push not just for yourself but for them. Now, let’s go play some football!”

We yelled, and I threw my hand in the center, others joining on top of mine. “One! Two! Three!”

“Brothers!”

We headed out, ready and pumped for the game, and Coach clapped me on the shoulder as I passed by. “Get ‘em, Thanos.”

Exiting the locker room, we trotted out to the field, the sky slowly slipping into an early dusk. Light still filtered all around us, but I knew it was only a matter of time before those Friday night lights were the only thing illuminating the game.

We waited behind the banner for the band to play, and as soon as we heard the fight music, I pushed through the black, red, and gold sign with my team at my side. Izzy beamed, mouthing, “Good luck,” as I passed through the pathway the dance team created for the team to follow onto the field.

I looked up at the stands, searching for my girl, pride swelling in my chest when I saw Annie in the stands still proudly wearing my jersey. I pressed my fingers to my lips again and held them up to her, and she mimicked the same. Our version of blowing a kiss during a game. She held a heart over her chest with her fingers. My good luck charm up in the stands.

The stadium was packed, red and black as far as the eye could see on our side, and mums for the homecoming game shimmered throughout the stands. The cheerleaders had the crowd pumped, and it carried through to me and my boys out on the field.

We gathered for the huddle before lining up for the first play, and I waited as Zane counted down for the hike. The ball landed in my hands, and I looked down the field, waiting for the running backs to make it further down before passing the ball. Liam leapt, tucking into a roll after a catch, and took off speeding towards the goal line.

The stands roared, the crowd cheered, and the band broke out into one of their songs with the first touchdown of the game. It set the tone for my game for the night. The Sharks were unstoppable, and I made three more passing touchdowns before the first half was over.

Coach called us over to the sideline in a timeout with three minutes left on the clock, not long after the opposing team scored their second touchdown by a hair, too close to tying up the game. We used the break for a pep talk and discussing the next play before we were called back out to the field.

Still unable to score after the timeout, our punting team came out, taking their shot at the game. As soon as the ball was punted, the other team fumbled it, my breaths bated until their wide receiver was able to recover it, and he hurried to pass before getting tackled by our players. Our defense swooped in with an interception. Again, the crowd roared, and our offense moved back onto the field. My blood pumped, knowing it was time to work, my fingers twitching with anticipation as the ball was snapped. My head whipped around, looking for the pass, but with no one open and knowing the recruiters were in the stands, I tucked the ball under my arm and raced to the end zone. Leaping over a halfback, another player slammed into my side midair, and I landed, eating astroturf, with the ball just inside the goal line.

The crowd erupted. The band played. I didn’t even care how much that fucking hurt because if that didn’t get me a damn scholarship tonight, I didn’t know what would.

I watched, my heart in my throat, as Jet was slammed sideways, but the second the crowd realized he’d landed the touchdown, chaos erupted in the stands. Not as much as my nerves. It wasn’t until he stood and touched his two fingers to the mouth of his helmet, raising them up to me, that I felt myself start to breathe again.

“That was awesome, but shit, he’s gonna feel that one tomorrow,” Tucker commented as he sat back down.

I nodded, my eyes still on Jet, watching for a limp or anything that said he might be in pain as he walked away. The recruiters were seated at the front of the stands, and I watched them making notes, but their expressions were impossible to read. If I could just get inside their freaking heads.

“I’ve gotta head out,” Tucker said a few minutes later, and I nodded, pulling my legs in so he could pass. I’d joined Jet’s family up in the stands, and Tucker’s was right behind us. When he headed down to meet Izzy for halftime, I sat back, finally able to relax now with a break in the game. Archer nudged me for a few dollars for the concession stand, and I watched him disappear with Colton down below, telling him to grab me some popcorn and a soda while he was there.

The band was making their way out onto the field, and Izzy and the rest of the homecoming court were heading around the track for their entrance. Her dress flowed in the wind, a striking red halter top that hugged all of her curves before flowing out around her legs. A slit in the side showed just above her knee, and she had a pair of sparkling gold heels that shimmered out from the bottom of her dress under the stadium lights. Tucker stood next to her in black slacks and a white dress shirt, and even I had to admit our best friend looked dashing. He had that casual disarray type of look, his sleeves rolled up and hair disheveled while still looking completely put together.

The dance team formed the procession line as the band began to play Icicles, and the homecoming court lined up, waiting for their names to be called.

Emma came down first, Liam still dressed in his football uniform at her side, followed by Bev, another cheerleader, and her boyfriend. Izzy was last, and Tucker held out his arm, proudly guiding her to their place along the sideline.

I crossed my fingers, praying for my sister, and when they called her name, she covered her mouth with her hands, disbelief still splayed over her face as they placed the crown on her head.

Her eyes searched the crowd, and she beamed as she spotted me and Archer, but I still saw the slight drop in her expression when she realized Mom wasn’t here. I gave her an understanding smile and watched as she blinked the disappointment away. So quickly, I’d almost think it hadn’t been there.

I ran down the steps, dodging my way through the crowd to the next section of the stands so I could lean over the rail. “You look amazing. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks.” She beamed, and I knew at that moment she was just as happy as I was. The game was going great, my sister had won, and even not knowing the ending, it felt like a night I wouldn’t forget.