Chapter 16

chapter sixteen

Gavin

I had to dive to catch that ball since it was thrown a little ahead of my route but I still made the play. Standing up, I flip the ball off my fingertips and instantly feel pats on my back and tugging on my shoulder pads.

"That's right, Richardson!" Brennan Vance, our tight end, yells as he bangs his helmet against mine.

My first ever offensive touchdown also happens to be my first college touchdown. I gotta admit, it feels better than I thought it would.

I make my way to the sideline and yank my helmet off. Coach instantly covers me in compliments and Levi has the biggest smirk on his face.

"Don't even say it," I warn. "I really don't want a Levi is always right speech right in the middle of my five minutes of fame."

He scoffs, "It's gonna be a lot longer than five minutes, bro. You're gonna be doing that shit all night."

I laugh and then look over where everyone is looking into the stands. Collins is running up the bleachers.

What the fuck is he doing? Coach is gonna kill him.

About halfway up the student section, he stops and my eyes land on a blonde girl. I have to shut my eyes and reopen them to make sure I'm not seeing things. I'm not. It's her and she's staring right back at me.

Suddenly, it all clicks into place.

Collins' bobcat football t-shirt matches the one she was wearing on the cruise. The blonde girl Remi has class with, Collins' ex, is Daisy.

She breaks eye contact with me and turns to Collins before disappearing underneath the stadium. Whatever he said to her didn't make her happy. I watch as he stomps back down the bleachers to the sideline, obviously frustrated, and turn to Levi.

"It's her. The girl from the cruise."

He barely glaces up from his Ipad, his fingers typing furiously, "What are you talking about?"

"She's here!" I whisper-shout.

He drops the Ipad to his lap, "Who is?"

"Daisy," I ramble. "The girl from the cruise, she's here. I just saw her."

He looks at me and then behind him like he'd be able to pick her out of a crowd this big then turns back, "That wasn't her name was it? I don't see her."

"She left," I announce. "Right through the K section tunnel approximately thirty seconds ago."

He's calling me crazy with his eyes as he picks the Ipad back up slowly, "Do you need to sit down? Did someone hit you too hard?"

"No, Levi. I know what I saw. I need to go, can you cover for me?"

He reaches up to my forehead like he's checking my temperature, "Have you lost your fucking mind? We're in the middle of a game, Gav."

I swat his hand away, "No I'm serious. Cover for me."

He grabs me by my jersey and pulls me closer, "If you want to stay on this team I don't suggest abandoning the game."

I roll my eyes, "Not abandoning, just going to the bathroom."

"Gavin," he warns. "Don't be an idiot. Dad is here."

I want to argue with him, but I don't. He's right. I can't leave this game. I can't risk pissing off Coach and losing my scholarship.

I need the money to actually make it through college because, I can promise you, football is not my future. But right now? Football is my present.

It's paying for classes.

I watch Collins as he keeps looking back to where Daisy was standing and let my mind reel. I know that isn't what Remi said her name was. Looking around the sideline, I search for him among my teammates. He's on the damn field. I wait until defense is coming off the field and corner him before he can even get water.

"What did you say that blonde girl's name is?"

He stares at me, "What blonde girl?"

"Collins' ex. The one from your class."

He understands, grabbing a green gatorade bottle from the cart. "Oh, Quinn."

He tilts his head toward the field, "You better get out there."

I jog to the huddle and listen as Collins calls the play. A wave of regret washes over me as I look up at the empty seat. I should've gone after her. I have wished for days that I got her number, and I couldn't even go after her.

The ball is snapped and Collins overthrows Vance, our tight end, and the ball is nearly intercepted. His head isn't in the game, much like mine, but we're too close to blow it with just this last quarter left.

"I don't know what's going on," I tell him, "But forget about it. We have to win this game."

His eyes turn dark, his stare turning into a hateful glare. "Mind your own fucking business, Richardson. I'll worry about my game and you worry about yours."

I shake my head, bumping my shoulder pad against his as I walk past him to line up, "It's our game, you asshole."

Running down the field, I wait for the ball to come my way, and the throw is about five yards too short. The next couple of plays don't amount to much, so it's fourth down and Coach sends the punt team in.

As soon as I'm back on the sideline, I find Remi before he goes back in the game.

"The girl," I begin. "Quinn…"

He stares at me like he's confused as to why I'm bringing her up again. "What about her? You are acting weird as hell."

"I know her," I state. "That's the girl."

Levi looks up from his Ipad, "I'm getting the trainer, you have a concussion."

"Yeah bro," Remi says, "I've never heard you so much as mention a girl's name on the field ever. You okay?"

I run my hand back through my sweaty hair, "Yes. I'm fine. I'm just saying Quinn is her. The girl from my cruise."

Remi's face softens, "You sure?"

"I'm a hundred percent sure."

His brows furrow together, then he tilts his head to one side, "I thought you said you didn't hook up with anyone?"

I don't immediately answer, which says enough.

Remi nearly chokes on his water, "You hooked up with Collins' ex?"

"What the fuck did you just say?" Collins steps up behind me and I can practically feel his breath on my neck.

Impeccable timing.

"Get lost, Collins." Remi huffs, but he doesn't budge.

I feel his hand grab the back of my neck, and I see red.

No.

Twisting around, I elbow him right in the jaw, and everything after that is a big blur.

All I can think about is the fact that he hurt her, and it blinds me. She didn't deserve what he did.

Next thing I know, Levi is in front of me, with his hand entangled in my jersey pushing me back.

"Are you serious?" I hear Coach growl and then slam his clipboard against the metal bench. "You have got to be fucking kidding me. Both of you have five seconds to get out of my sight!" He screams, pointing at me and then at Collins.

I grab my helmet off the ground and walk through the tunnel, straight into Quinn.