Chapter 14
Seth
The game had me psyched as I made another score, even though I had nearly blown it with Coach the day before.
Not only did Avery and I get back to her house and fall asleep together on her couch while killing time before practice, but when we finally got our asses to practice, we were almost twenty minutes late.
Avery had to run laps as punishment the entire time, while Coach Carr had me run drills, and I had to stay late and run laps as well. Since both of us were late, it couldn’t help but be obvious, but we played it off as if we had never been together, each having our own excuses and vowing not to ever let it happen again.
I doubted Coach was buying it. Especially because every time I scored, I had to look into the stands and see my girl cheering me on.
Despite that, I was going to do my damnedest not to give Coach a reason to think we were trouble together. Or that Avery was somehow going to make me be a terrible player.
Knowing she was in those stands watching me and cheering me on made me want to play better. I had someone to show off for, and that did wonders for my motivation.
I ran the next play, and when the ball was passed to me, I carried it to the try line, dropped the ball, and kicked it into the goal for another three-point score to win the game.
Avery went nuts in the stands, and Abigail, who was sitting with her, was grinning ear to ear. At least one of her friends approved, but still not Clara, who was bound to be suspicious by now if Dillon had told her anything.
The team cheered, and everyone ran over to celebrate. Even Carver and Motor were high-fiving and yelling with excitement.
Coach walked up and patted me on the back. “Good game, son. I see your girlfriend is impressed. Way to score.” He gave me a knowing look and walked away to talk to the other team’s coach.
I had a feeling that the last bit wasn’t about the game, but I wasn’t going to let on. There was no sense for him to worry about what was going on.
I followed the team into the locker room after, and while everyone was cheering my name, Motor and Carver were mumbling under their breaths. “Did you see her in the crowd? You can’t tell me they weren’t together. And Coach didn’t do shit about it. He still got to play the whole game.”
“Do you have a problem?” I asked, overhearing their issues. “I have better hearing than you think.”
“Good for you. We were just saying how it sucks that some of the players can be late for practice and have to sit out a game, but some get to forget the rules whenever they want.”
“He won the game, Motor,” Paul said. “Be glad he was able to play.”
“Yeah, someone had to take up your slack,” I said, egging it on.
“Fuck you! If you weren’t Coach’s pet, we’d all be treated fairly.”
“And you’d be going home a loser,” said Olly Lewis, who was shaking his head. “You can start bitching when you start scoring.” Olly hadn’t seen but a handful of minutes on the field all season.
Things fell quiet as Coach walked into the room. “Do you ladies have a problem?” he asked. “When I walk into this kind of silence, my spidey senses make me a little suspicious.”
“It’s nothing,” I said. I hoped the others would drop it. We had won the game, and they were just sore they hadn’t made the winning goal.
Paul waited until the two stooges went to wash their dirty asses. “You know they’re pissed about yesterday, right?”
“I paid for that.”
“But you didn’t have to sit out of the game. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not mad. Hell, I think it’s stupid. You were late. It’s not like you totally missed everything, but they all noticed you and Avery were both late. They checked. So they think you missed because you were fucking around with her.”
“And so what if I was? I’m allowed to date. And I made up for being late by staying late. If they have a problem, they can come to me with it. You see how hard Coach rides my ass. I get no slack, even if you call me his favorite, which I don’t believe.”
“So, you were with her?”
“We fell asleep on her couch watching TV. It won’t happen again.” I didn’t care if he knew the truth. He was about the only one of the guys who never made trouble.
“I wouldn’t let it. Carver has it in his head he’s going to take your spot before the season’s over. It’s his goal.”
With just a handful of games left, I wasn’t going to let it bother me. “I’m not worried. He’ll have to do what he has to do. But he’s in for a hell of a fight if he tries.”
Paul held up his hands. “I thought you’d want to know is all.”
“Thanks.” He meant well, but all I wanted to do was get cleaned up and go out to see Avery.
When I walked out, looking across the parking lot for her, I spotted her and Abigail standing by the girl’s car.
They were both laughing and giggling, and I wondered if I was responsible for the smile on her face. Her smile was the best.
“Hey,” she said as I walked out to say hello. “I hope this isn’t too obvious.”
“You mean more obvious than you yelling for me from the sidelines? Nah, I’m sure no one will catch on.” I gave her a quick kiss, and it was hard not to make it last.
“I’ll just give you two a little time,” said Abigail, who went to get in her car, leaving us alone.
“I guess there’s a victory party at Omega tonight. I know you’re kind of expected, but after the last time, I hope you don’t mind if I sit this one out.”
I wasn’t sure if I was hearing her right. “Are you saying you trust me to go alone?”
“Yeah, I trust you. I may not trust the cheerleading squad, but I do trust you.” That alone was more than I could ask for. But there was no way I was going to let her go spend the night alone while I celebrated.
“How about I take you out instead? I mean, we could go and have a nice quiet dinner somewhere.”
“You mean no party? You’re going to catch hell if you’re not there. I know how it is with the Omegas.”
“I’m not a pledge, so I’m not beholden to them. Besides, I really don’t want to go. I’d rather spend some time with my girl.”
Her cheeks turned pink as her smile grew brighter. “I’ll tell Abi that I’m going to catch a ride with you.”
“Did you have plans?” I wondered if she and Abigail had already decided on something else together.
“No, she has to go home and study. She has a big test next week and wanted to get a head start.”
At least she wasn’t ditching her friends for me. I didn’t need anyone else to get upset about us.
I walked her over to the car and waited as she ran to the door and Abi put her window down. It only took a second for them to exchange a few words, and Abi looked up at me in surprise and smiled.
“I think you impressed her,” said Avery as she approached.
“All I’m worried about is impressing you.”
“You’ve already done that,” she said. “So, where do you want to go?”