Page 76 of Kickoff

Me

Count me in. Later

Johnny Wilson was a senior mostly known for his ragers and his stoned ways. The guy was high twenty-four-seven. The rumor mills even said he woke up in the middle of the night to smoke a blunt so the buzz would never fade.

It was a little over eight thirty when I turned into his street. There were so many cars that I had to park two blocks down his house. I had no idea how Johnny could throw these parties without any of his neighbors complaining. It was like his place was a frat house. His father was some sort of CEO for a medicinal pot company, and his mother was never around, traveling the globe for a foundation dedicated to African elephants or something like that. The house was a revolving door of people staying over and moving out soon after.

“Masssssse,” Johnny said when I climbed the three steps to his front porch. We exchanged a handshake and a bro hug. “What’s going on, superstar?”

Anyone else calling me that would usually receive one of my retorts, but for some reason, I didn’t care when it was coming from him. Johnny Wilson was harmless and the kind of person nobody could ever get angry at.

“You know, the usual.”

“Well, enjoy. Come and see me if you need a”—he made a smoking-a-joint gesture with his hand—“and I’ll hook you up.”

“You know I don’t smoke that crap, man. No offense.”

“None taken. And I wouldn’t have given it to you even if you had asked. No reason to spoil such talent.”

“Thanks.” I clapped his shoulder and made my way inside. The place was cramped. I couldn’t take two steps forward without brushing elbows with other people.

“Pierce Junior, over here,” Rusty screamed, waving an arm over his head. I spotted the sucker’s face in the crowd and made my way to him.

A hand sporting red-manicured nails wrapped around my left biceps. “Mase, you made it.”

Another girl walked into me, kissing my jaw. “I thought you’d be a no-show tonight.”

More girls joined us, and at that moment, I felt like my own clothes were too tight to house my body. I wanted to be far away from these people. I stepped back, bumping into a guy who complained I should watch where I was going, and lifted my hands before me. “Not in the mood, okay,” I said to all five pairs of expectant eyes. I scratched my nape, trying to grow some kind of bubble around me. As if they could read the situation, two of my teammates neared us and flanked me on each side, fending off two more girls walking toward me. “Thanks,” I muttered. We reached Rusty and Sheldon, busy playing poker, and I grabbed a drink, slouching in the empty chair near the table. “Fuck. I forgot how Johnny’s parties got. It’s like every teenager in a fifty-mile radius has decided to show up tonight.”

“There’s a hockey game on TV, and the bets are high. Don’t go into the basement unless you’re ready to throw in two grand.”

I choked on my drink. “Two grand? Where are those fuckers getting that kind of money to bet on a hockey game?”

Rusty shook his head. “You don’t wanna know, man. I swear. Last month, a guy from Cowley High left this place ten grand richer.”

“I’ll bet on my football career instead. Seems a surer way to get that kind of pocket change.”

“Wanna play?” a guy I recognized from my biology class asked. I usually partook in low-stakes poker games with my friends.

“Nah, thanks. Not feeling much of a gambler tonight. I’m good sitting this one out and watching.”

Sarah, a girl who had been in all my classes last year, joined us. There was no seat left, so I offered her my lap. She wasn’t a clinger and never showed any interest in me, so I was safe. Her brother played offensive for the team before graduating two years ago. He got recruited by Crestwood University, and Sarah started showing me footage of his last game on her phone.

“Okay, this is sick. These guys are war machines. I can’t wait to play there next year.”

“Are you going to CWU? Have you signed with them?”

I hadn’t told anyone about the college offers I had received so far. This was only between Coach, my parents, and me. For now.

“Look who the cat has brought in,” Sheldon said with a wolf whistle, saving me from answering. “Is it just me, or does she look hotter every day? Think she’d date a guy like me?”

“If I were you and if you value your balls, I wouldn’t get too close. Pierce Junior will turn them into a stew if you touch what’s his.”

“Who?” I spun in my seat, pretty sure they were referencing Tanya or even Lydia, only to catch sight of Melinda walking toward us, with my brother and Paige close behind arguing about something. My eyes zeroed in on my girl. Her brown hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she was wearing a simple black, V-neck cropped top and a pair of jeans that molded to her curves, nothing provocative or super short, and yet, she was the sexiest girl in here. Our eyes locked, and her lips curled up. And so did mine.

Her smile faded when she came face to face with me, her gaze traveling between Sarah, still perched on my thighs, and me. I released my grip around Sarah’s waist and leaned back as if I’d done something bad.

Hurt flashed on Melinda’s face. Her lips shaped into an O before she halted, blinked, and pivoted on her heels, ready to bolt from here.