Page 106 of Campus Heat

“The big stadiums,” he continued quietly. “Crowds like this… Playing at that level where you couldn’t do anything wrong in their eyes.”

A defender crashed into the quarterback just as he released the ball, but the pass still found its target. They got a touchdown, and the fans jumped to their feet. Ethan laughed under his breath and shook his head while I just sat there and watched the lights flicker across his face.

“And now?” I asked.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he watched the players jog back toward the sideline while the scoreboard updated. Then he shrugged lightly.

“Now I think that it may not be as impossible as it used to feel.”

I slipped my hand into his, and his fingers closed around mine automatically.

“You’ll get there,” I said confidently.

“You don’t get to judge since you’re biased.”

“I have a right to be biased.”

The game rolled out fast and relentlessly. Players collided with bone-jarring hits that made the crowd gasp. Receivers twisted through defenders, and quarterbacks threaded impossible passes through tight coverage. I wanted to keep seeing Ethan happy, so now and then when he leaned forward and pointed something out, I just played along.

“See the safety shifting?”

I nodded even though I didn’t fully understand what he was going for.

“Now watch the left side.”

The ball snapped, and the play unfolded in exactly the same way he had predicted.

“Told you.”

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. “You’re such a nerd.”

By halftime, the stadium buzzed with energy. The lights dimmed slightly while the band prepared to play on the field. Ethan leaned back and turned his attention to me.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

I pinched my fingers together. “Only a little.”

He studied me for a second, and that familiar, thoughtful expression crossed his face. Then he stood up and offered me his arm.

“Come on.”

I blinked up at him, confused by the sudden shift. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Ethan wrapped his arm around me as he led me out of the stadium and away from the top-tier playoff match he’d been begging to attend. The noise we had just been submerged in had begun to fade, and before I knew it, we were crossing the parking lot. Rows of cars stretched beneath tall light poles, and suddenly the night felt a lot quieter. Ethan’s truck sat near the end of the lot, hidden from the rest. He unlocked it and casually leaned against the side.

“Have you realized that most of our dates are football-related?” he asked, looking a little embarrassed.

I shrugged. “You’re a football player. I just guessed it was normal.”

He pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “But you weren’t watching the game.”

“I was watching you watch the game.”

He smiled slightly and reached up to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. There was a faint roar from the stadium, but it didn’t even get his attention.

“You look so happy out there,” I whispered.