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“Sir, yes, sir!” he yells back. With his signature wink and dimpled smile, he runs back toward his team.

Holding down the dating app, I delete it without a second thought and spend the rest of practice trying to get my heart rate back to normal at the thought of sleeping with him.

I can still clearly remember the first day we met. As usual, I was walking to class with my headphones on and daydreaming about a fantasy series where my character ends up in a parallel world. All these ideas and thoughts were rushing through my brain. As soon as I got to class, I started writing it down. Caleb sat next to me, and I pretended not to notice.

It was hard as hell considering I knew exactly who he was and that he looked even better up close. I didn’t think anything of it until he kept trying to talk to me. My immediate reaction was to act aloof, but the whole time we spoke, my heart was pounding against my chest.

We kept talking after that day, but he effectively friend-zoned me. I was upset at first. All the fantasies I conjured up were never going to happen. Then, I got over it because it was nice having a friend like him. He accepted me for who I was and never once tried to change me.

* * *

Once practice is over, Caleb and Trevor Cohen, the quarterback, walk over to where I’m sitting. Trevor is one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met besides Caleb.

“Josie! How’s my favorite girl?” Trevor asks when they reach where I’m sitting. Both are dripping in sweat, but I only have eyes for Caleb. In a way, I’ve always had eyes for him. But he never saw me as more than a friend. To prevent growing feelings, I put any potential feelings I could have had for him in a tiny box, closed the lid, and threw away the key. It’s a perfect way of compartmentalizing. Now, I just have to make sure the key stays lost.

I stand and do a big stretch. “Surviving, Trevor. Surviving.”

I’m wearing a green cropped shirt and ripped wide-leg jeans, my belly button piercing in full display. My braids are tied to a bun on the top of my head because it’s just way too hot and humid in this godforsaken city.

“So, like usual?” he jokes. At one point, I thought of the possibility of us dating. I felt comfortable around him, and he didn’t mind my anti-social tendencies. But I didn’t want to make things awkward for Caleb if it didn’t end well. We just stick to playful banter.

When they won the Super Bowl that year, I thought all the attention would change him. But it didn’t. He is still one of the most down-to-earth person I know. Also, disgustingly rich. But so is Caleb. My money next to theirs looks like nickels, and I’m doing pretty good for myself.

I smile. “Exactly. You know me so well.”

“I know you better, though,” Caleb interjects. He knows me the best, but that would be too easy to agree with him.

I shrug. “If you say so.”

He inches towards me. “I know that if I hug you right now, you’ll kick my ass.” The absolute last thing I want is his sweat and grass stains on me. It’s disgusting, and my outfit looks good as it is.

“If you touch me, you’re dead meat, Cross,” I warn, backing away from him.

Trevor laughs. “Caleb, do you have a death wish?”

“Probably,” Caleb admits, then he takes a big step towards me. Knowing what he’s about to do, I turn and run as fast as I can, which isn’t that much considering I don’t run. Not for fitness or fun.

With a quick glance, I take note that he hasn’t moved yet, just watching me with a smile next to a laughing Trevor. When I’m about twenty yards away, I look over my shoulder again to see him gaining on me. Fucking hell. This man is fast. Which makes sense.

He’s a damn running back.

My safest option is to make it to the coach and hide behind him. That will hopefully keep Caleb away. Pivoting, I head in that direction, seeing everyone laughing as if it is another day of us being chaotic. I can almost taste freedom, but then I’m tackled to the ground. Before I can feel the impact, he turns so he lands on his back, and I fall on top of him.

I glare down at him, and he flips us so I’m on the ground, and he’s on top of me.

“You’re dead to me,” I bite out.

He chuckles. “You're all talk. Always have been.”

I stick my chin out and look away from him to prove my point. It’s the silent treatment from now on.

“You know, now is the perfect time to start.”

Confused, I look back at him. “Start wh—”

Before I can finish my question, he leans down and presses his lips against mine. I freeze in shock and hear an eruption of shouts from his team members, but I ignore them in order to focus on not hyperventilating.

“About fucking time!”