AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 4
“Knock, knock,” Ali announced, leaning against Cornell’s office door. “Feel like having lunch with me?”
“You buying?”
“Yup. The greasiest cafeteria food money can buy.” She eyed Mowgli on his bed, chewing a football. “Is he allowed to do that?”
“Better than your shoes, right?” Cornell smirked, leaning back in his desk chair. “It’s an old one.”
“So,” she said, walking over to him. “Hungry?”
“I’m always hungry. But I’ve got a bunch of shit to do before practice. Can’t believe we’ve got a game tomorrow.” He pulled his hat off, smoothing down his dark curls.
“And now the fun begins. Can I bring you something?”
Cornell returned the hat backward on his head and pulled Ali down for a kiss. “This is good enough. See you at home.”
Home. Ali left Cornell’s office with a smile on her face. Despite that they had been living together for a few months, the idea of their home still felt so fresh, so new—something so right. Her fingers went up to the necklace. Something forever.
Ali’s visit to the cafeteria coincided with most of the football team’s lunch break. It was clear the early season hype had begun—the energy was livelier and more colorful, players calling her name, high-fiving her as she waited to pay for her sandwich. Most of them were gathered at the few larger tables, but when Ali turned to take her lunch back to her office, she noticed Graham sitting alone.
She chewed on her lip before setting out across the room to the table where he sat, picking at a slice of pizza.
“Rookie mistake,” she told him, sliding into a chair. “The pizza here is the one thing you really shouldn’t even look at, let alone eat.”
Graham slid his tray away. “I’m not hungry anyway.”
“Your nose looks better,” Ali said. “Bruising is almost gone. How are you feeling?”
“Superb,” he snorted. “Why, do I look like I should be feeling otherwise?”
If it had been anyone else, any other student, Ali would’ve told them it gets easier. But it wasn’t any other student, it was Graham Jones. And Graham’s past alleged wrongdoings managed to unite an entire group of competing strangers into a frenzy strong enough that it left him bruised, bloody, and on the outs when his position called for him to be at the center of the huddle.
Ali didn’t waste her breath on any of that.
“If you want good pizza, you’ll have to drive over to Celina. The best place is over there. We’ve got good barbecue, Kenny’s, but that’s about it. Anything beyond that and the BLT at the diner on Main Street, you’ll need to drive a bit.” She placed half of her sandwich on his tray.
“I guess no one comes here for the food.”
“Just the football,” Ali reminded him with a gentle smile. “You’ll see how the town comes alive on Friday nights when they watch you play.”
“I figured he told you. They’re starting Julian.”
Ali shook her head. “Coach Crawford doesn’t let me in on football stuff. I’ve got a terrible lineup for Fantasy Football.”
“Florida Atlantic, Georgia—they want film mid season. Said that if I’m going in as a transfer, they’ve got to see me at a higher level than my high school reel. I didn’t get much time on the snap last year.”
“I didn’t realize you were talking to schools already.”
Especially those schools, Ali said to herself. There was something about the prestige of top Division-I programs that made her think they might not want to even touch Graham with a ten-foot pole, let alone talk recruiting shop with him before the season had begun.
Graham shrugged. “Well, my dad is. That’s what he said.”
Don’t let your dad drive this bus, Graham,Ali wished Cornell would tell Graham.
“Guess it won’t matter. No film means I’ll be stuck here.” Graham pouted.
Ali reached across, grabbing his forearm. “You won’t. I’ll help you. Your coaches will too.” She watched Graham’s green eyes dart down to her hand before quickly removing it.
