“It’s a football school in Kentucky. Knox Masters' brother goes there. Plays Defensive End.” There goes Ace again, getting into the weeds of football talk. I try not to let my eyes glaze over. “Anyway, their quarterback got hurt last season. Tore his ACL and he announced he wasn’t coming back. Guess he’s a med student and decided that he’d had enough. They’ve contacted me and offered me the scholarship. No guarantee at starting, but I can compete for the job.”
“Oh, Ace. I’m happy for you.” I reach out and grab his hand.
“I know it might be a stupid decision. That I might be throwing away a chance at the pros by not going to safety, but I’d always regret not trying to follow my dream, particularly when one of them closed here.”
I don’t know if he’s talking about me or the team, but I don’t ask. It’s a question that doesn’t need to be asked. But after this past semester, I fully believe in the try it, what’s the worst thing that can happen philosophy because oh, Lord, the rewards are so good.
“I’m going to miss you, but if this is your dream, I fully support it.”
“Thanks.”
“Hug?”
“Yeah.”
I wrap my arms around his solid waist and squeeze him tight. He holds me in return. I love this boy as the brother I never had and I try to convey that in my embrace. He gives me a kiss on my forehead and then releases me to walk down my sidewalk and out of my life.
A few tears fall as I re-enter my house. Matt’s just inside the door.
“He tell you?”
“Yeah.” I give him a watery smile.
“You doing okay?” He draws me into his arms and places his lips on the same spot Ace kissed.
“I am. I’m going to miss him. He’s been a big part of my life.”
“Yeah?”
There’s a little defensiveness in that word. I lean back and stroke Matt’s cheek, which is tenser than usual. “Yeah, but my heart’s not going with him. It’s here with you.”
He loosens up. “I knew that.”
“‘Course you did.”
Matty wraps his arm around my shoulder. “He’ll come back to you in a better place.”
“I hope so.”
“What’s this?” Matty leans over the table and fingers the LSAT application.
“I’m applying for law school.”
“You can still do that?” he asks excitedly.
My eyes shine with glee. “I can.”
“That’s fucking awesome, Lucy.”
“I know.”
He wraps both arms around me. “Where are you going to go?”
“I dunno. Part of it depends on where my boyfriend gets drafted. I’d like to attend near him.”
If it’s possible, Matty’s smile grows even bigger. “You have the best plans for the future, Goldie.”
“I have a good one for the present, too.”
“Please tell me it involves nudity and possibly a bit of whipped cream.”
“I was thinking more chocolate sauce and rope, but I can add in the whipped cream. The nudity’s a given.”
Matty’s already peeling off his T-shirt by the time I get my last words out. He looks over his bare shoulder, the action making his muscles bunch in the back. Had I at one time really said I wasn’t into muscles? I must have been doped up on some too-serious-sauce. “You coming?”
“I hope so. I really, really hope so.”
Then I race forward and jump on his back, and we tumble into my room, ripping off each other’s clothes and kissing each other like we haven’t touched each other in weeks.
Matty might have been my biggest risk, but he is sure as hell the best reward a girl could ever have.
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Author’s Note
National Signing Day is generally the first Wednesday of February, but for the sake of the story, I pushed it back a few weeks. I also took a lot of liberties with how the mock trial tournament in college is run to make the final scene more exciting. I hope those familiar with both will forgive me these literary licenses.
Acknowledgments
If you can’t tell from the book, I love football. The idea for this book grew out of the story of Braxton Miller from Ohio State University. Miller was a heralded quarterback for 2011, 2012, and 2013. He missed the 2014 season due to injury and when he returned, he had to compete with two other players for the QB position. In June of 2015, he announced he would move to wide receiver.
He handled the transition with such grace and aplomb that I couldn’t help but admire him. Plus, he made a kick-ass wide receiver. I hope I get to see him play in the NFL.
This book would not have been written without my family’s support and that of a few amazing friends. Thank you to Elle, Daphne, Jess, Meljean, Michelle, Mel, Nina, Nicole (an amazing assistant), Lea (wands up!), Lisa, and Robin.
Special thanks goes out to Nicole McCurdy and Joy Ann Jumaud who tirelessly recommend my book to others. Thank you so much, ladies!
And finally, a shout out to the ladies of the Locker Room, The Chroniclers, and all the amazing bloggers who share their love of books with others. The romance community would be lost without you. I know I would be.
And to all the readers who love books, I salute you!
#GetSacked
by Jen Frederick
What he wants he gets...