The Playmaker (A Big Play Novel Book 1) (9 page)

#15:

Flying Solo

Tori

Mom’s VW Beetle lurches to a stop on the edge of the dark road. I yank up the parking brake and jump out of the car. Slamming the door behind me, I shakily lock the old rust bucket and run for the fence. My tan flats slip on the grass, but I manage to catch myself before falling on my face. Gripping the rough wood, I pull in a shaky breath and remind myself to play it cool.

I’ve been a wreck since seeing Colt pummeled on the field. The second it happened, I shot from my seat and forgot to breathe while Mack went after one of the Bears’ players, grabbing his helmet and punching him in the stomach. He was livid. I should have been feeling that emotion, too, but there wasn’t enough space in my chest. It was crammed full of anxiety as I stared at Colt, lying on the field like he’d been hit by a big rig.

Doctor Tremlet ran over to him and felt around his ribs. I prayed none of them were broken.

Finn and the doc helped him off the field and my legs turned to Jell-O. I flopped onto the wood and gripped the bleacher beneath me, praying he’d be all right. I didn’t see the rest of the game, not really. When Colt came back out to watch from the sidelines, I spent the whole time staring at the back of his head and watching him wince whenever he bent forward to retrieve his water bottle.

I waited until the stadium was empty before making the decision to head to the bonfire. I was desperate to see Colt and make sure he was okay. I tried texting him, but he didn’t reply. I couldn’t just roll on up to his house, so my only other option was the bonfire. Would he go? I couldn’t imagine Colt wanting to miss out on anything, so it was definitely worth taking the risk to check it out. But the idea of going to the bonfire without Amy for backup made my legs act like concrete pillars. In the end, worry won. It ate away at my common sense until I was pushing the accelerator to the floor and racing to Riley’s field like it was my last act on earth.

I had to make sure Colt’s injuries wouldn’t put him out for the season. He’d be heartbroken; he loved football too much. Throwing my leg over the wood, I vault the fence, my knee buckling as I land on the lumpy grass. I pull myself straight then fidget with my orange scarf as I force myself to walk, not run, across to the crowd of partygoers. The orange flames roaring behind them turn the students into silhouettes, and the only one I can make out is Finn. He’s the tallest of them all. I head toward him, my heart thundering with anticipation. Will Colt be pleased to see me? Will he tell me the truth about how bad he’s hurting?

Nibbling my lip, I shove my hands in the back pockets of my jeans and trip over a lump in the grass.

“Whoa.” Mack snatches my arm to stop me from falling. I didn’t even notice he was beside me.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, Pix.”

I smile at him, wondering how a nickname can get even shorter. I tuck a curl behind my ear and scratch the side of my neck. “So, um, tough game.”

I want to ask,
Where’s Colt? Is he okay? Is he out? Is he in? What kind of injuries does he have?

But I press my lips together and bide my time. Colt told me to work on being subtle and containing the torrent of words running through my head.

“You ramble when you’re nervous,” he’d said. “Just play it cool. Keep the words tucked inside and let them out in smaller bursts. You can do it.” He winked at me and turned my insides to putty, his blue eyes glinting while we sat beside the pine trees.

I can’t wait to do that again tomorrow. Midday can’t come fast enough. I need to see him alone, so I can figure out how bad things really are. He seems to let down his guard when it’s just the two of us.

The thought makes my chest bubble and zing.

“Yeah, playing the Bears is always brutal.” Mack’s voice draws me back to earth. His features are hard in the firelight. There’s an intense anger radiating off him that’s kind of scary. I take a small step away from him and start walking over to Finn. I can’t see Colt and my insides jolt and spark, worry skittering through me.

Mack steps in time with me, still talking about some defensive move that’s illegal and then starting on some rant about how the two culprits should have been kicked out of the game rather than just penalized. I sort of know what he’s talking about, but I’m finding it hard to listen.

Where’s Colt?

He’s normally standing with Finn. Maybe he’s off in the shadows being comforted by one of the perky cheerleaders.

My lips dip into a sharp frown. Dammit! I should have tried joining the squad!

I’m tempted to turn around and head home. I don’t want to be here anymore. I only came for Colt and if he’s off making out with someone else, I don’t think I can handle it.

“Hey, Pixie Girl!” Finn’s smile is broad and impossible not to respond to.

My lips lurch into a smile. “Hey, Finn.”

I look at Tyler, who’s eyeing me with a slightly weird look on his face. He glances over my head at Mack. I hear the quarterback’s jacket rustle and sense his shrug. Part of me wants to yell out,
Yes! It’s weird that I’m here. I’m not your people, but I’m desperate to see Colt and make sure he’s okay!

I clear the tickle from my throat, but it doesn’t help release any kind of cool from my mouth, so I look to the ground instead. The only question on my lips is,
Where is Colt?
But if I say that, I’ll totally give myself away.

I should just go home, but I’m standing right next to Mack, and if I don’t engage just a little then Finn might tell Colt I’m snubbing the guy I’m supposed to be chasing. And then Colt might stop
coaching
me.

Gritting my teeth, I swivel my hips so I’m facing Mack and shoot him what I hope is a flirty smile.

His lips twitch with a grin. “So, uh…” He looks to Tyler, then snickers before gazing down at me. “Want a beer?”

“Sure.” I shrug.

He walks around behind me and heads for the keg, Tyler joining him. I’m left beside Finn, feeling like a toadstool next to a pine tree. “So, tough game.” I say the only line I can think of.

Finn’s broad mouth pulls into a frown. “Yeah, it sucked.”

“Is…” I lick my lips. I can’t hold this in anymore. “Is Colt okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s going to be fine.”

I’m comforted by Finn’s nod, but am still desperate for more details. Tugging on my scarf, I wrap one of the loose threads around my fingers and nibble the edge of my lip. Finn chuckles and I look up to see him studying me. It’s like he knows. My eyes round and he presses his lips together, fighting a smile.

“Yeah, the poor guy’s gone home to have a soak in the tub. He’s pretty banged up. I’m guessing he’ll be taking it easy this weekend.”

My chest deflates—probably a mixture of disappointment and relief. He’s not here. But he’s also not making out in the shadows with some pretty cheerleader.

I nod. I’m now at this bonfire without my wing-girl or my safety net. Nerves attack me with force. I’m suddenly a little clownfish swimming in an ocean full of sharks. My Colt life raft is at home in a bath and no matter how hard I wish it, I won’t be able to get out of this one in a hurry. I’m going to have to survive this night on my own.

I want to bolt for that fence, but if I do that, Finn’s assumptions will be proven true. I have to stay. I have to sell this thing, or my entire operation will go up in smoke. I know guys and girls are different, but surely guys talk, too! Finn and Colt are tight, and the towering center will tell on me if he thinks I’m going to mess with his best friend.

“Here you go.” Mack returns with my beer.

“Thanks.” I take the Solo cup and sip the brew. It tastes foul, but I force myself to swallow.

This is going to be the longest, most stressful night of my life. The only thing to get me through is the thought of seeing Colt tomorrow. At least I’ll be able to tell him that I played it cool. He’ll be proud of me and then he’ll smile at me and all this stress will have been worth it.

#16:

The Pixie Pop-in

Colt

My stress levels are at an all-time high.

After a morning of arguing with my parents about the
evils
of football and how I should be focusing on my studies, I then spent two hours at the hospital, waiting to get an X-ray that took all of ten minutes. Thankfully, my ribs are fine. My torso is black, blue, and puffy, but I’m only going to miss one week of football. I can live with that. Coach Watson showed up to support me, which was awesome, but watching him trying to strike up a conversation with my irate father was all kinds of awkward.

As soon as I got home, Mom sent me to my room to study. I glance at my watch. The Saturday morning team meeting finished about an hour ago. I wanted to go and watch the game review, but Dad was livid enough; I didn’t want to go pushing any more buttons. He’s already threatened to not let me play for the rest of the season, but I told him exactly where to stick that idea.

It didn’t go over too well, hence the reason I was sent to my room directly after the hospital. They didn’t call it a grounding, but they may as well have. I’m not allowed to leave until I catch up on all my homework.

Well, I’ve done most of it. All that awaits me now is the ultimate punishment from the gods—a two-thousand-word essay based on a truckload of research.

I glare at the blank document on my laptop. My lips tremble as I hold back the string of curse words I want to hurl at it. I don’t even know where to begin. All I can see is Mount Everest…and here I am, standing at the bottom of it in nothing but my underwear.

“Colt! There’s someone here to see you!” I jump at the sound of Mom’s voice.

It can’t be one of the guys. She would have just sent them up, unless I’m only allowed to talk to them at the door and then send them on their way. I frown, tugging the door open and wincing. Lightly gripping my chest, I steady myself against the railing and hobble down the stairs.

Mentally, I’m battle-ready by the time I reach the bottom. If Mom intends to embarrass me in front of my friends, the only thing she’ll be seeing is the back of my ass as I walk out the door.

But she’s not standing there. Instead, I find a short pixie girl, playing with the end of her long braid as she studies a family photo on the wall. Her hair is kind of tousled, a few loose curls breaking free, and her cheeks are flushed. It’s like she’s been running or something.

“Here you go, sweetheart.” Mom appears, handing her a glass of water.

“Thanks, Mrs. B.” Her smile is sweet, her bright eyes sparkling.

Mom spots me on the stairs and tips her head at our visitor. “Tori thought she’d swing by and check on you.”

“I hope that’s okay.” Tori’s lips twitch and I nod, wanting to ease her nerves.

“Of course it is!” Mom pats her shoulder and takes the empty water glass back. “Have you had lunch yet, or…”

Tori brushes the air with her fingers. “I’m good. Thank you.”

“Okay, well, I’ll leave you to it. Colt’s in the middle of getting his homework done. Hey, maybe you could help him?”

I close my eyes and dip my head with a sigh while Tori stammers, “Oh, o-okay. Sure.”

Like that’s gonna happen. I’m not inviting Tori Lomax up to my bedroom so we can study together. I’m the tutor in this relationship, and I’m not about to let Pixie Girl find out just how stupid I am.

My cheeks are burning as I look up and spot her shy smile. Mom leaves the room, and Tori’s grin blooms into a radiant beam that makes my heart stutter.

My forehead flickers with a frown.

“I’m sorry to just show up unannounced. I wasn’t…” She points a thumb over her shoulder at the door, then gives up on what she’s going to say.

I take the last step into the entryway and slide my hands into my pockets. She’s looking at my torso, no doubt wondering if I’m okay.

“It’s all good.” I rub my side. “Doc says I can be back on the field in a week.”

“Oh, good.” She lets out a relieved sigh. “That’s great. I’m… I was so worried.” Her eyes round. “I mean, you know we all were. I just… That’s why I wanted to stop by. To make sure you were…” Her cheeks flame with color and she looks to the floor, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “I don’t have to stay.”

“It’s okay.” I shrug. Not sure why I just gave her permission. I’m not really up for giving her advice on how to win over Mack. If anything, the idea of doing my assignment is more appealing, which kind of freaks me out. When did I go from
avoid Tori at all costs
to
I kind of like having her around
?

Tori’s cheeks shift as another smile lights her face. She looks up, soaking me with her sunshine, and I can’t deny the fact I suddenly feel warmer. This is too weird. Maybe I
should
be asking her to leave.

“I was going to bring you a bar of Forrester’s chocolates.” She chuckles, her hands dancing in the air as she launches into an explanation. “That’s my standard MO, because chocolate makes everything better and Forrester’s is the best. But I figured your dad runs the factory, so you probably have chocolate in every room.” She looks up the stairs. “It’s actually a really good thing that I don’t live here because I’d turn into Humpty-Dumpty, or maybe it would have the reverse effect and I’d eat so much I’d end up not liking it anymore. Hmmmm.” Her head tips to the side and I can no longer fight my smile.

She’s freaking adorable.

It occurs to me that she’s babbling, which means she’s nervous. I can’t figure out what’s causing it. It’s just me. It’s not like she’s standing in Mack’s entryway right now.

I open my mouth to call her on it when a thought suddenly hits me.

Shit. I was supposed to meet her in the meadow today.

I glance at my watch—like an hour ago!

I’m surprised by how brutal my guilt feels. It slaps me on the back of the head, telling me I’m scum.

Tori hasn’t said a word. She’s not even annoyed at my no-show. Instead, she’s standing there nervously prattling about bringing me chocolate.

I open my mouth to apologize but can’t quite form the words. I’m so humiliated right now. Picturing her pacing through the grass, her big eyes scanning the pathway for me. It’s a killer. She’s never late, which means she must have sat there for forty-five minutes before coming over.

My expression folds with a look of regret. Her nose wrinkles in response before she gives me a gentle smile and follows it up with a wink. “Glad you’re okay, Colt.”

“Do you want to come up?” I glance up the stairs, trying to hide my surprise. I didn’t expect the words to pop out of my mouth so easily.

“Only if you want me to.” Tori smiles. “I can imagine spending Saturday afternoon working on homework is pretty exciting. I wouldn’t want to ruin that by distracting you.”

I grin at her jesting and turn up the stairs. “Believe me. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than procrastinating on this damn assignment. Come on. You’ll be doing me a favor.”

Her giggle works like an antidote, my mood swiftly rising as I lead her up the stairs and do something I haven’t done since I was twelve years old—hang out in my room with Tori Lomax.