Page 60 of First Down Promise

Pete lets out a sheepish laugh. “Oh, that reminds me. I’m going to sound like a hypocrite, but I hooked up with Jordan’s sister-in-law a couple of times. You know, the QB there.”

There goes Pete again. Coop presses his lips together and looks away as Dane and I make eye contact. Dane’s expression softens for the first time since he showed up at my house.

Do you blame me now, Dane?

Chapter Twenty-Two

Abby

Josh: How was your day? Did you have practice?

I grin at my phone as I read Josh’s text. I seldom have to text first, but whenever he texts me out of the blue, it sends flutters through me.

I’m sitting on the sectional couch on the opposite end from Pete, who has a football game on. The Stallions don’t play again until this weekend after their bye week, and it’s only Tuesday, but Pete wanted to catch Milwaukee playing New York. We used to cheer for them every season and wear green, but it’s such a distant memory, almost as hazy as Dad teaching me how to ride a bike.

I tap the message and begin typing a response to Josh.

Me: Good. Practice was exhausting. At least Sadie was there. How was yours?

Josh: Meh, missed you lots.

I barely set my phone on the couch when it buzzes again. I smile wider this time as I reread his words. I glance at his contact name to make sure I’m not dreaming that this is my life now. It’s the same as my phone background—a picture of me sandwiched between Josh and Pete at a game earlier this season. We’re all in our Stallions gear after a home game, and Josh and Pete were giddy after securing a win.

Josh: Come over.

I purse my lips and look at Pete in my peripheral vision. He’ll be up for another couple of hours if he wants to watch this game all the way through, and it might be too late by then. Plus, I’d have to sneak out. My car’s in the garage, and Pete would hear the garage open from his room. I close my eyes and draw in a slow breath. My chest aches with everything I can’t tell him about Josh.

Me: I can’t.

He sees my text immediately but doesn’t reply, so I type another message to soften it.

Me: I would if I could.

I’m about to press send as a new message pops up from Josh, and I press the backspace button on my phone’s screen to delete the draft.

Josh: I know. This won’t last forever.

There are only a few more weeks left in the regular season, and they haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet. For the first time in my life, I’m actually looking forward to football season ending. It won’t be pretty once the Stallions are done for the season, but the freedom will be…

Another message appears.

Josh: Tell me something that made you smile today.

Me: That giant poster of you in the lobby of the training facility.

Me: And seeing your truck in the parking lot because I knew you were close by.

Josh: Now you know how I feel when I see you cheering on the sidelines.

Me: Thought you weren’t supposed to pay attention?

The dots appear as he types, disappear, then reappear. Over and over. Like he doesn’t know what to say. After a couple of minutes of watching them blink on my screen, a message finally comes through.

Josh: You’ve got me hooked now. I can’t help it.

“Who are you texting?” Pete asks from across the room.

I crane my neck to look at Pete. “Sadie. Gossiping about practice earlier,” I lie.