Afterward, he collapsed beside her, cupping her face.
“You’ve got to rejoin the team,” she said, after a few seconds.
“Ah, so that’s what all of this is about,” He ran his thumb across her bottom lip.
“They need you.”
“I want you more.”
“They’re going to hate me, but I don’t want to be the girl who took you away from what you love.”
“I don’t love sports, Laylah. I love you.”
“I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to you saying that.”
He noticed she didn’t say it back, but he understood. Laylah hadn’t been given the time to come to terms with how he felt about her. He’d been falling in love with her long before he finally asked her out on a date.
“If I go back, will you go out with me? Be my girlfriend?”
“I thought we were already dating.”
“We are, but it means you’ve got to come to practice as well. Watch me, wait for me. Be the devoted girlfriend.”
“Really?”
“Hell, yeah, I want it all.”
“And here I thought you only wanted my cherry and you’d dump my ass the moment you got it.”
He kissed her hard and deep. “Not a chance. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
She closed her eyes as he brushed his lips against hers. “Deal,” she said.
“Then deal.” He was going to get back on the team.
****
“I was wrong about him,” Becky said a couple of days later.
After a long weekend, most of which she spent in his bed, they’d returned to school. Hand in hand. The gossip mill once again running rife. For about an hour, she’d been one of the most hated girls in the school. The one responsible for ruining the football team, and then of course for taking their star player away from everyone else.
Once it came to light that Blue had rejoined the team, and his complete and utter devotion to her, the glares and nasty comments had come down to a minimum.
“About Blue?” Laylah asked.
“Yeah. I’ve been watching the way he is with you. There’s not a single part of him that is acting. He does love you.” Becky patted her shoulder.
“He’s told me … a lot.”
“Wow, that shit is deep,” John said. “What did you say?”
She blew out a breath. John and Becky winced. “Don’t do that.”
“You mean this guy is literally telling you he loves you, is completely devoted to you, and I can say that for a fact. I’ve been watching him for any kind of flaw in the boyfriend stuff. And you haven’t even said that you love him?”
“Nope. I’m a horrible person, aren’t I?”
“You’re not exactly great,” Becky said. “Don’t get me wrong. I hate all men and all that, but Blue has turned out to be a pretty decent guy.”
They stood on the stands, watching them train. The entire team surrounded the coach as he barked orders at them. She couldn’t make much out, but she guessed they weren’t doing a good job.
“Do you not love him?” John asked.
“I’ve never been in love before. Doesn’t it mean he’s felt this before with others?”
Becky shook her head, as did John.
“You guys are supposed to be my friends and so far, you’re making me feel like crap for not expelling my feelings. Rather than judge me, why don’t you start telling me where I went wrong? That might be a much bigger help.” She glared at each of them.
“Me first?” Becky asked.
“You go. I’ll watch.”
“Okay, when you’re around Blue, do you feel anything different or do you feel the same as when you hang out with us? Before you answer that. Do you look forward to seeing him? I mean stomach twisting, hope building, and all the other emotional crap that goes on with it? Sweaty palms, happiness, and a goofy smile.”
“What’s your point?”
“My point is, if you don’t have any serious feelings for him, none of that shit would happen, and you also wouldn’t get pissed when one of the cheer girls pass him with a smile. I know for a fact you want to punch them for even looking at him.”
John chuckled.
“So, what you’re saying is that is love? It’s not just some silly crush?” she asked.
“Not everything is easily analyzed, Laylah,” John said. “You’ve got to learn to just trust. It could be a crush, but that means it could also grow into something so much more. Like me and my girl. It started out as friends at camp, and one summer, we just knew. We were in love, and the distance between us doesn’t mean shit. We’re going to be together.”
“I think it’s time we leave her to figure this one out. Tell Blue we said hi,” Becky said, giving her a hug.
Within a few seconds, she was alone and staring off at the field where Blue was playing with all of his team buddies.
He made her heart race, her pulse quicken. Blue made her feel alive.
She had thought it was just a crush. Something teenagers went through, but it was more than an immature feeling. She didn’t look at Blue the same way she used to over an actor she adored or had a crush on. Her feelings were real. They were getting stronger with every passing day.
Each morning when they got to school, he’d take her hand, locking their fingers together, and it would send a spike of pleasure rushing through her body. He’d also climbed into her bedroom window a couple of times. Even with her parents downstairs, they’d made love, quietly, softly.
Waking up in his arms had been exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. She couldn’t even begin to describe it.
Now as she watched him, she knew without a doubt, and a rush of guilt flooded her. She’d messed up in more ways than one. Blue had told her every
