Songs For Cricket

by Terri E. Laine

  I filled her as my dick pulsated hard inside her. On my final stroke, I buried myself so deep, neither of us could move.

  It was only when I pulled out, I realized what I’d done.

  When I cursed and rolled to my back, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

  I wasn’t sure how to tell her about my major fuckup. “I uhm . . . I didn’t use protection.”

  “Oh.”

  Oh. She’d said it so calmly like it wasn’t a huge deal. We were nowhere near ready to be parents. If she got pregnant, I’d be forced to leave school. I would have to find a job to take care of her, and I would with zero regrets. She was my future. That much I was sure of. But I’d never be able to give her the things I wanted her to have stuck in a dead-end job.

  “I’ve only ever been with you,” she began.

  “I’ve never been without a—”

  “Condom?”

  I nodded.

  “That’s good. But I’m on the pill.”

  I shifted my head to face her. “You are? But you . . .”

  I couldn’t seem to finish the sentence.

  “I was a virgin, yes. But there are other reasons why girls get on the pill besides sex. I’m sure you don’t want to hear all the bloody details.”

  I groaned, and she laughed as I tried to scrub my head of any thoughts about girls and their periods.

  “Don’t worry. We’re good.”

  She squealed when I rolled her half on top of me to kiss her. It wasn’t long after I was in need of a drink, water or a Coke.

  “Are you thirsty?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I am.”

  I got off the bed and grabbed my jeans.

  “Going commando, Shep?”

  I winked at her. “Why bother? I’ll be back in a minute.”

  “My key card is on the dresser,” she said.

  I noticed it and the TV for the first time. It had been all about her when I entered. The room wasn’t fancy, but it looked clean and not run-down. The other bed was perfectly made while the one we occupied had tangled sheets.

  “I’ll be right back,” I said and opened the door only wide enough to slip outside in case anyone was out in the hall.

  I looked for vending machine signs first left and then right. As I was making my decision, Billy rounded the corner.

  He halted, us both shocked to see the other.

  “You’re here.” He glanced at the door that stood closed behind me, and his eyes narrowed. “Why are you here? Aren’t you banned from campus?”

  Either word of my departure was going around or Coach had explained my absence to the team.

  “We aren’t on Layton’s campus now, are we?”

  “That doesn’t explain why you’re here with the team.”

  He looked again at the door, and I shifted so he couldn’t see the room number. Even though he’d be able to figure out the number because the other doors would clue him in.

  “He’s here with me.” I turned around to see August. “The question is what are you doing up here? Your room is on the second floor if I heard Coach correctly.”

  “If he’s with you, why is he coming from that room?” Billy asked, looking a little too pious.

  “I guess you missed the room assignments if you came sniffing around for my sister. I just finished checking on her, but there isn’t a need. Cooper’s bunking with her. I suggest you go back to your room, or I’ll be forced to fill in Coach. I bet he wouldn’t be happy considering he told you to stay away from her. Then again, if he knew, Coop might have a better chance at playing time.”

  Billy’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare try to use this to get your brother on the field.”

  “Coop’s my brother, and she’s my sister. He’s my brother too.” August raised his chin in my direction. “Remember that.”

  August had moved closer to me during his speech and now had an arm over my shoulder. There was a moment when I thought maybe things were finally going my way.

  Billy turned and stormed off. August waited a second before pulling away as if it pained him to be that close to me.

  “Thanks,” I said. “I—”

  His expression darkened.

  “I really don’t want to know what you were doing in there with my sister. And don’t think this changes anything.”

  “August—”

  I wanted to apologize and clear the air.

  “It’s obvious Cooper and Finley planned this. That’s why Coop showed up at my door.”

  I shook my head. “She didn’t know I was coming. I didn’t want her to be disappointed if I didn’t make it.”

  Technically, I wasn’t supposed to leave town. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I got pulled over for any sort of traffic violation.

  “Can we talk about this?” I asked.

  He waved me off. “There’s nothing to say. But if she sheds one tear over you, I will do my best to end you.”

  Then he was gone. I steepled my hands and pressed the tips of my index fingers to the bridge of my nose. I didn’t regret choosing Finley, but it hurt like hell to lose my best friend.

  33

  finley

  Shepard returned looking almost pale. I scrunched up my face in confusion.

  “What happened?”

  Had he gotten caught by one of the coaching staff?

  “I ah . . . ran into Billy.”

  He put the drinks and key card on the dresser.

  I sat up, my shirt covering me as the sheet fell away.

  “What did he say?” I asked.

  “August took care of it.”

  “August?” What had my brother said to him?

  “It’s cool. Don’t worry about it.”

  But I did. He took off his jeans and joined me in bed. He shifted my back against his chest. I suspected that move was to stop me from seeing the emotions on his face.

  “I hate that you’re forced in the middle of me and August,” I said.

  His reply blew over my bare skin and made me shiver. “I’m not in the middle, and even if I was, I would pick you every time. Now shh . . . I’ve kept you up long enough. I won’t be the reason you’re too tired to play tomorrow.”

  I didn’t think there was any way to sleep. The relief of seeing him allowed for the excitement of my debut game to hone in. But with the guy I loved so close, his warmth seeping into me, I eventually found dreamland. But I hated the pounding on the door that drew me out of it.

  “Time to get up.”

  The voice wasn’t anyone I recognized. Probably someone on staff I didn’t interact with that much. I rolled over and snuggled into Shep.

  “Cricket, baby, you’ve got to get up.”

  I burrowed in closer. “I don’t want to.”

  A chuckle vibrated in his chest.

  “Yes, you do. Your parents will be here to watch you win this game for us.”

  The fact that he’d said us was also a weight lifted off my shoulders. Things hadn’t resolved yet with the stupid case. But at least if he still considered himself a part of our team, he hadn’t given up yet.

  “Shower with me?” I asked.

  He gestured using his head with an emphatic no.

  “Please,” I begged. “We’ll save on water, and I promise to be good.”

  His laugh lifted my spirits more. “I can’t promise that.”

  I slipped my hand down between us and took him in my hand.

  “Cricket, you’re fucking killing me.”

  My parents often called me stubborn, but as I stroked him, he muttered a ton of curses. Just as he reached for me, I playfully rolled off the bed.

  “Shower,” I said, letting the sheet fall and stripping my shirt over my head.

  I ran naked and giggling into the small bathroom.

  He came and well, so did I. My nether region had never so been thoroughly cleansed inside and out. The boy had a mouth that could make any girl weak in the knees,
not to mention his dick. It was a struggle to walk normally and not give myself away.

  As the team sat in a private room in the hotel eating breakfast, I wondered what Shepard would do. He couldn’t be obvious about being in town.

  When we got to the stadium, it wasn’t necessarily bigger than ours. But the enormity of my first game made it feel like I’d arrived for the Super Bowl. It was afternoon, so the overhead lights around the field weren’t on. Still, it felt surreal. I used my phone and took a video of our arrival, whispering commentary as I went along.

  We still had a couple of hours before the game. Mom texted me that she and Dad had arrived and would be at the field a bit early.

  I caught up with Cooper when we got off the bus.

  “Does Shepard have a ticket?”

  That thought hadn’t crossed my mind until now. Since Cooper had orchestrated his arrival, I thought he might know. Though students could get tickets, I wasn’t sure if Shepard could given his current status.

  “I got him one. Don’t worry.”

  “Where is he sitting?”

  “Next to Mom and Dad. I requested an extra for him just in case. Finn couldn’t come, but Sawyer and Ashton were trying to make it as well.”

  I hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I hoped our older brother, Ash, made it. I hadn’t talked to him lately. He was a lot like Cooper. He didn’t make conversation easily. But if they came, they could be there for Shepard if my parents got to be too much. Dad would have a lot of questions about why he wasn’t on the field.

  When I searched for August, he wasn’t looking at me or anyone for that matter. He wore a troubled expression, deep in thought. I wanted to ask him what was going on, but he’d told me to mind my own business.

  It wasn’t until game time that my nervousness kicked in full gear. My heart raced, and I felt sweat not caused by heat trickle down my back. I was near the middle of the final huddle on the sideline just before the national anthem. When the guys slapped my back and wished me good luck, I truly felt like a part of the team.

  Cooper pointed out the general direction of where Shep and my parents were sitting. They were too far up for me to make them out.

  We won the coin toss, so I cheered on Billy and the other starters as they got on the field. It wasn’t until later that August went in. We were shut out in the first half and never got into field goal range. Bryant, however, couldn’t stay off, punting the ball several times.

  The locker room at halftime was not a happy place. Coach was red-faced as he hurled curses and gave us a good dressing down before calming down and diving into all the adjustments we needed to make.

  My first play in the game came at the opening of the second half when I had to kickoff.

  As I jogged out on the field, I tried to ignore all of the camera flashes that were going off. Kickoffs weren’t my specialty, and if I botched it, the world would see because with my luck it would end up the most played video on YouTube.

  I cleared my head so only the sounds of my breaths could be heard. I didn’t rush, counting my steps and getting into position. When the whistle blew, I focused on the ball and remembered how Shepard had coached me. He wasn’t holding the ball this time, Cooper was. He’d spun the lacing around perfectly, so I hit the sweet spot and watched the ball fly.

  It didn’t land in the end zone. The other team caught it, and they were heading for us. I felt like a gazelle in the middle of a stampede. But I braced myself to tackle the guy with the ball if he got past our defenders. When he didn’t, I let out a sigh and headed back off the field.

  “Good job,” Billy said, patting my back as I made it to the sidelines.

  “Thanks.”

  His eyes didn’t linger, which suited me fine. He was in game mode, and I drifted back where Coach Ari had me kick a few balls to keep my leg warm. It was late in the third quarter when we’d finally scored a touchdown. In my glee, I’d forgotten to follow the team out on the field for the extra point and had to almost full-out run to catch up.

  Cooper was in charge of special teams. It was always amazing to watch my brother’s transformation once on the field. Off of it, he stood in August’s shadow. On it, he commanded like a seasoned leader. In the huddle, he gave us the play, and we readied ourselves. When the other team broke, Cooper sized up their formation and checked the sideline. Then he kneeled, giving me the signal to stick with the regular kick.

  This was my jam. Extra points were easy no matter what hash mark I kicked it from, left, right, or center. I stepped back and then kicked the ball like it wasn’t my first game. When it sailed through the uprights, our side of the field got to their feet.

  I’d done it. It was picture-perfect too. I glanced in the direction of where Shepard and my parents sat. I smiled, even though I couldn’t see them, before hustling off the field only to return to do another kickoff.

  We scored two more times, August having caught one touchdown before we were down to just a few minutes left. We’d tied it up with the last score, and it was up to my extra point to put us in the lead since the other team’s kicker missed one.

  Talk about pressure.

  “Just do it like before,” Cooper said before we got into position.

  The crowd was silent, making everything eerie. I focused on my breathing before I took off, only for the whistle to blow a time-out just as I kicked the ball.

  The ball had gone through the uprights, but it didn’t count. They were “icing me” as was said. They had done it in hopes of psyching me out.

  Everyone said something to me, but I hadn’t heard much more than just do it again.

  I got back into position once the time-out was over and silenced all the doubt in my head. Then I moved, and angled my foot like I’d been taught, connected with the ball, and sent it high into the air. One defensive guy leaped up and nearly knocked the ball out of the air, but he missed. The crowd roared when it sailed through the uprights.

  My team practically lifted me in the air. But it wasn’t over. There were still ninety seconds left. Plenty of time for the other team to score and win.

  Coach wanted me to skip the ball down the field for the next kickoff, but I wasn’t confident in that. I did my best, and the low kick flew by several hands and was surrounded by our team near the goal line. That left the other team to fight their way back almost the length of the field.

  When time ran out and their wide receiver bobbled and dropped a deep ball, our team stormed the field along with half the crowd from the stands. It was a reminder of the scrimmage game we’d played––us Farrows and a few others against the starters. Billy and I were lifted into the air. It felt glorious.

  I wasn’t sure how long I’d been held in the air before I was finally put down. It was long enough that I spotted my parents off to the side. I made my way over as dozens of people gave me their well-wishes.

  Mom was there decked out in school colors and went to hug me first. “Honey, you were great.” Dad hadn’t glanced my way yet. I heard him congratulate August. Mom did too. “Do you have something to say to our daughter?” she asked.

  Dad finally looked at me. “You were good out there.”

  His words were flat, lacking that proud parental enthusiasm I’d seen him give August when he did something great, but at least it was something.

  But August wouldn’t let it go. “She wasn’t good, she was great. Every ball right down the center.”

  I saw the bigger picture and tugged Cooper from behind me. “I couldn’t have done it without Coop. He was fantastic out there. He helped me keep it together. He’s going to be amazing when he gets his shot to start.”

  Dad licked his lips. “You all were great. I’m proud of all of you.”

  Still, he ruffled August’s hair. Rome wasn’t built in a day, I thought as I heard Mom sigh. She hugged Cooper, and that’s when I noticed Shepard off to the side.

  I ran over and practically tackled him.

 
He smoothed a hand over my hair. “Cricket, you smashed it.”

  I looked up at him and lifted my head to kiss him when he said, “Mr. Farrow.”

  I closed my eyes, dropped to my feet, and turned to face my dad. Shepard’s hand was still twined with mine. We had to hide it from so many others, I wouldn’t from my family.

  “Dad, Shepard and I are together.”

  It was a good thing the crowd was still chattering. It was unlikely anyone had overheard our conversation tucked near the sideline benches.

  Dad’s gaze dropped to our hands. “And how long were you disrespecting me in my house?”

  “August,” Mom said like a reprimand.

  August stepped in between as Shepard said, “I didn’t. I wasn’t—”

  “Dad,” August said. “This is new. They weren’t together when we were home. I can promise that.”

  Dad wasn’t listening to anyone. There was hate in his glare aimed at Shep.

  “So now what? Considering you didn’t play today, what can you offer my daughter but a bad family name and a music teacher’s salary?”

  I gasped, and Shepard let go of my hand. I had no time to yell at my father or at Shepard for letting me go with a news crew suddenly in my face and a mic aimed inches from my mouth.

  “Tell me, Ms. Farrow, what was it like, your first time on the field?”

  My first thought was for Tori. She’d guided me before. Classes had started, and I hadn’t seen much of her. I longed for her advice but drew in a breath and remembered what she told me before, knowing the sound bite could be replayed over and over again.

  “It was an amazing experience, especially out there with a great group of guys.”

  “It was your final kick that won the game for your team. What was it like to have to kick the ball a second time? Were you confident that you’d make it again?”

  I didn’t want to sound egotistical, so I thought before I spoke. “I’ve been consistent in practice, so I was confident that I could do it again.”

  The camera shifted to my parents. Mom smiled prettily, but I could tell she was gun-shy from all the attention. Dad’s eyes briefly met mine before he answered what it was like to have all three of his triplets playing on the same team.