Freight Train

by Sapphire Knight

  She’s the best type of distraction for me right now, too, with the fight happening two weeks ago and Clyde not letting me or Nate help him out at home. I need something to get my mind off it all, and she’s perfect. Besides, once I do finally get her, it’ll be that much more satisfying.

  “Come on twelve!” Coach shouts so I’ll get to the front of the team with Kash our QB and lead everyone out. Grabbing my helmet, I get in my position. “Defense and offense team captains?”

  “Yes, Coach!” Kash and I both yell together as our teammates start stomping their cleats against the concrete floor, getting pumped up. Between stomps they smack their hands against their thighs, making loud clapping sounds. The locker room begins to sound like a giant rumble, and it causes my heart rate to speed up.

  I play both sides; offense and defense. I’m actually slotted for four different positions but play wherever the team needs me at the most. Plus, it allows me to be a team captain for the defense. I’m close to a lot of the guys, including our quarterback on offense because of it.

  “We ready to show them how Alabama football gets played in our house?”

  “Hell yes!” The entire team shouts back, making the locker room sound like more of a thunderous echo. It’s the stomping and chanting that always gets my adrenaline going, then when we run out and hear the fans doing the same, it does insane things to my stomach. I always feel a huge burst of energy and excitement come over me.

  “Then send them back home!” Coach hollers and the team goes crazy.

  The guys stay in line, jogging behind Kash and me as we make our way out the hall and onto the field. The stadium’s full today, with fans standing and screaming to greet us. I’m grateful for all of the support, every single one of them cheering us on, but my gaze immediately scopes out one section in particular.

  Kadence is easy to spot, and I damn near stumble as I take her in. She looks nothing—and I mean nothing—like the nerdy, sweet girl I’ve gotten used to seeing. The one that I’ve started looking forward to seeing every day in passing. I may even silently hope she’ll run into me again in the hallways just so I can feel her up against me.

  Kash grips my forearm, his brow wrinkling, “You okay, brah?”

  Meeting his eyes, I chuckle. “Yep, never been better.” And it’s the truth. Kadence has evolved into one hell of a swan, that’s for sure. I already thought she was beautiful before, but hello sexy college girl.

  Releasing my arm, Kash grins and bumps my knuckles once he notices exactly what’s caught my eye.

  Jogging toward my spot, I give Kadence a small wave with a few of my fingers. Her beaming smile is enough to make me swallow roughly. If my cup weren't on so damn tight, I’d need to adjust it. I hope my dick doesn’t decide to grow with her bouncing around like that. It’d hurt pretty fucking bad to get throttled with my cock full in the middle of the game. Not to mention a little embarrassing too.

  JJ comes up beside me, staring at my reserved seats as well. “No fucking way.”

  “Yep,” I smirk, knowing he’s referencing Kadence in her sexy as hell outfit. I wonder why she didn’t invite anyone else with her. That fucker I paid to deliver her stuff better not have kept the other tickets.

  JJ and I check Kadence out the best we can from this far away. She’s dressed in tiny white shorts, cropped jersey, and a ponytail. She’s got my number painted on one cheek, and her glasses are missing. I guess she owns contacts or only needs them for reading and stuff.

  JJ’s most likely choking over his words right now from teasing me in the locker room about her earlier. Jesus, I thought she was pretty before, but now she’s fucking smoking hot. I don’t know if it’s because she’s clad in my number or what, but I’ve never been this breathless checking out a woman wearing clothes. If this was Brianne’s doing, I owe her big time.

  She’s definitely going back to my bedroom with me if I have anything to say about it. I want to peel off each layer she’s got on and discover the rest of that tight body she’s been keeping hidden. Just call me Christopher Columbus, and I’ll happily make her body sail.

  “I told you it would work!” Brianne laughs happily after we watch Ty nearly fall over his own two feet. He looked up, and his mouth dropped. It was pretty epic; I wish we’d gotten a picture of it.

  So, I was completely against her idea of this outfit and fought her on it, but she obviously knew what she was talking about. “I’ll admit it; I’m happy I wore it now. Just wish these shorts were a little bit longer. I feel like my ass cheeks are hanging out and my name should be changed to College Barbie.”

  “Kay, you’ve been beautiful your entire life, let loose a little. This is college, so have some actual fun. And your butt is not hanging out; you’re covered, I swear. College Barbie.” She winks, and I stick my tongue out at her.

  “I like my normal clothes. And besides, I’m here and in this ridiculous outfit, aren’t I? I’m going to have some fun. I got nachos, didn’t I?”

  “Yep, you definitely are, you crazy partier.” Her tone’s sarcastic as she digs out her phone. “And I’m posting this shit on Facebook.” She smiles and snaps a picture of me with her smartphone. “Hashtag—at the game with ‘The Freight Train’s new girl,” she mumbles while she types.

  Oh, God. She didn’t really say that, right? “Holy shit. You didn’t really put that, did you?”

  “Yep.” She nods and shows me the screen after it’s already been posted to her feed.

  A few guys behind me cheer. “We’re by his girl! Check her out; she’s hot.”

  “Oh shit, don’t hate me.” Brianne gapes, staring down at her phone as comments begin to pour onto her post and her notifications begin to ping like crazy.

  She glances up, her eyes growing wide, eyebrows nearly to her hairline.

  “What did you do?”

  She shakes her head, pointing up and behind me.

  Turning, I face the jumbo screen that currently has her Facebook post on it. It’s massive in size so everyone can see the picture of me all dolled up and read her hashtags easily:

  #AtTheGameWithFreightTrainsNewGirl #12SentHerTicketsAndHisJersey #AlabamaFootball #CuteCouple #PictureTheBabys #KayAndTy #12 #Owens #AU

  “Oh, my gawd! Brianne!” It comes out shriller than I had intended, but she gets the point.

  “How was I supposed to know they’d monitor his hashtags?” She shrugs, appearing guilty while women around us start shooting me death glares like I just cursed their mother or ate the last damn Oreo.

  “Just great, fan-freaking-tastic! You’ve unleashed the piranhas.” Resting my hand on my face, I pretend to hide, wanting a small hole to sink into, even for only two seconds.

  “It’ll all be fine, relax.”

  But it won’t....Nothing is going to be the same after this. Bad enough I’m a football star’s daughter, but now, apparently, I’m one’s girl as well. My dad was able to keep my privacy intact for the most part, but there’s no way this will just up and disappear, not now and not anytime soon. With social media, everyone knows everything in college. Nothing’s secret or sacred anymore and I’ve just become the highlight, or lowlight in some cases, of AU today.

  Fuck. My. Life. My dad’s going to flip when he finds out about this.

  Now I feel like a giant circus freak as people smile and wave at me or send me dirty looks. There’s really no middle; it’s either they love me for supposedly being the girlfriend of one of their favorite players or they hate me for it.

  I can’t believe Brianne didn’t consider any of the consequences a post like that could have on Ty or me. She’s known me nearly my whole life and should also know by now that I like my privacy.

  Now if we supposedly ‘break-up’ all of Tyler’s fans will end up all hating me even more. I need to pray to God that he plays well or next I’ll be branded as bad luck and fans will boot me out of the stadium. This is the south. Football is serious, like basically its own religion down here.

  I was really enjoying it that v
ery few people here had any idea about who I am. I was fortunate to have a father who loved me and had a successful career while I was growing up, but it came with its own negative side effects. At least he wasn’t ever like any of the celebrity parents I see online now. They’re always boasting about their kids and trying to make money off them somehow. Thank God he was never into any of those reality shows or anything.

  My father was gone a lot, always training or traveling to games. I grew up with my Nan outside of Boston, who was my live-in nanny until I was fifteen. Dad’s career was over then, and Nan moved back to England to be with her family. Dad declared he was ‘sick of fucking snow, that we’re southerners’ and moved us to our summer house in Texas, right off the Gulf.

  Living those last couple years with my dad was interesting. He was always loving and good to me. He still is, but he’s changed so much. I was grateful when it came time for me to head off to college. Dad made a big fuss, but I know he was happy about it too. Now I fly to Texas to visit him, or he’ll come here sometimes, just depends on what’s going on at the time.

  My father never told me much about my mom, and eventually, I stopped asking. If I ever brought her up, he’d close up and then change the subject.

  Dad’s family’s from Ireland. I’ve gotten to meet them a few times over the years when he’s flown us over to visit. He has a sister. I’m not close with her, though; she’s not fond of America and never visits.

  Dad was sent to live with his aunt who lived in Alabama when he was eight, so he grew up in the states and even played college ball before the NFL. It’s one of the main reasons why I chose to attend Alabama for college. It has history in our family, and I respect that. I’m in a football-crazed college, and I’m the daughter of a football-crazed man, so I fit perfectly.

  The game goes by quicker than expected and is far better than I ever would have imagined. Ty plays like a man possessed, and I can easily see why the masses love him. After witnessing my dad play for so many years and being submerged in the football life, I know by watching Ty play today, that he has ‘it.’ He’s talented enough to play for the NFL if he wants to and be successful at it for a really long time. Some people get out on that field, and it’s like they can finally breathe, as if they’re free.

  It’s exciting because I know that if I can sense it about him, then no doubt there are teams looking at him and he most likely has no idea yet. We’re both starting our third year in school next semester (yes, I broke down and googled him), and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s picked up in this next draft. I wonder what team he’ll eventually go to and what teams he follows.

  “What did you think?” Brianne turns to me, full of enthusiasm now that the game’s over and Alabama took home a big win. I honestly can’t believe it went by so fast.

  “I totally loved it. I can’t believe I haven’t come to these games sooner. I should’ve given college ball a chance.”

  “So you want to start watching them then?”

  “Yes, but thankfully next time we’ll know to get our own seats so people won’t be staring at me the entire time and I’m definitely wearing a hat or something.”

  “Are you nuts? These seats are unbelievable! I was literally able to see everything. I feel like I could reach out and touch them, they’re so close.”

  We are set up in the prime location, and I shouldn’t be complaining, but I have a feeling Tyler’s not going to be thrilled when he sees what’s all over Facebook now. I’ll probably be kidnapped by hordes of angry football groupies begging me to give them his cock details, and I’m not actually dating the guy. I don’t think I have any more football tickets to look forward to from him in my near future, that’s for sure.

  We’re exiting our row as one of the team’s water guys stops next to us. “Hey, are you Kadence Winters?”

  “Yes, that’s me.” I raise my eyebrow in question and scoot to the side so people can go around me to leave. It was a packed house all the way up until the end.

  “Okay great. I’m Rob, and I’m on the team.” He points to the field. “I mean, I help with the team. But that’s not the point. I’m here because Owens asked me to see if you’d like to come and wait for him.”

  Interesting. Did he already see the jumbotron and know about the Facebook post?

  “And if we say no and decide to just leave?”

  “Well, then I’ll walk you to your vehicle or dorm, wherever you need to go, so you don’t have to do it alone.”

  “But it’s broad daylight,” Brianne argues.

  He shrugs his shoulders, appearing nervous. “Look I’m just doing what Owens asked. He’s a pretty nice guy, and many of them aren’t, so please let me do this for you guys? You obviously mean something to him, if he sent me up here. Plus I saw the jumbotron and the Facebook posts. If it’s true and you are his girl, then I definitely need to make sure no one bothers you.”

  Gritting my teeth, I glare at Brianne for the mess she’s created and drug me into. This sounds like the pushy Tyler that I’ve caught a glimpse of the past few run-ins we’ve had.

  “Fine. Rob, you can take us to meet up with Tyler. I don’t want you to have to walk all the way to our dorm for no reason. Thank you for being a loyal friend to Ty.”

  He blushes when I say he’s a friend to Tyler and nods. “Okay, thanks, follow me, please. We can use the field entrance and bypass the crowd.”

  “What about security?” Brianne pipes up, pointing toward the big guys in black and yellow security shirts. They should at least make them wear black and maroon, so they go with the school colors. Add a few stripes to their shirts, and they’ll look like bumblebees on steroids.

  Nathan holds up his badge hanging from his lanyard. “No worries, I can get us through. Regardless, they all saw the jumbotron too, so they already know to let you through to see Owens.”

  “Oh God,” I mutter, wiping my brow again, wanting to punch my best friend as I follow along. This is all her doing, and I’m going to have to live through it at least until the semester’s over and everyone finds something new to gossip over.

  Brianne and I have to practically hop down the stairs, our short legs trying to keep up with Rob’s long, quick strides. The guy’s like six foot four and a total beanpole. He seems friendly, though, so I can see why they’d let him help out with the team. He strikes me as more of a basketball guy, though.

  We stop at the field entrance where two security guards check over Rob’s badge, then smile and nod at me like we’re acquaintances or something. The trek over the green seems to take forever, but Rob’s right, it probably just saved us thirty minutes from trying to get through everyone leaving. I’m pretty excited too, being able to walk out on the field. You don’t get that chance often; they guard the field here like its sacred ground.

  There’s a bench outside the locker rooms in the hall where we stop. “You ladies have a seat, and once they’re finished, everyone will come out. Did you want me to get you a soda or something while you wait?” Rob asks politely.

  “Actually, I’d like...” Brianne starts to order, but I cut her off.

  “No, we’re good. Thanks for coming to get us,” I respond politely, and he smiles.

  “Okay, see you later.” He takes off toward a door labeled ‘Office,’

  “Bye!” We both call and then get quiet.

  “This is neat.” She looks around, noticing the painted murals and such on the concrete walls.

  “You’re still in the doghouse,” I grumble, and she sighs.

  I swear we wait for twenty minutes before the door finally opens and a group of beefy guys carrying big duffel bags full of gear come pouring out, tired but happy. They’re freaking huge too. I mean I know how big football players are from my dad, but it’s not every day you’re right beside an entire team of them. It’s a bit intimidating and also sort of a turn on.

  These guys look like they come from the south as if they were fed well and trained by pushing tractor tires around or somethin
g. No wonder Coach Stratton barely loses a game from what I hear. Supposedly, he only works with the elite when it comes to his own team.

  I just saw how good Tyler is, so obviously, the rumors are true, and he’s the prime pick for his position.

  Speaking of the game, I wonder if my dad was watching. I can only imagine the call I’ll get if he saw the jumbotron and Brianne’s Facebook post.

  So awesome, I think and roll my eyes to myself.

  There’s only two things you can do

  when someone says you’re not good enough:

  you can prove them right, or you can prove them wrong.

  - Julian Edelman

  I sent Rob to get Kadence from the stands for me and jumped into the shower as quickly as possible, skirting around all of the locker room celebrating going on. Then, of course, Coach wanted to talk, and the guys wanted to discuss the after party. Everyone’s pumped up to celebrate our win.

  I tried getting them to party tomorrow instead, but I was shut down. No one wants to practice on Monday being hungover. I get it; I’d be the same way if I weren't in a hurry to get to Kadence. I want to spend time with her alone, away from the guys. However, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen anytime soon. One of the many downfalls of sharing a house with a group of guys is the lack of privacy whenever you want it.

  We get everything settled, and I throw on some fresh basketball shorts, a tank top, and a pair of Jordan slide sandals, and then head out to greet her. I know I look like a total bum, but I’m exhausted after playing my ass off today. Everyone still has energy because they didn’t play as much, whereas I was in nearly the entire game. I think I even ran faster than usual today. Could I have been showing off for her and not even realized it?

  At this point, I just want to eat three steaks, have wild monkey sex, then take a damn nap and in that order if possible.