by Alley Ciz
Each thought hits my system like poison. My inner coach isn’t wrong per se, but I remind myself that even G, her best friend, doesn’t tag her in his posts—the rare times she’s even in them. And, again, I like how she doesn’t want to be in the spotlight.
It’s different.
It’s refreshing.
Right?
“What we talking ’bout?” Trav makes his way over.
“Which one of us gets to ask Kay out when she finally wises up and gets rid of this dead weight over here.” Alex hooks a thumb in my direction.
“Well if she wants a real man, you know it’s gonna be me, unlike you losers.” Kev flexes.
“Guys, give him a break,” Trav cuts in.
“Thanks, man.” I resume my position in the rack again.
“Besides, it’ll be more fun watching him squirm.” Trav winks.
“Asshole.”
“Love you too.” He blows kisses at me. “But, seriously, bro…she’s a unicorn. Don’t fuck this up.”
Noah snorts as he finishes his next bench set. “A unicorn, Trav? Very poetic, bro.”
“She’s a chick who not only loves football but understands it. Hell, she was calling the damn plays and penalties yesterday. So, yeah, she’s a fucking unicorn.” Everyone laughs at his explanation. “Plus, we all know she’d pick me.”
Trash talk is normal and something I’m used to at practice and in the locker room, but on a day I don’t usually see Kay, it only makes the voice in my head louder.
Coach Knight enters the weight room and catches us talking. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is my workout interfering with your girl talk?” he shouts.
We scatter back to our respective stations, knowing it’s better to stay silent than to respond.
After a punishing two hours of lifting followed by the hottest shower on record, I’m walking across campus for my first class. I pull out my phone to see Kay’s answer to my good morning text from earlier.
SKITTLES: You are so lucky I sleep with my phone on silent, mister. Otherwise you’d be dead right now. *knife emoji* *angry eyed emoji*
Man this chick is the best.
ME: Whatcha doin, baby?
* * *
SKITTLES: In class. What about you, slacker?
* * *
ME: Tell me where you are and I’ll show you a slacker.
* * *
SKITTLES: Why do you make everything I say sound dirty?
* * *
ME: One of my many special talents.
* * *
SKITTLES: *GIF of Michelle Tanner rolling her eyes*
* * *
ME: You know how I feel about you rolling your eyes.
* * *
SKITTLES: There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you.
* * *
ME: And yet YOU still agreed to be my girlfriend. Now tell me where your class is.
* * *
SKITTLES: I’m in Jefferson Hall.
Perfect—not too far from where my first class is located. I change direction and head for Jefferson.
ME: Room #?
* * *
SKITTLES: Why?
* * *
ME: Room #?
* * *
SKITTLES: Fine.
* * *
SKITTLES: 521.
I can tell she’s getting all huffy with me even over text. She never falls for my shit, and I can’t believe how much of a turn-on it is for me.
I stride through the doors of Jefferson Hall and take the elevator up to the fifth floor. Once I’m outside Kay’s classroom, I send her another text.
ME: Go to the bathroom.
* * *
SKITTLES: What? Why?
This girl is cutely clueless.
ME: Excuse yourself to go to the bathroom so I can kiss you hello.
* * *
SKITTLES: ????
* * *
SKITTLES: Don’t you have class?
Oh, she still has so much to learn about me.
ME: Get your sexy ass out here.
I watch the three little dots appear and disappear on the screen for a minute, but no new text comes. Then the door to the classroom opens, and out steps my Skittles. I smile when I catch sight of her shirt, another from her funny collection, this one reading I Speak French in big letters, and smaller, underneath: Fries.
“You should have saved that shirt for lunch with Trav and G.”
“True.” She agrees with a grin. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I missed you.”
It’s true; I missed her more than I probably should as a new couple. With the guys making all those comments, I needed eyes on her to calm the uncertainty and insecurity that periodically creeps in.
“You’re gonna be late to class,” she cautions, maintaining her distance, standing across the hall. Her head swivels left then right, checking that we are alone.
Our relationship took a number of strides forward this weekend, but right now I feel like we’re taking a few steps back.
“That’s fine. This is totally worth it.” I shift, eliminating the space between us, and pull her into my arms where she belongs.
“What is?” With the way she has to tilt her head all the way back to make eye contact, I can see that V between her brows is back.
“This.” I spin her Yankees hat backward, moving the brim out of my way, and drop a kiss on her lips.
I savor it, tunneling my fingers in her hair under her hat, cradling the back of her head as my tongue strokes hers. She tastes like sugar and coffee, and I can’t get enough.
Her nails scratch the back of my neck and my own hat goes askew from the way her hands fist.
Her eyes are dazed when they meet mine.
“Now I can get to class. Bye, baby.”
#Chapter41
UofJ411: Guess best friends share everything? #SharingIsCaring #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasMysteryGirl
*picture of Kay with Trav at The Nest*
@Heymom05: I don’t know @CasaNova87 she looks pretty cozy with @QB1McQueen7 #CasanovasMysteryGirl
* * *
UofJ411: Does the football team have a mascot? #WhatAboutTheHawk
#CasanovaWatch #CasanovasMysteryGirl
*picture of Alex and Kevin walking with Kay around campus*
@Hippychick782000: I’d like to be the filling in that sandwich @CantCatchAnderson22 @SackMasterSanders91 #OreosAreLife #CreamFilling #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@It.sgottabethebooks: So wait? Is she dating @CasaNova87 or the whole football team? #CasanovasMysteryGirl
* * *
UofJ411: Musical coffee date? #HoldMyLatte #CasanovaWatch #CasanovaMysteryGirl
*picture of Noah and Kay at a coffee cart on campus*
@JJennifermarie119: Is @CasaNova87 being *kicked* to the curb by @LacesOutMitchell5 #WhatHappenedToBrosBeforeHoes #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@JJUllom: I’ll warm your bed @CasaNova87 #ShoulderToCryOn #CasanovasMysteryGirl
#Chapter42
Though I’m still avoiding the Gram—both checking the notifications and being the subject of posts—like it’s my job, this week has been unlike any other I’ve had as a student at the U of J.
My life has officially become invaded by footballers with Mase’s teammates—at least the core group he hangs out with—all making it a point to find me around campus. It’s hard enough to avoid letting Mase walk with his arm around me; adding in the rest of them has become quite a feat.
Hats are now an everyday staple of my wardrobe, and most days I have my hair gathered in a messy bun out the back to make the colors in it sort of hidden. I’ve been doing my best to enjoy my budding relationship, but the fear of my identity being revealed hangs like a dark cloud in the form of a hashtag. I thought #CasanovaWatch was bad, but it has nothing on #CasanovasMysteryGirl.
I know I need to woman up and tell Mason about the things I went through, but every time I’ve tried, I’ve chickened out. He’s so self-assured and doesn’t give a fuck w
hat others have to say, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been hiding.
I may not know what’s being posted, but the annoyed texts I’ve received from Mase whenever something does go up have been highly entertaining.
For example:
BOYFRIEND (and yes this is how he is saved in my phone now. We settled on this after he tried to name himself Ruler of Kay’s Universe): You tell those jockholes I’ll kick their asses if they try anything.
I find it hysterical he’s calling his fellow teammates this.
BOYFRIEND: I’m the only one who’s supposed to bring you coffee.
Yeah, like I’d ever agree to that.
BOYFRIEND: I hate Wednesdays. Why do my friends get to see you and I don’t? Grrr not fair.
This point I agree with wholeheartedly.
BOYFRIEND: Trav and I WILL NOT be replaced by Alex as your favorite.
Stupid children, all of them.
And so on and so on.
What I appreciate about them the most is how they entertain me enough to keep my thoughts off of the actual posts and help keep the panic attacks over them at bay.
My favorite texts, though, are the ones Mase sends every morning when he wakes up for his early workouts and I’m sleeping, just to make sure he’s the first person I hear from. I wish we could stay in that bubble.
Being on campus on a Friday is weird, but since I don’t have any classes, it was the easiest day for me to schedule a meeting with Charlie, the U of J’s drumline captain.
The Nest isn’t as empty as I thought it would be, and I catch more than a few people glancing and pointing in my direction. I ignore them all, tugging the brim of my hat a few millimeters lower, and grab a large latte from the coffee shop before looking around for Charlie. I spot someone I think is him on the lounge chairs in one of the corners by the door.
“Are you Charlie?” I ask when I approach.
“Yeah. Are you Dani’s friend?” He looks up.
Dani is one of the NJA Marshals alumni who lend their expertise to help when crafting the senior squads’ routines. We usually try to have them choreographed and the music selection complete before the end of summer, only tweaking and making upgrades for the larger Nationals and Worlds competitions. This year, however, we’ve all agreed there was something missing from what we had. That’s where Charlie comes in.
“Yeah, Kay.” I grin and reach out a hand to shake. “Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”
“No problem.” He returns my handshake and gestures for me to take the open seat cushion next to him. “I like Dani a lot, though I gotta say, I am intrigued her request wasn’t for the White Squad.”
“Dani may rock the hell out of red and white, but she’ll always bleed blue camouflage for the New Jersey All-Stars.”
“With the exception of the U of J part, that’s pretty much how she described you,” Charlie chuckles.
I’m in total agreement as I pull my iPad from my bag. “I figured it might be easier if I show you what we’re thinking rather than just telling you.” I hold up the iPad.
“Sounds good to me. She said what you need is different than what we do for the football games.”
“Yes. What we need, and are hoping you can help us with, is to have the drumline create and record a cadence for our two senior squads to use.” I flip open the cover and pull up the videos I saved specifically for this meeting. “It wouldn’t be for the entire routine, but woven in throughout certain sections.”
Charlie nods and pulls out a notepad. We spend the next few minutes bent over the iPad, watching routines from both the Marshals and the Admirals. Periodically, he has me pause or rewind sections to ask questions.
“If it helps, the cadences you guys have for U of J are the style we like.” My dream would be to have them, but they are for school use only.
“No that’s great. I already have a few ideas, but having that as a baseline will help us create something faster.”
He walks me through some of what he’s thinking, and we discuss the best ways to incorporate them into the routines. I haven’t even heard a note, but already I’m pumped for the possibilities forming in my head.
I’m riding the high only creating NJA routines can give me when the last voice I want to hear cuts in.
“Yet another guy, huh, Kayla?” Adam interrupts.
I turn to face my least favorite Alpha Kappa brother.
“Did you need something, Adam?”
The jerk places his hands on the armrest, invading my personal space so much I catch the scent of coffee on his breath. “No, but if I’d known you were accepting applications, I would have turned in mine instead of you having to slum it with a band geek.”
Charlie stiffens beside me. Taking in his appearance, I can see he’s anything but a band geek. His black hair has hints of blue and is styled in a faux hawk, and his forearms are corded with muscles from all the drumming and decorated with colorful tattoos.
He’s got a badass black spike through his left eyebrow and small gauged earrings in both ears. He may not be a Mason, but he’s still built and cute.
“God, you are such a jockhole. Please go away.” I shoo him and turn my attention back to Charlie.
“Come on, princess, don’t be like that. Why don’t you stop wasting your time with this guy and spend it with me instead?”
Jeez this guy is such an ass.
I blow out a breath. “Go. Away.”
He presses in closer, his nose skimming my cheek. Unlike the tingles Mase gives me when he’s this close, Adam’s touch has me feeling slimy.
“What do you think Nova would say about this?” I turn my head away as his hot breath blows into my ear with each word.
I’m trapped, caged in between him and the couch. I put my hands on his chest in an effort to free myself and he gives me a triumphant smile, thinking he has some upper hand on me.
“About what?” I push. “Talking to someone? Having coffee with someone?” He goes to cut in, but I continue on undeterred, refusing to be intimidated. “The only thing I can see him having an issue with is you harassing me while I’m working on something with Charlie here. Now seriously leave.”
“You sound awfully sure of yourself, Kayla.” He cranes his neck, looking back over his shoulder. “What do you think he’s going to say when people start posting the pictures they’re snapping of us right now?”
Fucking Instagram. Stupid fucking hashtags. I want to curl up and hide but refuse to give Adam the satisfaction of me doing that or checking to see if he’s right.
“What do you want, Adam? What’s your endgame?”
There’s nothing humorous about the dark chuckle he expels. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
With a kiss to my cheek that feels reminiscent of the kiss of death, he finally leaves.
#Chapter43
UofJ411: Interesting… #AlphaForEveryDayOfTheWeek #CasanovasMysteryGirl
*picture of Adam leaning close to Kay*
@Juliedreamsofbooks: Is cozying up to @ThirdBaseAdam16 how you get an invite to the AK parties? #AlphaKappaPartyCentral #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@Kmford2317: Alpha Kappa party favor? #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@Ladyjanegray75: Yet another guy? #AddingToHerHarem #CasanovasMysteryGirl
* * *
UofJ411: Anything you want to share with the class? #SecretsSecrets #CasanovasMysteryGirl
*picture of Adam’s face next to Kay’s*
@Lagerlefsebookblog: I guess she isn’t exclusive with @CasaNova87 #CanIStillApply #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@Lala_powergirl: Whispering sweet nothings? #FlyOnTheWall #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@Lonniegallahan: Anyone else wondering what they are saying? #AskingForAFriend #CasanovasMysteryGirl
* * *
UofJ411: Touchy Touchy #GettingClose #CasanovasMysteryGirl
*picture of Kay’s hands on Adam’s chest while they look at each other*
@Lynnstifle: So much for personal space #IdTouchHimToo #CasanovasMys
teryGirl
@Madameizzy: Rounding the bases with @ThirdBaseAdam16 #BatterUp #CasanovasMysteryGirl
@Mimi_reads: Is she playing Alpha sports bingo? First @TheGreatestGrayson37 Then @CasaNova87 Now @ThirdBaseAdam16 Two more sports and she has it #BINGO #CasanovasMysteryGirl
#Chapter44
What most people don’t realize is a college athlete’s life is scheduled as much, if not more so, outside of their games and practices.
Free time is typically a foreign concept, so this whole me getting a girlfriend thing has been interesting, to say the least.
Now that we are a third of the way into the season, the window of free time we get on non-travel days before a game is even smaller. No more dinner dates on Friday nights until the season is over.
So what am I doing for those few precious hours between the team’s walkthrough practice and when I have to report to dinner at the hotel? Well, I’m going to see my girlfriend, of course.