by L A Cotton
“He said something similar to me a while back. But he hasn’t mentioned anything for weeks. And nothing has happened.”
But you think someone is following you.
“Just be careful, yeah?”
My head bobbed. It wasn’t like I did anything to put myself in harm’s way. I walked to and from the library…that pretty much summed up my unchaperoned activities. Other than that, Jackson was usually with me.
“Say hi to Mari for me.” I started to walk off, but Paul fell into step beside me. “May as well walk you to the door.”
“Paul, you don’t need to do th-”
“Woman, can you not just say thank you?”
I smiled. He really was a good guy. “Thank you, Cormack.” And then I punched his arm.
~
“Vamanos, let’s go. We’re going to be late.” Elena peered around the bathroom door and groaned at the sight of me brushing my teeth. “Seriously, do you want to miss the anthem? Jackson will lose his shit if you’re not there.”
“Coming, I’m coming,” I gurgled through the minty foam.
After rinsing my mouth, I dried my hands and checked my appearance one last time. I’d made more effort than usual. I didn’t want the label but couldn’t escape the fact I was Jackson Pierce’s girlfriend. Although it had taken him a while, he eventually persuaded me to wear The Fallen jersey he’d bought for me.
“He is going to drop when he sees you in this. Especially if, you know, it’s his last game and all.”
When I’d told Elena that Jackson was all set to quit the team after today’s game, she freaked, going on about how the whole team would suffer and he couldn’t walk away just because of Braiden. That it was letting him win. None of that mattered to me. I was determined to support Jackson with whatever he decided. Team or no team, it wouldn’t change anything. We still had to find a way to coexist at CFA with Braiden and Briony.
“Let’s go.”
We met Mari, Lydia, and Cassie outside of McGinley. The guys had gone on ahead, overexcited about having ‘some-of-the-best-freaking-seats-in-the-stadium,’ as Paul put it.
“He did not put his number on you.” Cassie shrieked, spinning me on the spot. “You’re wearing Jackson Pierce’s jersey.”
I groaned, shrugging out her arms. “It’s not his jersey, Cass. It’s just a replica.”
“I know, I know, but it’s his number.”
“I don’t get it,” Mari said, looking at us like we were all crazy.
“Come on, Mari, let’s go.” Elena hooked an arm around Mari’s shoulder and yanked her off in the direction of Lowe Stadium.
“The cat was out of the bag weeks ago. Do you have to get so hysterical?” Lydia scolded her best friend, cutting the conversation dead as we followed Elena and Mari into the crowds.
“So someone explain again how CFA gets to host the championship? It’s only a small stadium,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Marcus Donohue,” Lydia stated like it was a well-known fact.
“Care to expand?” I replied.
“Everything has a price, and apparently that extends to college division football…” Lydia launched into an analysis of Donohue’s influence over CFA, but I tuned her out. I should have known better than to ask. Of course, it all came back to Marcus Donohue. I was quickly learning everything always did.
The crowd started to thin as we drew near the stadium. The majority of students were already seated, eagerly anticipating the game. Elena navigated us to a separate entrance, reserved for the friends and family of the team. Somehow, Jackson had managed to score all of us seats. It meant we were seated directly behind the bench area.
The steward checked our names off a list and waved us through, shooting me a knowing glance. I ducked my head, embarrassed. The butterflies brushed my stomach making me feel a little queasy, the way they did whenever I was noticed in public. Wishing I had worn my jacket over the jersey, I wrapped my arms around myself. At least fewer people would have recognized me, but with number thirteen plastered all over me, I was like a neon beacon stating ‘Jackson Pierce’s property.’
“Check this out,” Elena called over her shoulder as we walked out of the tunnel into the bleachers. The air crackled, rippling over us like a forcefield. The whole stadium was alive with pre-game excitement.
“Get over here,” Tyson yelled. “Where the hell have you been? They’re about to start the anthem.”
Even he seemed swept away by it all, grinning like a Cheshire cat as he wrapped his arms around Elena and brought his lips down on hers.
Mari shuffled in past them to get to Paul, and Nate swapped places with Jamie to make room for Lydia. Leaving Cassie and me on the end.
“Well, doesn’t this suck,” she grumbled to herself, but I was too busy scanning the bench area to respond. The teams were already out on the field, ready to line up and sing the national anthem. My eyes tracked each jersey searching out his number. Seven, eleven, Thirteen. Everything around me faded away. The crowd, the noise, even Cassie's whining. It all paled into insignificance next to him, and my eyes only saw Jackson.
As if he felt me watching, he turned and searched the reserved area. His eyes collided with mine and everything inside me hummed. He said that I was the one to talk through my eyes, but when my eyes found his, I could see his feelings all wrapped up in the sparkling green ocean looking back at me.
His eyes wandered south and I didn't miss him gulp when his eyes landed on the jersey covering my body. His jersey. Any reservations I had about wearing it disappeared as his lips curled into a huge grin. He looked so proud, proud that I was wearing his number.
Someone yelled something from further down the bench and the players started stalking toward centerfield. Jackson held my gaze for another second and then followed his teammates onto the field.
"I wish I had a guy look at me like that."
"Like what?" I asked, not taking my eyes off him.
"Like I was the center of his universe."
I didn't reply, but a small nervous laugh escaped my lips.
The band played the first beats of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the whole crowd joined in. I mouthed the words, too overcome by emotion to fully join in.
The center of his universe?
No matter how many times I heard it, or he said it, a tiny part of me was waiting for the bubble to burst. Maybe that was just how it would always be. My emotional scars from the accident would never truly let me believe that things, at some point, wouldn’t be ripped away from me. Maybe it was just my karma from the accident—although it was an accident, I was driving. My hand killed them. The unwanted thoughts shocked me. And I stood there about to watch Jackson’s game, stunned.
There wasn’t a day that had gone by when I didn’t remember—I would never forget. Never. But I hadn’t allowed myself to go there for weeks, months even. Jackson had started to fill in some of the cracks, and although they would always be there on the surface, with him in my life I hoped that underneath—in my heart—that one day I would be whole again.
“Hey, Ana. You okay over there?” Cassie’s voice punctured my thoughts, and I shook them away. I had to be in the here and now.
For him.
Tilting my head to the side, I smiled at her.
Things would be okay; they had to be.
~
“Oooh.” The whole crowd jumped to their feet as The Fallen defense sacked the opposition’s quarterback. Jackson ran directly for him and went in for the high five.
The score was tied with only seven minutes forty on the clock. I’d managed to keep up for most of the game, but the guys were all too willing to give me a play-by-play breakdown when things got close, and at some point during the second quarter, Jamie had wedged himself between Cassie and me to provide running commentary.
“Two points in the bag, Colorado has to kick off to our guys now. We could earn some yards here, but with only seven minutes on the clock, we only need to hold them off for the w
in…” Jamie bounced in his seat as he explained the scene playing out in front of us, but he wasn’t the only one excited.
The whole stadium buzzed with anticipation. And although the air was cool, it felt thick and charged. Huge floodlights illuminated the field, cutting through the dusk that had fallen since the beginning of the game.
"Crap, I need to pee."
Jamie pulled a disgusted face, rolling his eyes upwards and Cassie laughed. "Can't you hold it? It's the last play."
"Chicks, head's never in the game," Jamie grumbled as I scooted past him.
"I'll be right back. I saw signs for the restroom when we came in."
Nobody looked twice as I hurried through the tunnel. Seven minutes was more than enough time to pee and get back to see The Fallen lift the trophy. I headed straight for the restroom, which was along the concourse. It was empty, but then everyone, including the kiosk staff, were probably glued to the game.
The crowd roared, startling me, the echo was so loud. I cursed hoping I hadn't missed anything important, but from the sound of things, we had either scored or stopped Colorado. Just then, the PA announced Braiden had scored a touchdown. Even hearing his name sent shivers rippling through me, and I picked up the pace, pushing open the white door.
Rushing to rinse my hands and quickly check my appearance in the mirror, I exited the restrooms, my sights set on the tunnel. Footsteps sounded behind me, but I didn’t look back spurred on by the frenzy coming from above. The tunnel opening was just inches away, but suddenly I was snatched back and silenced by a cloth-covered hand clamping over my mouth.
Panic slammed into my chest and I bucked against the strong arms holding me like a vise against an even stronger torso, and the tunnel started to grow smaller as I fought to keep my heavy eyes open.
And then nothing.
Chapter 26
~JACKSON~
“Quiet down, quiet down. You might have won this championship…” The locker room erupted with cheers and catcalls, but Coach’s eyes glared at us as he ground out, “But I’m still the goddamn coach, and I want to speak. QUIET.”
The whole team groaned, and a slight smile played on my lips. It might have been the last time I was going be here and take part in the team debrief, but I couldn’t deny it felt good to be sitting on the winning side.
"Donohue, good game. You may act like you think you own this team, but you held it together out there. You led this team to victory."
Another round of applause and catcalls started, but Coach was quick to silence us again. "You all played a good game. You delivered and for that, I want to say thank you. Everyone in; Fallen on three."
Everyone rose from the benches and stalked forward to the huddle. It was a post-match ritual. Win or lose, Coach had us all remember who we were. Not for much longer.
No one besides Dennis knew that I planned to walk from the team. I wanted to avoid that conversation until the last possible moment.
"You two made up yet?" Coach dropped to the bench next to me while the rest of the guys showered and joked around, enjoying their victory.
Shaking my head, I threw my pads in the cage and collected my towel and soap.
"Enjoy the celebrations, but Pierce…I will get to the bottom of whatever the hell happened between the two of you. You can count your lucky stars I will."
Coach rose and went to walk off, but I stopped him. "Hmm, listen, Coach, I need to talk to you." My voice wavered, and I thrust my fingers into my damp hair. This shit was going to be harder than I thought.
He spun on his heels, a look of annoyance on his face. “Out with it then, Pierce. This old man wants to celebrate.”
“I, hmm, I’ve been thinking and-”
“PIERCE, get in here,” Dennis yelled from the shower area, and Coach grinned.
“You’re wanted. Go. Enjoy it. Lighten up; you look like you’ve been carrying the weight of the goddamn world lately!”
Dennis peered around the screen separating the locker and benches and shower area. Totally butt naked, just his hand cupped over his dick. “Come on, dude. Shit just isn’t the same without you.”
Reluctantly, I followed him in the shower pushing thoughts of what was to come out of my mind.
Forty minutes later, the team was showered, changed, and ready to party. Uncle Marcus still hadn’t returned home, but I’d received a text that morning—which I imagine Braiden also got—telling us the party at Fallen House was taken care of. He obviously thought the win was in the bag.
“You ready, man?” Dennis hiked his bag on his shoulder and nodded back to the rest of the guys heading out.
Braiden had avoided me the whole day. He spoke when absolutely necessary, but other than that, we stayed out of each other’s way. It was for the best. Tensions were high and neither of us could afford to mess things up for the rest of the guys. But when my eyes found him over Dennis’ shoulder, he was glaring right at me, his icy blue eyes clouded with an indecipherable emotion only highlighted by the bright white plaster covering his nose.
Without thinking, I pushed off the bench and stepped forward, but an arm shot out in front of me and Dennis’ voice said in a low whisper, “It’s not worth it. Not here, not now.”
I blinked, unsure what I was about to do. Was I going to finish what we started the other day? Or was I going to be the bigger person and try and smooth some of the cracks between us?
“I’m good,” I said, knocking his arm out of the way. He sucked in a breath as I approached Braiden and the whole room seemed to silence.
My breathing increased as I drew nearer, my heart pounding in my ears. What the fuck was I doing?
Kyler, Shaun, and Travis inched away from Braiden, giving the two of us space, their eyes darting to one another. I didn’t make eye contact with any of them, but I could see the surprise on their faces.
Braiden didn’t flinch. His eyes didn’t widen or narrow. He didn’t move a muscle, just stood arms folded over his chest, rooted to the spot waiting for me to speak.
“Good game out there.” My voice sounded steady, but that wasn’t what surprised me. My hand extended out in front of me and we both dropped our eyes watching as I held it out, waiting for him to make his choice.
He didn’t take it.
“You too,” he replied indifferently, like I was no one to him, just another player on the team. Dismissing me, he turned to the guys and grinned. “Let’s get fucked up. Dennis get over here.”
I watched as they left. Dennis clapped a hand on my back as he passed me but didn’t say a word.
What was there to say?
It was done.
I was out.
~
My eyes scanned the group of people waiting for me when I finally left the stadium. After trying to make some kind of peace with Braiden...and failing, I'd needed some time to myself. But after minutes of sitting in the deafening silence, I just needed to see her. To hold her. Ana would calm the storm raging in me. She always did. But I couldn’t find her. There were Elena and Tyson, Paul and his crazy girlfriend, and Jamie, Nate, and the other two chicks, but no Ana.
“Hey guys, thanks for waiting. Where’s-”
Elena almost plowed me down as she ran up to me and started screaming, “Don’t you check your cell? What’s the point of having one if you’re not going to-”
“Babe, calm the fuck down.” Tyson hoisted her off her feet and cradled her to him and my whole body shook with realization.
“Someone tell me what the fuck is going on?”
Paul’s eye dropped to the floor and I could see the worry creasing his forehead.
“Hmm, listen, man.” Tyson lowered Elena to the floor, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “Ana, is- hmm, we think Ana is missing.”
Panic spread through me and my mouth opened and then closed like a fish out of the water. That was how I felt—like I couldn’t breathe, like the air surrounding me had been sucked out leaving me with nothing.
“Wha-what do you mean she’s
missing?”
Paul stepped forward and cast me a sympathetic glance. “I don’t think she’s missing, I think she was taken.”
“TAKEN?” I roared and Paul jumped back holding his hands out in surrender. “What the fuck do you mean she’s been taken? By who?”
“Easy, man. Let him speak,” Tyson reasoned, but I was past reason. All I could see was red. And her.
Ana.
“I think someone’s been watching her, following her. It was weird, the other night outside McGinley I heard someone whistling. Eerie as fuck. But I didn’t see anyone, but Ana was acting real closed off. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”
Fuck.
My mind replayed Calder’s and Landon’s warnings. They had said I shouldn’t leave my property unguarded. They had warned me. And for a while, I’d been on high alert, but weeks passed and nothing happened. Braiden had become my priority. Fuck. I’d fucked up, dropping my guard. But I didn’t really think they were stupid enough to come to campus and mess with Ana. To take her from right under my nose.
“I have to go speak to Braiden. Now.”
“Whoa, easy. You sure that’s the right move?” Tyson asked.
Elena sniffled like she was crying and I groaned clenching my fist, needing to punch the shit out of something. Anything. Cole Calder was crazy. We’d learned that over the last eighteen months but kidnapping? It seemed desperate, even for him. Unless this was always the plan—the shit storm we’d been waiting for.
And then I remember my own fucked-up family had pulled a similar stunt.
Leverage. This had to be about gaining the upper hand. But what was his end game?
Dropping my bag, I barreled past Paul, Tyson, and Elena ignoring their pleas to talk to them. My legs burned and adrenaline coursed through my veins as I sprinted in the direction of Fallen House. I needed to get to Braiden.
The house came into view after a few minutes, and I slowed, dropping my hands to my knees to try and catch my breath. I didn’t have a plan. I just knew I needed to find Ana and quick. And I needed backup.