The Red Zone

by Knight, Amie

  I squeezed my eyes closed harder. “Nope, I’m good,” I squeaked out.

  I felt him squat down near my head, but I dared not open my eyes because I was still in denial and my theory was proven when his voice sounded a lot closer. “I’m all for women falling at my feet, but this seems a little extreme, Red.”

  My eyes popped open of their own accord and sure enough his face was right over mine, looking down. And God, he looked good. Better than he should have. It just wasn’t right. He was all tan, manly, and scruffy, and I was pretty sure that pine woodsy scent I’d loved in high school was multiplied times ten. I wanted to hold my breath, but I felt like what I had to say was more important.

  “It’s just as cliché now as it was then.” I glared up at him. Well, I tried to glare. I probably looked more like Popeye since I was wincing a bit from the fall.

  One of his thick, perfectly groomed eyebrows hitched up. “What’s that?”

  I pursed my lips. “Red.”

  He grinned, his perfect white teeth almost rendering me blind before pressing a big hand to his chest. “You’re wounding me here, Scarlett. And I thought we were friends.”

  I felt my eyes get big. He had to be kidding me. He’d kissed me and then didn’t contact me for over ten years. That didn’t constitute as friends in my book. At all. In fact, when I thought about that day my chest pinched in a way I didn’t like a darn bit.

  “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

  His smile was back and despite how I wanted to throat punch him for surprising me, I felt my own lips begin to tip up.

  “Only the ones I like.”

  “Oh, I bet there are plenty of those,” I said under my breath, beginning to sit up.

  He stood up and put his hand out. “What was that?”

  “Oh, nothing.” I grinned so hard my teeth hurt. It was fake. It was the smile of a girl in full-on panic mode. I didn’t want to take his outstretched hand, but I didn’t want him to know that, so I tentatively reached out, but he grabbed my hand roughly, full-on, and pulled me from the floor.

  “Sorry about that, Mr. Callihan,” I said, releasing his hand quickly and straightening my skirt and blouse, looking anywhere but directly at him. “I was just giving a twir—”

  “Oh, I saw you showing off your ass-sets. I’m thoroughly impressed, by the way.” Damn him. The inflection on the ass part of that word wasn’t lost on me, but I wouldn’t feed into it. I wasn’t taking the bait this time. Besides, I couldn’t very well tell him the poop/coffee story. That would be almost as embarrassing as falling on my ass in front of the boy I crushed on forever ago. Almost.

  And then it occurred to me. The Aviators sat right there in the pocket of his white T-shirt. Holy shitake mushrooms. He was the black Lexus driving douchebag who yelled at me. Of course he was. Because my life was like a damn episode of I Love Lucy. Wasn’t that just freaking rich?

  Good Lord. Lukas was responsible for the coffee incident of 2019. Now he’d most definitely go down in history. As if he hadn’t already.

  “So, how are you?”

  My eyes flew to his. What the hell was he doing? He was wanting to chat like we were old friends. I studied his genuine eyes. Because he thought we were. He thought we were old friends and that we were going to catch up. Hell, he even looked excited to see me. Holy shit. He could not do this. I wasn’t fourteen and stupid and we were not picking up where we left off because in reality there was nothing to pick up. Still looking at his eyes, I noticed they were harder than they were ten years ago. But that hardness made sense. He’d lost his mother, after all. I thought of the day in his house when he’d told me about his dad. And now all he had left was sweet Ella.

  I walked past him to my desk and stood behind it, putting some much needed distance between us. I felt for him. I really did. I knew how awesome his momma was. How much he loved her. I wanted to hug him and tell him how sorry I was. But I wanted to save myself more. It may have been selfish, but I was Ella’s teacher now and we hadn’t spoken in many years. Our relationship was purely a professional one and would continue to be.

  But that didn’t stop me from taking everything in. I didn’t miss the way his eyes followed me. I didn’t miss how good he looked in those damn jeans. I wondered how he got them on because they were tight in all of the good places. The places I tried desperately not to look at. I picked up a pile of papers. I had no idea what they were or what they said, but I needed to look anywhere but at the fine man standing in front of my desk with his hands on his hips. That smile still firmly in place. How did he get bigger? Broader? More devastatingly handsome.

  “What can I do for you, Mr. Callihan?” I said to the pile of papers, ruffling them around like I was studying them instead of freaking the hell out.

  “God, Red.”

  I looked up. I couldn’t help it. The tiniest bit of pleading in his voice made me.

  “Come on. Cut me a break and tell me how you’re doing.” He tucked his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. I decided that was about all that could fit in them, they were so snug. And then I noticed the class behind him quiet, all studying us. They were all seated. All being too well-behaved.

  They knew the rules and hardly ever broke them. My kiddos were the best, but I could tell they were on pins and needles just like Luk, waiting on my answer.

  My eyes found Ella’s sitting in her desk patiently even as her eyes volleyed back and forth between Luk and me.

  My gaze traveled back to Luk’s and I gave him a small smile. I told myself it was for Ella. “I’m good. How are you?”

  “I’m better. I’m excited to see you.” His stare trekked down the length of my body and back up before landing on my eyes again. “God, you look gorgeous, Red. You’re beautiful.”

  And just like when I was fourteen when my spit went down the wrong pipe and I felt like I was choking. Why did this man do this to me? I started to choke and Luk rushed around the desk and pounded me on the back twice.

  “Same ole, Red. I didn’t mean to make you choke.”

  Kill me now.

  I took two steps away and held a hand up while I caught my breath before asking, “Is there a reason you came by? Is it about Ella?”

  He shook his head, his face serious, almost solemn. “No, I just had to see for myself. I had to see if it was you. Ella calls you Ms. Lettie, so I had no idea.”

  My cheeks burned. “Yeah, all the kids call me that. It’s easier than Scarlett for some of them to say and my momma always called me that anyway.”

  “It’s sweet.” He said it like he thought I was adorable.

  I nodded and moved around the stapler on my desk. “Well, I have a class to teach.” I was sure that would get his ass moving and out of my classroom.

  “Sure thing. Maybe we can get together some night and catch up.”

  What the hell did we have to catch up on? Maybe we could catch up on how I thought we were friends and he’d kissed me. Or maybe we could catch up on how he didn’t talk to me for ten years after that. Yeah, I knew I was harping on it, but damn, I wasn’t going to let bygones be bygones. He wasn’t going to get my friendship so easily again. He’d let me down once. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

  “Have a good day, Mr. Callihan.”

  “Damn, it’s like that, huh?”

  I totally played dumb. “I’m sorry.”

  He nodded and walked backward a few feet, his thumbs still adorably tucked into his pockets, his eyes dancing with mirth, even though his mouth wasn’t smiling. “You know what gave you away?”

  I didn’t answer. I wasn’t feeding into this. I wasn’t doing whatever it was he thought we were doing.

  “It was the Mister Quarterback. I hadn’t heard that one in a long time.” He let out a low chuckle that sent goose bumps up and down my arms.

  Do not engage. Do not engage, Scarlett. He wants you to giggle or smile or choke on your spit again. Don’t do it.

  He turned on a heel and walked over t
o Ella’s desk. His gait slow and self-assured, and I wanted to kill him because I was anything but sure. I was a wreck. One freaking meeting and I was ruined. I’d fallen on my ass. I’d choked. Fuck. My. Life.

  Bending down low to reach Ella, he said, “I love you, Ellie Bellie. See you after school.” He pressed a kiss to her temple and made his way to the exit.

  Ella studied my face before turning to shout at her brother, “You said you weren’t going to piss her off, Lulu.”

  He threw a smile over his shoulder to her and his stare flashed to me before returning to hers. “She doesn’t look pissed to me. And watch your mouth.

  “See you soon, Scarlett Knox.”

  His eyes were full of promise. This was bad, bad, bad. His cocky ass left the classroom completely unscathed, unlike me. My hip was already twinging from the fall, right along with my pride.

  I’d been late for football practice again this morning, but I couldn’t be bothered to give a fuck. Not one single one. I’d been fined a hell of a lot of money and Coach had been pissed, but it had totally been worth it. Suspecting that saucy old Ms. Lettie was Scarlett was one thing, but sitting there in that seat and watching her walk in all fucking grown up and beautiful had just about killed me.

  Scarlett Knox, the only girl in high school who’d made me want to do something other than play football. The only girl who’d made me want to skip football practice in exchange for tutoring lessons. My tender-hearted, good-natured, sweet friend, Red. She’d been adorable then, mature more than her years and kind beyond measure. I’d instantly liked her. I hadn’t been surprised when months later, I’d had feelings for her that were much more than friendship. I’d thought about her through the years, always wondering how she was, what she was doing, what lucky asshole she’d ended up with.

  I couldn’t believe she was still in town. Teaching Ella of all people. And looking damn fine. I hadn’t had much good news lately, but Scarlett Taylor Knox still in Summerville, Alabama, was definitely good news.

  Jesus, thinking about high school made me feel all kinds of things and they weren’t all just about Scarlett. I’d lost my dad then, but I’d still had my mom. At least I’d had her. I was happier then. More carefree. And Scarlett, she’d been a friend I could confide in. Our tutoring sessions had turned to friendship faster than I’d thought possible, but she was just a special person. One of those instantly trustworthy people, and when I’d introduced her to Ella, she’d proved that. She hadn’t let me down when she’d looked at Ella like any other toddler and I knew what it was like when people didn’t. By the time Ella was two, I’d gotten enough stares to know that not all people were accepting and nice when it came to kids with special needs or really anyone who was different. It didn’t matter to them how much we loved Ella. How kind she was. How she sucked her thumb and called me Lulu and I felt like I was on top of the fucking world. No, certain people didn’t care how beautiful and wonderful my sweet girl was.

  But Scarlett had. Right away. I could picture it now. Baby Ella sitting on Scarlett’s skinny legs, her red hair wild around her head, her glasses down on her nose where they too often slid and drove her crazy. She’d push them up and give Ella a big smile full of braces and crooked teeth and still I’d thought she was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

  She’d been adorably nerdy on the outside then, but on the inside was a damn beautiful bombshell. And now that she was an adult, it seemed like the bombshell had emerged and I was in a shitload of trouble because I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I wanted to text her, call her. I wanted her to give me a hard time like Ms. Lettie had. Those sharp worded texts were what was getting me through my long, sucky days.

  She hadn’t seemed pleased to see me in her classroom. I thought she would have been happier. We’d gotten along really well when we’d been kids. I wondered if she was still upset about how I’d left things, but I’d known in my heart it had been the right decision. For her. I’d put her first. I knew she would have never seen it that way, but I’d made that decision solely for her. Maybe I shouldn’t try to contact her anymore. Maybe it wasn’t fair to her.

  “What you daydreaming about over there, Lucy?”

  Fuck. Mason wasn’t going to give up apparently. He was still trying to strike up a conversation with me every chance he got. He was still kicking my ass on the field, right along with the rest of the team, though, so I just ignored him.

  I shrugged and ignored the ache in my rib as I grabbed my phone from my locker.

  “Don’t tell me I knocked your ass mute, Callihan?”

  I blew out a long breath and checked the phone to make sure I got the thumbs-up that Ella was home. When I saw it, I finally answered Mason. “Nah, man. I can take a hell of a lot harder hits than any of you can give me.”

  And wasn’t that the truth. I’d been taking them left and right lately and not just on the football field.

  He raised his eyebrows at me, before he lowered them, his eyes narrowing like he was trying to figure me out. “No one knows what you can take, Lukas. You don’t let anyone around here know anything about you. And you sure as hell don’t give a shit about us.”

  Lukas. It was the first time he’d used my real name. It made me feel things I didn’t want to feel. It made me want and need friends that I didn’t have time to enjoy. I snatched my bag from my locker, pissed off. Didn’t he fucking realize I had more on my plate than I could deal with? I didn’t have time to worry about hurt feelings and getting to know the guys. I was here to do my job. A job I now needed to support Ella.

  I couldn’t acknowledge this right now. I was still reeling from realizing Scarlett was still in town and all grown to boot. I started walking at warp speed to my Lexus. I thought I’d almost made it when I felt a big hand on my shoulder, squeezing.

  “Hold up, man.” Mason’s deep voice stopped me in my tracks.

  Closing my eyes a moment, I hoped for the patience not to lose my shit on him before I turned around.

  He didn’t pull any punches. He just started right in. “Didn’t you ask to be traded to this team?”

  I gripped my bag tightly in my hand as I answered. “Yeah.” He wasn’t getting more than that. It wasn’t any of his damn business.

  He stared at me long and hard for a minute before he shook his head slowly, his jaw ticking. Dude looked like he was going to beat my ass in this parking lot and he very well could have. He was bigger and stronger.

  Nostrils flaring, he said, “Then why the fuck won’t you even try? Why come back home to play for a team that needs you and not give it your all?”

  I dropped my bag and stepped forward until my chest brushed against his. I was so angry my whole body was burnt up with it. Was he fucking kidding me? I tried my hardest every fucking practice. I was giving everything my all. I was gived all the hell out. “I give it my all every fucking practice,” I spat two inches from his face.

  He shook his head back and forth slowly before landing his pointer finger right to my chest. “Not just on the field, Lucy. You’re fucking up. Your attitude stinks. You’re letting the team down.”

  “It’s not my fault the team sucks!” I shouted.

  And he was on me, his forearm to my throat tight, my back to the driver’s door of my SUV. He had cornered me and he had the leverage and he was cutting off my air supply.

  With his forehead practically pressed to mine, he growled, “You’re a part of that sucky team, Lukas Callihan, and you better get fucking used to it. You decide if it sucks. You decide if it gets better. Because you’re a part of us now, whether you like it or not. Fucking act like it.”

  With a sudden burst of angry energy, I shoved him off me and sucked in air through my lungs, trying to catch my breath. This crazy motherfucker was trying to kill me.

  I leaned over, closing my eyes, breathing deep until I finally caught my breath. When I looked back up, Mason was leaning down into my side mirror, pushing around his blond hair. He’d obviously messed it up in our almost scuffle
.

  I stared at him because what the fuck was going on?

  Still smoothing his hair, he asked, “Where should we go to dinner?”

  Again, what the ever-loving fuck was happening? “Excuse me?” I rubbed at my neck where he’d held me down.

  “I said, where are we going to dinner?” He patted his stomach. “I’m starved.”

  I picked my bag up off the ground, shaking my head because I was confused as hell. “You’re insane.”

  He finally stopped checking himself over in the mirror and stood to his full height. He gave me a huge, toothy grin that I’m sure had all the ladies swooning, but all it did was piss me off.

  “So are we going to dinner or what?”

  I pushed past him and opened my door and threw my bag inside. “You tried to choke me to death,” I accused.

  He lifted one blond brow. “You’re being dramatic. I’d never kill you. I can’t win games if my quarterback is dead.” At this he looked thoughtful. “I didn’t take you for the dramatic type.”

  I hopped in my car and closed the door. I cranked it up and rolled down the window. “I can’t go to dinner, you crazy motherfucker. I have to get home to make dinner for my sister.”

  He took a couple of steps backward like he was heading toward his own vehicle. I let out a sigh of relief that this shit was finally over for today. I was tired and sore and over everything.

  “What are y’all having?” he yelled from next to a giant, white truck.

  I had no clue what the hell the crazy man was talking about. “What?”

  “What are y’all having for dinner?”

  I was tempted to pretend I didn’t hear him and drive the hell off, but now that I knew what kind of crazy he was hiding I decided against that shit. “Whatever is in the fridge!” I yelled back.

  He nodded before opening the door to the white truck and climbing inside. And when I said climb I meant climb because homeboy was big, but that damn truck was huge. Before he shut the door he called back, “Sounds good to me. I’ll follow you home.”