Crossing Lines
Chapter 42
X 17%
By the time we made it to the field, the sun was already threatening to rost us alive. My head throbbed from the remnants of last night, but I powered through the warm–up like I’d gotten ten hours of sleep and hadn made a total ass of myself.
This was my penance.
I ran the plays with sharp precision, barking commands, analyzing formations, pushing harder than anyone else out there. Every throw I made was clean. Every move tight. I didn’t care about the sweat stinging my eyes or the burn in my calves. All I cared about was proving I belonged
here.
Aiden barely glanced at me.
He spent most of the session working with the defense. He paused drills to correct formations, walked players through their positioning, and when one of the linebackers intercepted a play, he clapped and shouted, “That’s how it’s done!”
Not once did he call out my name.
Not once did he meet my eyes.
But I didn’t quit. I pushed harder. Ran faster. Yelled louder. Anything to be noticed. Anything to be seen.
Miguel jogged over during a break, chugging water. “Dude, where do you get the energy? Whatever you’re taking, I want some.”
A few of the guys chuckled. I tried to laugh with them, but my chest was too tight.
“I’m not taking anything,” I muttered. “I just take this seriously. I have to
Michael raised a brow. “It’s a game, bro. Not brain surgery.”
“It’s not a game to me.”
Someone else snorted. “Jesus, take it down a notch. You’re gonna give yourself a stroke.”
I clenched my jaw, biting back the urge to snap. They didn’t get it. They didn’t know what it meant to be under a microscope every second be told you’re lucky to even be here.
When we returned to the scrimmage, Aiden praised the defense. “That’s the hustle I want to see. Great read, Keon
Keun
Of course.
By the end of practice, I was running un fumes, but I still sprinted the fi lap like my life depended on it. As I headed showers, I was about two seconds from combusting
“Jesus Christ, I muttere God-
hrew iny helmet down, tugging my jers
my head. “It I have to carry this team one more time. I went
“Chill, man,” someone said behind me. It’s not that des
22:35 Sat, Feb 7 D B
Chapter 42
That was it.
17%
“Not that deep?” I spun around. “You think this is easy for me? You think got daddy’s money or a fallback plan? I am the fucking underdog 1 didn’t get here on charm and connections. I had to claw my way in. I can’t afford to mess up.”
The locker room fell silent. A couple guys awkwardly looked away. Miguel stepped up, hands raised slightly.
“Okay, okay,” he said, “No one’s saying you don’t work hard. We know you do. But you don’t have to bite our heads off for it.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, breathing hard. The words had just spilled out. They weren’t about them. Not really. They were about him.
Keon came up beside Miguel. “Hey. What’s going on with you, man?”
“Nothing,” I said too fast.
They exchanged a glance.
Miguel spoke more gently. “You sure? Cause you seem like you’re carrying something way heavier than just football.”
I didn’t answer.
We were still standing there, tension thick but cooling, when the door creaked open and Aiden stepped in. Dressed in dark slacks and a black shirt, hair still damp, he looked around once and the atmosphere shifted instantly.
The others began grabbing their gear. Within thirty seconds, it was just me and him.
And the silence between us felt like it could drown me.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
