Garrison
I’m eighteen. Holy fuck. How the hell am I eighteen already?
I’m definitely not expecting a happy birthday from Bates. And when his shoulder slams mine on his way toward the locker room after school, I’m not exactly surprised. He loves doing that to me—showing his dominance or whatever the fuck he’s trying to do.
“Keep doing that, and I’ll think you’re in love with me,” I shout after him, and he only raises his middle finger, not bothering to look back at me.
Oakley is excited, though, as he rushes up to me, slinging his arm over my shoulder. “Yeah, birthday boy! We’re gonna kick some ass, and then it’s back to my place to party!”
I laugh at how fired up he gets before a game, but I feel it too. We’re playing our biggest rival, Big Bend, tonight. It’s going to be one hell of a fight. And I’m ready.
The entire town is shut down already, I guarantee it.
Everyone wants to get to the game early, not willing to miss one thing.
You can feel it in the air as you drive through the streets.
The downtown is alight with decorations in our team colors and various depictions of panthers, our mascot.
This town worships Friday night football. It’s like going to church around here.
“Don’t worry about that asshat,” Oakley says as he releases me, and we head into the locker room to change. Coach will want to get in a couple of practice plays before the other team shows up, so I know I need to hurry.
Still, I’m not worried about Bates. Not in the way Oakley thinks. When we get into the locker room, stripping out of our school clothes, Bates catches my eye, like he always seems to these days.
But he isn’t looking at me. His eyes are on Wyatt, who’s fastening his football pants already—ever the overachiever. The fucker is already dressed. And I don’t really get what Bates sees in him.
I mean, I guess he’s good-looking or whatever.
But he’s practically scrawny. Lean muscle, but not much to speak of.
My attention turns to Bates, who’s standing there, shirtless, with his pants undone.
My mouth goes dry as my eyes run over his cut pecs and each perfectly sculpted ab muscle.
He has a light dusting of dark hair between his pecs and another trailing down from his belly button, then disappearing into his black pants.
Fuck.
I jerk my eyes from his body and turn to my locker, grabbing my gear. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I can’t get caught staring at Bates when he’s half naked in a locker room full of our teammates.
Not that I have to worry about anyone noticing me. Everyone else is busy talking about the game and the party afterward, and Bates is too busy staring a hole into Travis.
I can’t help wondering about what they look like together. When it’s just them. Surely they’re still seeing each other. They have to be. I wonder how far they’ve gone.
“Hey.” I jolt when Oakley’s big hand lands on my shoulder, and he chuckles. “Hurry your ass up. We have to get on the bus.”
Shit. Right. I’m supposed to have my head in the game, not thinking about Wyatt and Bates together.
“I’m going.” I pull on my uniform and grab my helmet, rushing out after Oakley and the rest of the team. When I get outside, I see the cheerleaders are also loading onto their bus, and MaryAnne runs up to me, dressed in her cheer gear.
“Hey, birthday boy.” She tosses her hair, sending me a flirty look as some of the guys, who are already on the players’ bus, put their windows down and howl at us.
Oakley just shakes his head with a grin as he climbs the steps to get on the bus, and honestly, I wish I was right behind him. I’m in a weird mood and not ready for whatever MaryAnne has planned.
I’m polite to her though. “Hey, you ready for the game?”
“I’m more ready for the party after.” Her smile widens, and then she leans in, kissing my cheek. “I’m going to give you the best birthday present later.” She pulls back and winks before running off to her bus, and I’m left with a bunch of catcalling idiots when I climb onto ours.
MaryAnne doesn’t really want me. She just wants to be the Kennedy-and-Kingston-type power couple around our high school. It makes my stomach a little sick to think about it, and when I look to my left, I swear I catch Bates staring at me.
He quickly looks away, though, a look of fierce concentration on his face.
Right. It’s game time.
It’s time to shine. My dad will no doubt be at the game, along with the entire town.
This morning at breakfast, it wasn’t about my birthday, although he did give me a pat on the shoulder and wish me happy birthday.
No. It was about the game tonight and how everyone will be there.
Watching us. All depending on us not only for entertainment but also to win some sort of longtime rivalry which started long before our feet hit the football field.
It goes back to our dads and our dad’s dads. As if winning tonight rights so many wrongs.
It’s fucked up, and maybe if you’re looking at it from the outside, it’s pathetic even. But it’s what we are.
The Kensley Panthers football team is the lifeblood of this town.
And tonight, we’re going to make damn sure we fight.