10. Nolan
Nolan
“W hoop!” Lenny yells, slinging his arm around my shoulders as we stand in the locker room, finished with press and interviews. “First win. First party. Tonight is going to be epic.”
His energy promises chaos. “Remember, we’re keeping it small. Only one keg. We’re in a neighborhood. If the cops get called, Peters will have my nuts. If you want to go out after, there are going to be a hundred parties near campus.”
Lenny pats my chest. “Got it.”
“And if you see Ethan, make sure he’s coming.”
“Why are we inviting the kicker?”
“He fell when we pulled the shaving cream prank this summer and sprained his wrist. This will be our condolences.”
“If there’s no evidence, it didn’t happen.” He grins conspiratorially before walking away. We went to great lengths to ensure no one could trace us back to the incident so we wouldn’t face expulsion or worse—getting kicked off of the team. Regardless, Hudson knew it was us, most of them did.
I take a seat, waiting to receive the green light from the coaching staff that I can go. Occasionally, a reporter will ask for a final interview or picture from us.
Krueger comes into the locker room, still wearing slacks and a Camden-blue polo. He stops in front of me, iPad and clipboard tucked under one arm. I search his expression for duress, wondering if he’s met with Peters yet and had his ass chewed for the rogue play we ran.
He gives a crooked smile. “You did well tonight. By the second half, every one of their formations was considering you.” He lets that soak in. “Get out of here. Celebrate. And be ready to hit the field hard on Monday.”
I nod and climb to my feet, and go looking for my friends. I find Corey and Palmer in the hall, discussing plans for the night.
“You guys are coming over, right?” I ask.
Corey nods. “I wouldn’t miss the chance of watching your sister fillet you.”
I shake my head. “She won’t be there.”
“On second thought…” Corey says.
Palmer laughs. “We’re coming. We’ll wait for Hudson and Grey and meet you over there.”
Adrenaline has me feeling a high that makes my footsteps feel lighter, and the breeze cooler.
We played like the team everyone keeps accrediting us as being.
Every move was flawless, and every play was executed as practiced.
It was the best way to kick off the season.
Still, as I drive home, my thoughts continue jogging to Hadley as I wonder if she made it to the game, if she saw the movie posters I’d hung in jest, and what she has planned for her next prank.
When I pull into the driveway, her back window is cleared, confirming she saw at least that poster. I grin and hop out.
Inside, Hadley’s carrying an armful of throw pillows toward the stairs.
“Do I want to know?” I ask.
Her blue eyes dance to me, taking in my shorts and tee that I changed into after the game. “Hiding all the things I don’t want to be ruined.”
“Fair,” I tell her.
“Not to be the Debbie Downer, but you should probably run this by Katie.”
“We’re going to keep it small. It won’t be a party. Just a few people over, celebrating.”
“If it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck—”
“Ethan’s coming,” I cut her off. It’s manipulation at its finest, but I know if I call this party off, Lenny will never let me hear the end of it. The key is to throw a shitty party, and show him there’s no room or parking, so he tires of the idea.
Resolve has the fight in Hadley’s gaze softening. “Katie texted and said she’s staying at Carsen’s but if we destroy these pillows, we’ll all be looking for a new place to live.”
I nod, turning to look around the living room. “Should we move anything else? I can take it down to the basement and lock the door.”
“Besides the entire house? Start with anything breakable.”
Hannah, Hadley, and I spend the next twenty minutes clearing things down to the basement until all that is left is the furniture too big to move.
Grey and Palmer are the first to arrive, Sadie at Palmer’s side.
We go through a quick round of introductions that has Palmer asking about the pranks, and Grey shaking his head with admonishment as Hadley summarizes everything that went wrong.
Hannah laughs, learning about the prank war for the first time before she excuses herself when her phone rings.
“This is a really nice house,” Sadie says. “Who lives here?”
Palmer points at me and then Hadley.
“You live together?” Curiosity sparks a fire in Sadie’s eyes. “I thought you had to live on campus?” She looks at Palmer, her posture changing to defensive.
“We do,” Palmer assures her. “Nolan found the only exception.”
“What kind of exception?” Sadie asks, hands on her hips.
Hadley stares at her, her brow lowered to reveal her confusion.
“You can only move out with a family member who lives less than twenty miles from campus,” I tell her.
“What if I get a doctor’s note? Maybe I could get an excuse for my anxiety?” Her eyes somehow grow rounder. “Or we could get married.”
Hadley’s expression is a mirror of Grey’s shocked expression.
So much for only looking for a good time.
Thankfully, the front door opens, and Hudson, Evelyn, and Mila step inside.
Behind them, more stream inside. Guys from the team and a few cheerleaders who greet us by name, including Janelle who still has my number painted on her cheek.
She gives me another wink before passing us and heading farther into the house.
Janelle’s gorgeous, she might even have a good personality, but she’s the last thing on my mind currently.
I glance at Hadley to gauge her reaction, expecting a questionable look or joke that will force me to make an assurance about my lack of interest in Janelle, but she’s looking toward the stairs.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
Hadley turns to me, looking almost surprised by the question. She nods. “I’m wondering if I should check on Hannah.”
Palmer and Sadie drift toward the living room, him visibly working to calm her down or assure her as Hudson and the others approach us.
“What was that about?” Hudson asks.
Grey lifts a shoulder. “She wants to marry Palmer. Nolan fucked it up and gave him an easy out. I was waiting to hear his excuse.”
“Oh lord,” Mila says. “Let’s hope this one is as short as his last train wreck.”
Evelyn shakes her head, a smile growing as she sets eyes on Hadley. “It’s good to see you again.”
Before Hadley can respond, Lenny approaches us, holding a half dozen cups in his hands, sloshing beer across the floor. “I set the keg up out front, so we don’t make a mess inside.”
“You’re making a mess,” Mila points out.
Lenny chuckles. “This is nothing.” He hands me one of the cups, then stops on Hadley. “Hadley, my phone still isn’t working.”
Evelyn chuckles. Hudson shakes his head. Grey reaches for a beer.
Lenny beams. “Take a beery, Hadley. We’re celebrating tonight!”
Hadley accepts the beer he pushes toward her. “I’m going to check on my friend, but happy celebrating. Don’t spill on the couches or the rug.” She lifts her glass in a toast and turns to where Hannah has appeared at the bottom of the stairs, still looking as nervous as a stray cat.
“To one hell of a game!” Lenny raises his cup.
Those of us who took a beer, follow suit. “To one hell of a game,” we chorus.
I finish four beers before Ethan arrives with two sophomores, Sam and Colin, from the team flanking him. I’ve been avoiding Janelle and trying to recall all the reasons I should be avoiding Hadley. Those reasons shatter now that I have a legitimate excuse.
The party has grown. I stopped turning people away and caring after my third beer, realizing this is what I need.
I’m so damn tired of people—including Katie—telling me what I’m allowed to do, what I should be doing.
Now, the house is so crowded, it’s difficult to find anyone aside from Hadley, who my attention shifts to periodically.
“Hey,” I say, approaching Ethan.
He looks caught off guard and mildly shocked, looking over both shoulders to confirm I’m talking to him.
With over a hundred guys on our team, we tend to stick with others who play our same positions or those we consistently practice and play with.
I’ve never spent more than a few minutes with Ethan, and those have been with other guys from the team.
“Thanks for inviting us,” Colin says. He’s a tight end like Lenny, fast, but with how damn good Lenny is, likely won’t see minutes until Lenny is drafted or graduates.
I nod. “There’s beer outside, and…” my words trail off as a guy wearing a leather jacket, stands across from Hadley, looking at her with a level of interest that distracts me from Hannah and Ethan and whatever brought me over here.
“Glad you guys made it,” I break away, weaving through the crowds until I’m next to Hadley.
“Hey,” I say, offering my hand to the guy in front of her.
The guy is reluctant to turn his attention from Hadley but finally does. “Hey.” He shakes my hand.
“I’m Nolan,” I tell him, not having a valid excuse to be here aside from the jealousy that’s streaming through my veins.
“Luke,” he says, raising a half-filled glass at me.
Hadley leans closer to me. “I was looking for you,” she says, giving me a silent look that asks me to play along.
And play along, I do. I close the gap between our hips, standing beside her as I set my hand on her lower back.
A small window of skin peeks out under the hem of her shirt, cool against my pinkie finger.
I swipe my ring finger and pinkie across the smooth, coolness of her skin once.
Twice. Three times. I don't hear her sharp intake of breath, I feel it.
Luke takes a drink of his beer, reading the situation before he tips his chin and heads away.
Hadley remains frozen beside me.
I slide my entire hand across her back before taking a step back. “Who was that?” I ask.