Football practice 🏈
Chapter 36
Lorenzo
(The next day )
The heat over the academy field is suffocating, rising from the perfectly manicured turf in visible waves. My heavy practice pads weigh me down, the plastic armor trapping a layer of stifling air against my chest and plastering my jersey to my skin.
But the real burn is in my throat.
Every time I breathe in, I taste the lingering memory of her strawberry lip gloss from yesterday.
God, it pisses me off.
"We had a great view from the parking lot," Ben teases, tossing the football from hand to hand with a smirk, spinning the laces expertly against his fingers. "You should have gone all the way and pulled up that little skirt for the full experience."
"She's so damn sheltered," Alex chimes in, laughing as he leans against his helmet. "Bet she ran straight home to her diary."
A tight knot forms in my stomach. Hearing her name in their mouths makes my blood boil. Hearing their nasty thoughts is worse, but I can't let them see that. I have a reputation to keep, a script to follow, and caring about an innocent girl like Sophia isn't in it.
"If you two fucking idiots had done your job correctly, I wouldn't have even needed to step in," I say, forcing a smooth smirk to mask the sudden spike in my temper.
I casually swat the pigskin out of Ben's hands, keeping my posture relaxed as the ball tumbles onto the grass.
"I told you to fucking watch out. The last thing I need right now is her running off to a teacher."
"So you're telling us you slammed her against the window and probably took her first kiss just because of us?" Alex laughs, adjusting the straps on his shoulder pads.
"Did you hear that, Matteo?"
"I bet she's a virgin," Ben continues.
An aching pain flashes right into my knuckles as my hands clench into tight fists inside my gloves.
I haven't told the guys that she actually kissed me first . I feel like it is none of their damn business. Besides, I only kissed her because she wouldn't stop asking questions about that night. She wouldn't stop digging into things she has no business knowing.
And when I saw that Jimmy guy standing in the hallway earlier... remembering how close they were... I don't know. Something just snapped inside me. I kissed her to finally shut her up.Like I kissed other girls before.
Nothing special.
No big feelings.
Nothingspecial.
She is completely off-limits, and I know it.
So why the fuck can't I stop thinking about her?
My lips still tingle from how softly she gasped against my mouth, how small and fragile she felt pinned against my chest and pressed against that glass. The memory of her is driving me insane. I am completely wired in the middle of a pitch, all because of a girl.
But Ben and Alex don't need to know that. So I turn away, breaking the conversation, trying to lock back into my role as captain before they see the cracks in my armor.
need to focus. If I mess up today, Coach Backer will strip the "C" off my chest before the first whistle of the season, much to the absolute pleasure of my father, who is just waiting for me to crash and burn so I'll finally give up and focus on the family business.
That is when I notice him.
He is standing near the hydration station, aggressively strapping on his receiver gloves, his jaw locked tight. He is glaring right at me with pure disgust.
"Got something on your mind, Jimmy?" I murmur, leaning in close. I give him my most arrogant, taunting smirk. "You looked surprised yesterday. Next time, just ask if you want a front-row seat."
He glares up, his eyes flashing with genuine anger. "You're a real piece of shit, Lorenzo. I swear to you..."
"What?" I step closer, cutting him off as I loom over him.
"Is it bothering you, what you saw?"
Before he can say anything else, a sharp blast of a whistle shatters the air. Coach Backer strides toward us, his face red.
"Lorenzo! James! Cut the staring contest! Everyone strap your helmets on and get into the one-on-one tackling grids! Full contact! Now!" He stops right in front of me, pointing a finger at my jersey.
"I need leadership on this field, Lorenzo. Show me why you're wearing that Captain's letter."
"Yes, Coach," I mutter, my jaw tightening.
I turn back to James, the adrenaline finally overriding my chaotic thoughts about little Sophia Miller. I give him a dangerous, challenging wink. "After you, mate. Let's see what you've got."
Coach Backer claps his hands, barking at the rest of the team. "Focus! We have an audience today."
Automatically, my eyes drift past Backer's shoulder toward the bleachers where students are starting to gather. My breath completely hitches.
Behind Maria, walking down the steps, is a second figure.
It is her.
My little stalker.
A dark, bitter laugh cuts through my mind.
Unbelievable.
Couldn't she stay out of my way for just one fucking day?
Her school uniform is perfectly in place, her hair tied back.
She looks so untouched by the ugliness of our world, looking entirely out of place against the aggressive, sweat-drenched backdrop of the academy field.
Just seeing her standing there feels like a physical blow to my chest.
I hate how she thinks she can just pop up anywhere and throw me off my game.
Beside me, I hear James let out a sharp, quiet breath.
I cut a glance at him, and the memory of his hands on her yesterday hits me like a sudden, violent wave of pure adrenaline. A hot, toxic surge of fury courses through my veins, so intense it makes my vision blur at the edges.
It is stupid.
It is completely irrational.
She isn't mine.
It is none of my damn business what she does or who she talks to. I just told the guys five minutes ago that I don't care, that she is just a game. I shouldn't give a shit if James or anyone else is near her.
But seeing him stand there, looking up at her with that protective, longing expression?
Fuck.
It makes me angry. It makes me want to tear the pitch apart.
She is my problem to deal with.
Mine.
And if there's one thing in this world that I admit I'm not good at, then it's sharing.
So yes, I'm fucking angry.
"Alright, grids are set!" Coach's voice booms across the turf. "Lorenzo, you're up first on offense. James, you're defending the line. Let's see some real impact!"
I look back at James, the easygoing smirk completely wiped from my face.
"You heard the coach, Jasper " I growl, pulling my helmet down and slamming the chin strap shut with a definitive snap. Every muscle in my body is coiled tight, ready to explode. "Let's see if you can actually hold your ground."