14. Montana
fourteen
Montana
We’re sitting on the benches watching the boys play—and they’re playing really well. I see Rocky out there in his element and he is so remarkable. I’ve been watching the sports reports on him, and they say he is neck and neck for the Heisman Trophy with Ian Maye from University of North Carolina.
The ball snaps and he takes two steps back, and fakes the pass off to Kellen, the tight end. Rocky cocks his arm back, looks around and sees Xander takes off to the left and another player to the right and throws the pass to number fifty-eight. He catches it and takes off for the end zone. I guess that’s the last play before practice ends.
I know Coach Mackenzie—he and my dad were the best of friends. He understands that I don't want people to know who I am, so him and his daughter Logan have been keeping my secret. Being a longtime family friend, he’s more like an uncle. Logan is the cheer coach here and acts like the big sister I’ve always wanted. She's not that much older than me, but she’s always there when I need her.
I see the wannabe plastics and they sneer at me. I can’t believe some people could be so cruel to someone they don't even know. To be able to look at someone and rip their self-esteem to shreds with no remorse based on their appearance is wild to me. What happened to being a girl's girl?
I roll my eyes, turn to Autumn and tell her to come on. We start walking down the bleachers towards Logan and the other cheerleaders. I see eyes on us from the football players, and other than Talon, no one knows that I know Logan. We are approached by the three muskrats, or whatever they are called.
“What do you two bitches want?” Addison sneers.
Her two friends— Whose names I learn are Sasha and Harper—are standing by with their arms crossed. When I look at Harper, she doesn’t say anything but not saying anything is just as bad as name calling in my book. Sasha’s giving us the bombastic side-eye, like we’re supposed to be scared of them.
“Not that it's any of your business, but I’m here to see Logan.”
“So, what? You're going to tell my coach that I don't like you?”
“No, she should know that the girls on her squad are bitches, but I can handle myself. I don’t need anyone to do my dirty work. She's actually a family friend. We grew up together.” I smirk at her.
“Monti! What are you doing here!” Logan calls.
“Just watching my man and Talon play.” I smirk.
“Yeah, how are you and Rocky doing?”
“We’re great. Oh, Logan, this is my friend Autumn, she’s Rocky’s little sister,” I say and look over to see the blood drain from Addison's face.
“I think you need to talk to some of your cheerleaders about body shaming. I won't say names, but we grew up accepting people for who they are, not what they look like.”
“Monti, who was it?” Logan asks.
“You know snitches get stitches. I handled it.” I pretend to zip my lips and throw away the key.
She snorts and says, “The only one handing out stitches around here is you.”
“True, I didn’t get my nickname Killer for nothing.” I shrug my shoulders, and see Talon, Xander, Rocky and Kellen walking over.
“Hey, Killer, what are you and Autumn doing here?” Rocky wraps his arms around my shoulders as he stands behind me.
I look up at him and say, “Just here talking to Logan and introducing her to Autumn. We grew up together.”
“That’s nice.” Rocky spins me around and kisses me in front of everyone and I melt in his arms. “I missed you,” he whispers against my lips.
“I missed you too,” I say and look up at him, smiling, and he kisses the tip of my nose.
“Are you going to head out soon? We still have to hit the weight room.”
“Autumn and I are going to hit the gym before we get out of here.”
“Okay, let's go then.”
Hot damn, this man of mine is so sexy even after practice in the summer. Wearing his sexy cut-off shirt with his football pants that his thick thighs and ass look magnificent in—I am never not turned on around him. No backwards hat right now so his light brown hair is in his face, and I reach up to move it to the side. He looks down at me and smiles then kisses my forehead. This guy .
“Rocky, you’re really not going to talk to me? We hooked up last night and now you’re ignoring me today?” Addison asks loudly.
“You mean when you straddled my lap and kissed me after I specifically told you that I want Montana? Or how about when I dropped you on the floor off my lap? What about when you called her undeserving of me? Which do you want to talk about first?”
Everyone gasps, while Addison looks at me like she's ready to chop my head off.
“Or we can talk about how you called me and Montana Oompa Loompa’s?” Autumn says out of nowhere.
I hear a growl and I thought it was from Rocky, but it came from Talon. Yes, girl. Take your power back.
“Addison, I told you last night so let me tell you again. Stay the hell away from me, my girl and my little sister. I’m done being your friend.”
“We also had a little come to Jesus meeting, didn’t we? We came to an understanding. Right, Addison?” I put my hand on my hips while we waited for her answer.
She rolls her eyes and says, “yep,” and then turns to walks away.
I doubt this will be the last time she tries to come between us.