Chapter 4
Riley
The week is a blur of classes, studying, scheduling, and survival. “You okay over there?” Ashley asks from the desk. I’m currently sitting on my bed with all my class syllabuses surrounding me.
“I’m not sure what I was expecting, but nearly going under my first week was not it.”
She laughs. “I’m a sophomore, and I still feel the same way.”
“This is not how I thought my Saturdays as a college student would look,” I tell her.
“Yeah, welcome to college. Are you going to the football game later today? Your brother plays, right?”
“Yes. I would never hear the end of it if I missed the first game of the season. Are you going?”
“No. I’m not really much of a sports’ fan.”
“I love sports; I think it’s in our blood.”
She turns to me. “Did you play sports in high school?”
“I did, and I’ll be playing for the women’s basketball team later this semester.”
“Really?” She gives me an assessing look. “Are you any good?”
“I used to think I was, but I don’t know anymore.”
“Well, playing at college level is probably way different than what you were used to in high school.”
I sigh quietly. “Yeah.”
She goes back to studying, and I force myself to get back to work.
My goal is to have every assignment for all my classes in my planner by the end of the day, along with dates for when I need to start projects.
On top of that, I need to find time to actually study.
My phone pings, and I look down at it and see Peter, my friend from high school, is texting me.
I take a moment to read his text. He’s texted me several times this week to see how things are going, but I haven’t had a chance to meet up with him. Things have been too crazy busy.
Peter- are you avoiding me?
I grimace and send back a quick text.
Me- no I’ve just been really busy
Peter- okay
Peter- let’s meet up soon
Me- okay
I’m not really sure when, but I’ll deal with that when the time comes. I go back to my work. Evie texts me about an hour before the game.
Evie- You ready to meet up?
I groan when I realize it’s already that time.
Me- Yes. I’ll be there soon.
We’d agreed to meeting at the coffee shop, since she gets off now.
I’m already wearing my jean shorts, so I pull on Zane’s jersey, a Christmas gift he gave me his freshman year, and put my hair into a ponytail.
I slip on my flip flops and grab my phone and wallet.
“I’m heading to the game; I’ll see you later,” I call out to Ashley, but she merely lifts a hand and waves.
I’m not really sure if she’s waving at me or waving at me to go away.
With a grin, I close the door and head down the hallway.
Evie’s just getting off work when I get there.
“Are you ready for your first game as a college student?” she asks, sporting Zane’s jersey.
“Yes!”
“I’m going to warn you; it’s crazy.”
I grin. “I can’t wait.”
We join the masses of students walking over to the football stadium. It takes a little while to get through the line and security, but then we’re finally in. Evie’s not wrong; it is absolutely crazy! “Reid said he’d meet us over here!” Evie shouts to me over the noise.
I follow her through the maze of students until we see Reid. “You ready?” he asks when we get close.
“We’ll let you lead since you’re so tall,” Evie tells him.
“Stay close.”
I heard his words, but I didn’t anticipate the craziness.
There are literally people everywhere. I’d been to a few of Zane’s games before but never the first game of the season.
This is next level. We follow right on Reid’s heels and finally get to our seats.
“Whew,” Evie says, dropping into her seat. “That always wears me out.”
I take the seat next to her, leaving Reid to take the one next to me.
“You’re not kidding. Woo. I'm already sweating.” I fan myself, wondering how hot it’s going to get this afternoon.
I turn to Reid. “It’s days like this that I’m thankful basketball is an indoor sport.
” He nods but doesn’t smile. He looks around, his eyes scanning the area.
“Hey.” I wait for his eyes to meet mine.
“Everything’s good; there’s nothing to worry about. ”
“Just keeping an eye out.” I study him a moment as he looks over the crowd again.
“Reid.” I wait for him to turn back and give me his full attention. “Did something new happen?”
“No. I’m just on the lookout. The last few times we’ve had run-ins, they happened at games.”
I take that in. “Okay. Well, can you still enjoy the game?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
I turn to Evie, on my other side. “Is Zane nervous for today?”
“Oh, you know Zane. He is, but he’d never admit it.”
I grin. “Yep, sounds like my brother.”
“He’s going to do great today,” Evie says confidently.
I nod in agreement. We settle back for the pregame fun, and then it’s time for the guys to take the field.
Evie and I cheer with the other thousands of students, and then it’s time to play.
They get possession first, so we sit back and watch our defense.
I take in all the details. I've been watching Zane and even Quint play for years, so I know the game pretty well. There are a few new guys on the D-line, and I watch how they do. The other team makes several smaller plays and starts working their way up the field, but our defense stops them. They have to kick it away, and we’re ready for it.
Zane and his offensive line run out onto the field.
“Here we go!” I shout to Evie. We’re both standing, not wanting to miss a thing.
The first few plays don’t accomplish a whole lot, but then on third down, Zane throws a long pass to Quint.
Quint pulls it out of the air and turns and runs.
He spins around a defensive player; and then it’s an open field. He runs it into the end zone.
Touchdown!
“And that is how it’s done!” Evie yells. The guys run together to celebrate, smacking Quint on the back of his helmet.
“He’ll be obnoxious tonight with that score,” Reid says, and I laugh.
“Isn’t Quint always obnoxious?” I ask, and his lips tug up in the corners.
We get the extra point on the field goal, and then we find our seats as the defense takes the field again. “Is Tessa gone with Slater again this weekend?” I ask Evie during a timeout.
“Yeah. She’s having such a blast reporting for their games, and she’s really good at it. Have you watched one of the games yet?”
“No. I need to,” I admit.
“You should. I’m so happy that she’s doing it.”
“It’s good because Slater will probably go pro, won’t he?”
Evie nods. “Most likely. So yeah, she’ll be in the sports’ world for a while.”
The game starts back up again, and we get lost in the fun of it.
We groan with the crowd when the opposing team gets a touchdown, but we get a good return off the kick, setting up Zane and his offense nicely.
We make steady progress down the field, picking up a few yards each time.
By the end of it, we’re unable to score a touchdown; but Elliot kicks a field goal, putting us up by three.
We’re able to maintain our lead as we head into halftime.
“Oh, these games make me so stressed,” Evie says, standing to her feet.
I smile at her. “I don’t envy you. I’d always much rather be the one playing than the one watching.”
“Oh, no, I am happy watching and letting Zane do all the playing.” She takes a deep breath. “All right. It’s bathroom break time. Want to go with me? Usually, Tessa does the honors, but seeing as she’s not here...”
I laugh. “Yes, I’ll go with you.”
I turn to Reid, who’s studying something on his phone. “We’re going to the bathroom.”
He stands gracefully and pockets his phone. “I’ll go with.”
My eyebrows rise. “To the women’s bathroom? I think we’re good.” He doesn’t answer but starts making his way down the row. I turn to look back at Evie. “I guess he’s going with us.”
“Somebody always accompanies us; too many bad things have happened.”
I take that in as I follow Reid. I haven’t really been at the center of anything that’s happened with the skinwalkers, though my dad has told me repeatedly that the threats have come personally for me.
But I trust him and the others in our pack to keep all of us safe.
My dad would tear anyone apart that tried to hurt me; I know that for a fact.
We follow Reid all the way to the women’s bathroom. “I’ll wait out here for you,” Reid says right before we head in.
I smirk. “No kidding.” He just shakes his head, and we leave him behind.
It’s a long line for the bathroom, and Evie and I use the time to catch up on this past week.
I fill her in on which classes I have, and I ask her about the house she’s now living in with Zane.
When we finally make it out of the bathroom, Reid’s standing only a few feet from the door. “Did we worry you?” I ask with a grin.
“It took forever.”
“Yep. That’s the joy of the women’s restroom during a packed game,” Evie says, not missing a beat.
“Let’s go; I don’t want to miss any of the second half.
” I wait for Reid to lead, but Evie charges ahead.
I glance back at Reid, who merely shrugs and follows us.
We get back to our seats just as the game starts up again.
The second half is a little more exciting than the first half.
Both teams score in the third quarter, but we hold onto our lead as we start the fourth quarter.
But they get a field goal only a few minutes in, and now it’s tied.
I keep an eye on the clock and an eye on our offense.
“You’ve got plenty of time, Zane,” I mutter under my breath.
The first two plays, we pick up only a few yards; and just like that, it’s third down.
Our offense lines up, and Owen, our center, snaps it to Zane.
Zane takes a few steps back, looking downfield.
A defensive player gets past his guy and comes at Zane from his blindside.
“Run!” Evie screams along with everybody else. Zane sees the hit coming and spins around to get out of the way, but it’s too late. He’s sacked, and the crowd hisses its displeasure. I look at the clock. There’s only a little over three minutes left. “Do you think he’ll go for it?” Evie asks.
I fold my hands under my chin and watch their coach. He's been known a time or two to go for fourth down but not very often. “I don’t know.”
“He’ll probably go for a field goal,” Reid says, joining the conversation.
“If it’s up to Zane, they’ll go for fourth down,” I say with absolute confidence. Seconds later, the call is made. The offense stays on the field.
“They’re going for it,” Reid says.
Evie squeezes my hand, and I squeeze right back.
I’ve watched so many of Zane’s games over the years, and it never gets any easier.
“Breathe,” I remind her, but I don’t think she does.
Our offensive line gets ready. Zane shouts over the noise, but it has to be impossible for his guys to hear him.
Owen snaps the ball, and Zane grabs it. He takes a few steps back, looking downfield.
And then he launches it. I hold my breath as it soars downfield, right into Drew’s waiting arms. Drew walks right into the endzone, uncontested.
Touchdown!
We hang on to our lead to win the game. After the game, Reid leads us down to the area where the players will come out.
To no one’s shock, Zane is one of the first players out.
Evie runs for him, and he catches her with a grin, kissing her soundly.
He finally realizes there’s a whole world out here besides Evie and turns to Reid and I. “Hey, Sis.”
“Hey. Congrats!” I give him a big hug. Reid gives him a slap on the back and a bro hug.
“Hey, what about me?” Quint asks, jogging over to our group.
“Awesome game, Quint!” I say high-fiving him.
“Let’s go out and celebrate,” Quint says to our group. “Zane’s buying.”
Zane just shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“Sure it does,” Quint says as he walks away.
Zane wraps an arm around Evie and pulls her close as they follow, leaving Reid and I to bring up the rear. “You ready for tomorrow?” he asks.
I glance up at him. “Tomorrow?”
“Your birthday.”