Kickoff for Love (3 page)

Me: “Okay, now be honest. How was that?”

Her: “Is perfect too much? You’re so good with words Ashley. Normal people would be all like ‘Hey, you suck, but the principal is making me say sorry; so sorry.’ Instead, you get all professional and say exactly what you mean. I wish I could see his face when he reads it.”

Me: “I don’t actually care how he takes it. He’s getting it anyways.”

Her: “Crap, Mom’s on the other line. I need to take this. I’ll talk to you tomorrow and you can tell me what’s wrong.”

Me: “Of course, love ya girl.”

Her: “You too!”

I hung up the phone and went over my letter. I decided it would just have to do and put it into my book bag. 

The next day was relatively uneventful. I told Lindsey all about what Andy had said to me. She comforted me; knowing I never let myself feel this upset over a guy. 

Paul’s face, when he read the letter, was priceless. It was a mixture of insult, amazement, and amusement. 

Mr. Hutcher read it and held back a laugh. He chastised me simply because it’s what he has to do as an authority figure. I could see in his eyes that it was halfhearted. 

I did everything in my power to avoid Andy at all costs. I avoided eye contact as well as looking in his general direction. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. 

I could feel his eyes on me almost constantly. He came up to talk to me a few times, but I either pretended my iPod was too loud or that I was too busy to talk. After practice, I was practically attached at the hip to my father. 

Today was almost a full week since I’d last spoken to Andy. My dad had enough of my silent treatment towards Andy. 

We were walking out of the stadium and saw Andy standing near the doors. I stepped closer to Dad and he stopped. 

“Ashley, you need to talk to the boy, for me? He hasn’t played or participated in a good practice or game since he followed you that day. My team needs their captain, and it would appear as though he needs you.”

“But…” Dad cut me off. 

“I’ve already talked to him and he’s your ride home. Now, go make nice.” He said as he shoved me towards Andy. 

When I got closer, I cleared my throat and shoved my hands in my pockets. Basically, anything else in the area was distracting because I refused to look at him. 

After a few minutes of just standing there, he sighed and said “Really?”

I forced myself to look at him. “What was that?” I asked, trying to sound like I didn’t know. 

“Come on.” He said and led the way to his Jeep Cherokee. 

“Do you know how to get there?” I asked, rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans. He started driving. 

“Yup.“ He said, his hands gripping the wheel. 

After a few minutes of going the wrong way, I asked. “You do know that my house is the other way, right?”

“Yup.”

I rolled my eyes. “Then where are we going?” I asked. 

He glanced at me and asked. “Oh, so you’re talking to me now?”

I looked out the window. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lied. 

He gave an exasperated huff and pulled into an abandoned parking lot. “Yes, you do.” He demanded. 

I stayed quiet and refused to look at him. He threw his hands in the air. “Jesus, what did I do?!” He asked, on the verge of yelling. 

“Nothing.” I told him. 

“Bull shit. One minute we’re talking and enjoying ourselves; and the next you’re running and playing the silent game.”

“I didn’t run. I’ve been busy.” I still hadn’t looked at him. 

“Don’t lie to me,” he said softly, almost so quiet that I couldn’t hear him. 

“What do you want me to say?” I asked. 

“The truth.”

“What’s the point? What will the truth prove at this point? Will it change everything?” I asked. 

“Just tell me what everything is!” He cried out. 

“Will you please take me home?” I asked. 

“No, not until I know what’s wrong. I honestly have no idea what I did.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. When I opened them, I said. “You didn’t do anything. I’m just stupid.“ It was the closest thing to the truth I’d said yet. 

He wrinkled his nose. “You’re not stupid. But even if you were, why does that mean you have to avoid me?”

“I wasn’t avoiding you. I just didn’t want to talk.“ I crossed my arms. 

He turned towards me. “Ashley, knock it off. I care about you. It’s only been a week but I want you to be happy. I can see that you aren’t, so just tell me what’s wrong.” He sounded agitated. 

So I lied. “I’ve just been embarrassed about the other day. I hate crying in front of other people.” I said which was true, but not the reason I couldn’t look at him. 

He sat there and stared at me for a moment. “You’re lying.” He finally said. 

I threw my hands up. “No, I’m not.” I said. 

He got out of the car and slammed the door. He ran his hands through his hair and started pacing. 

I slipped out and quietly closed the door behind me. “Why are you so upset?” I asked him, my voice breaking halfway through. 

“Because I know that you’re lying. I can tell that I did something wrong, but I honestly don’t know what it is. I mean, one second we’re talking and enjoying each other's company. The next moment you’re running away, avoiding me, and lying. I can’t make anything better until I know what’s wrong. I won’t know what’s wrong until you tell me.” He was practically begging now. 

I closed my eyes and sighed. I decided to just be honest. ‘I mean, what’s he going to say that I haven’t already heard?’ I thought bitterly to myself. 

“I thought you followed me because you liked me, not because I’m like a dramatic sister to you.” There, I finally said it. 

CHAPTER THREE

Andy’s POV

    “Not because I’m like a dramatic sister to you.” She said, staring down at the ground while her cheeks turned a dark pink. 

My mind reeled. “Wait, what?” I asked, thoroughly confused. 

“I told you it was stupid.” She whispered. 

I had no idea how to even process what she’d said. Let alone respond to it with an intelligent answer. Apparently, the only thing I could say was “Wait, what,” because I said it again. 

She wouldn’t even look in my direction. “Can we go now? I should be getting home.” She said before she climbed into the car. 

I got in too, but made no move to start the car. “Why do you think I don’t like you?” I asked my voice heavy with confusion. 

“You told me yourself.” She paused for a moment and then cut me off when I tried to talk. “Look, you don’t have to explain. I understand.”

“What do you think you understand?” I asked exasperatedly. “Please, stop telling me how I feel. I don’t know what you heard the other day, but I never said that you were a dramatic sister to me. Not only were you not being dramatic, but believe me; I could never look at you as a sister.”

Her cheeks burned brighter and she whispered “Okay.” Suddenly she was grabbing her backpack and opening the door. “I’ll take a bus home,” and then she was gone. 

‘What the fuck?’ Was the only thought going through my mind as I ran after her. My body was working on its own accord. There were no other thoughts that preceded the action. 

I cut her off by abruptly stopping in front of her. She had a couple tears rolling down her cheeks and more were flooding her eyes. I gently wiped them off with my thumbs. “Hey, why are you crying? Is it so awful that I like you?” I asked softly. 

“But you don’t.” She cried. “You just said that you could never even think of me as a sister.”

I understood exactly what I needed to do then. “Ashley, if I thought of you as my sister, I could never do this.” I said as I leaned down and lightly captured her lips with mine. 

CHAPTER FOUR

Ashley’s POV

I pulled away after a moment. It was incredibly hard; his lips tasted so good and felt amazing on mine. 

“Wait,” I said. Shaking my head and squeezing my eyes shut while trying to clear my mind. “What does this mean?” I asked confused. 

He chuckled lightly and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “It means that you should stop reading so much into what I say.” He paused, looking me in the eyes. “I don’t think of you as a sister, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think of you at all. It also means that I want you to quit running from me.” I blushed. 

“It’s easier to run than face the embarrassment when I stay.” I admitted. 

“But you have no reason to be embarrassed about anything.” He tried soothing me. 

I scoffed. “Okay, not only did an entire football team hear about how I sexually harassed a guy. Then the guy I’m crushing on comes after me just to end up comparing me to his dramatic sister. Afterwards, I’m forced into going home with him and end up confession my feelings for him. On top of that, when he kissed me, I asked what it meant.” I said, blushing like a tomato. 

He stayed silent for a minute then said; “You’re right, that is embarrassing.” When I slugged his shoulder he laughed. “What?” He asked. “Everybody has moments like those. It’s nothing to run away from.”

I nodded. Running was an instant reaction, a reflex that I always regretted afterwards. “I know. But there was one plus that came from all of this.” I said coyly. 

“And what’s that?” He asked. 

“You’re a decent kisser.” I said nonchalantly. 

His eyes grew wide. “Only decent?” He asked, stepping closer. 

I smirked. “Yep. It was rather short. So decent is the best I can do.” I said blinking innocently. 

The next thing I knew, I was being tipped backward and Andy’s hot lips were covering my own. They moved against mine in a way that left me begging for more and oddly satisfied. 

When Andy unfortunately tipped me upwards, he caressed my nose and forehead in slow lingering kisses, before adding a final one onto my lips. “Was that better?” He whispered low and husky. 

“To say the least.” I said, looking into his eyes and biting my lip subconsciously. 

His smile was gorgeous and I wanted to take a picture of it to remember always. 

“I’d better be getting you home.” His smile faded as he spoke. 

I nodded. “Yeah, I suppose.” We got in the car and he drove in the right direction this time. “You know, I never expected my father to push me towards a guy.” I said randomly. 

His lips quirked, “What do you mean?” He asked. 

“Well, when he told me you were driving me, I tried to argue. He said that ever since you came after me, your game had been of. Which is true,” I scolded him. “I watched you play and you obviously sucked. You can’t let your personal feelings or thoughts onto the field. The other team thrives on it.”

He shrugged. “Well, you wouldn’t talk to me. Every time I tried, you avoided me. It was hard to focus with you only ten yards away.”

I nodded understandingly. “Then my father told me that the team needed you, and you needed me.” I said the last part softly. Nervous about how he would react. 

Instead of saying anything, he stayed silent. The silence was okay, though. We got to my house after a few minutes of directions and then the silence continued. After a few moments, I grabbed my bag from between my feet and said, “Well, I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow.” I reached for the handle but he stopped me, and pulled me towards his waiting lips. 

I have to be honest, and say how much I love his lips. They’re quickly becoming an addiction. They’re soft but firm against mine; and so warm that I felt like I could melt. So far, one word’s come into my mind each time he’d kissed me ‘magic.’

When he pulled away, my head was spinning and my stomach kept knotting uncontrollably. 

“Okay,” he whispered. His voice was too husky and full of lust to say much more. I softly cleared my throat and hopped out, glancing behind me once before I got inside. 

Dad was waiting by the door when I walked inside. “Where have you been and why did I just watch you kiss one of my players?” He asked. 

I blinked to clear my head and told him. “We’ve been talking, and I’m not sure.”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you’re not sure?”

“I mean that we never defined anything.” I said simply. It made perfect sense to me. 

“And you’re fine with that?” He asked incredulously. 

“What am I supposed to do Dad? Expect the captain of a college football team to be in a relationship with his coach’s seventeen year old daughter after only knowing her for a week?” I asked. 

Dad huffed and went to his bedroom.