Gold - Linde K. A. - Страница 27

LV State was down by four, and Louisiana State University had the ball. There was only enough time for one more drive, and things weren’t looking good.

Bryna’s base, Daniel, lifted her into the air. She had her arms up in a V. Her gold poms glittered in the stadium. There was so much noise all around her that everything else was forgotten, except for the game and the possibility of losing everything they had worked toward this year.

Daniel dropped her back down to the ground and then moved to one knee. She sat on his leg and watched the game on pins and needles.

The LSU quarterback had the ball. It was do or die. He threw it high. Her eyes followed the movement. There was no one nearby. The Gamblers still had one chance to get it back. One of the LSU players veered toward the ball.

They were going to lose. She couldn’t breathe.

She felt as if she were watching the game in slow motion. She held her breath and waited for the LSU player to catch it and run it in for a touchdown. Then, out of nowhere, a Gambler got in front of the ball.

Bryna’s mouth dropped open.

“Oh my God!” she yelled.

He had the ball!

As he streaked down to the end zone, Bryna jumped to her feet, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Go! Go! Go!”

Three excellent blocks brought him into the end zone. He dropped to his knee and put the ball on the ground.

The clock ran out. Game over.

The split second of silence after LV State had scored, beating LSU, was all encompassing. No one seemed to believe what had happened. They had won. Against all odds, they had won.

An undefeated season. This would go down in history.

Then, the dome exploded. The audience fell into an uncivilized riot with cheers from the LV State fans and boos from the LSU fans. People were streaming out of the stands while others pushed past security, jumped fences, and ignored the warnings from the people trying to hold them back from storming the field.

Bryna was swept into the mass of people who raced forward. She couldn’t even care. They had won! They were national champions. The media was everywhere, asking players questions about the game. She could see Coach Galloway getting drenched from head to toe in Gatorade before shaking hands and speaking briefly for a moment with the LSU head coach. Then, the media, too, pulled the coaches away, anxious to hear their opinions about the outcome.

“Bryna,” Eric said from behind her.

She whirled around. An electric smile lit up her face. “We won!” she screamed, launching herself at him.

He easily caught her and lifted her off the ground. Their hug was fierce and joyous, the rush of the win still fresh in their bodies.

“Two national championships for you!” she squealed in his ear.

“Feels damn good.”

He slowly put her back down on the ground. Her body had been pressed tightly against his. Because of the commotion all around them, she hadn’t noticed quite what it felt like to have his chest against hers. She shouldn’t even be thinking about it now.

Their eyes met, and suddenly, all the noise turned to radio silence. She knew she should stop this. She shouldn’t feel anything. She hated feeling. It freaked her the fuck out. But while staring at Eric, she couldn’t help it. It was irrational. She clearly only wanted the one thing that she couldn’t have. But she didn’t know if it was for that reason or not. This wasn’t supposed to happen to her. He wasn’t interested. She was a cover. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Then, his lips were on top of hers. Unbelievably delicious soft, tender lips.

He was kissing her.

Eric Wilkins was kissing her.

Completely in the heat of the moment. All-consuming joy and passion from the game fueled this one singular perfect kiss.

His fingers threaded into her hair, and her body responded way too eagerly, as if she had never been kissed before. Fucking hell, it felt like it, like the world slowed, and there was nothing else other than this moment.

Then, the world came crashing down back around her.

“Fuck,” she whispered. She took a step away from him. She noticed guys from the team were watching them. Had they been catcalling at them?

Then, it dawned on her. This had all been a cover. Everything. The kiss hadn’t even been real.

She wished her lips didn’t still tingle. Not that she wanted a fucking relationship. She was still digging Hugh. Eric wasn’t even her type. At all.

And…fuck…

“Bri…”

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” she asked.

He nodded his head. “Yeah, let’s go.”

He looked uncertain about everything, and she didn’t blame him. If half as much was going through his head as was going through hers, then he must be going crazy on the inside.

She knew she couldn’t hold this secret in any longer. She had to let him know that she knew. She knew everything.

They veered through the crowd, back to the bustling locker rooms. Eric finally found an empty coach’s room. Once they were inside, he shut and locked the door. He wasn’t as cool, confident, and collected as normal. He actually looked a bit concerned. This wasn’t going to be easy.

“I did not mean for that to happen,” Bryna said.

“Yeah. Kind of got caught up in the moment.”

“I know you’re not interested in me that way. And I’m just getting used to our new friendship or whatever.” She shrugged and glanced away from him. Why is this so awkward?

Ever since they had started hanging out, things hadn’t been awkward. He was so easy to be around. But that kiss had changed something.

Or maybe it was all in her head. It hadn’t really meant anything. All of the emotions had been running high from the game, and bam!

“It’s okay. It was no big deal. We both got carried away,” he said.

“I don’t want this to change anything between us,” she said immediately.

“It shouldn’t have to.”

“It’s actually been nice, having a friend who I don’t have to compete with and who doesn’t want to get in my pants.”

“I think your competitive nature is still intact. You did try to prove that by eating an entire banana split,” he said with a rueful smile.

Bryna laughed, trying to loosen up some. “But not competition like with Stacia and Trihn. It’s always about guys and money…and guys with money. With you, it’s just us hanging out. I don’t feel pressured to do anything or be anyone. You accept the bitch.”

“I accept that you’re not as bitchy as you think you are,” he said.

“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m still the same person.”

“Maybe,” he said, crossing his arms.

He still looked like he wasn’t sure where all of this was headed, and she couldn’t blame him. She had no idea how she was going to bring this up.

“But I wouldn’t want you to feel pressured around me,” he said. “I’m not that kind of guy.”

“I know,” she said automatically. She felt like she had her in. They were on the same page. “Oh my God, I can’t hold it in any longer. I know your secret.”

He raised his eyebrows. “What secret?”

She pushed her shoulders back and soldiered on. “You know.” Her eyes were wide, silently pleading, Please don’t make me say it.

“I don’t think I do.”

“Come on, Eric,” she groaned.

“What makes you think it’s a secret?”

Bryna fought back an eye roll. Of course it was a secret. “You know, none of the guys know. You’re never seen with other girls. I don’t know. Plus, if it wasn’t a secret, then you wouldn’t be asking me if it was.”

He looked contemplative for a minute. “That’s true, I suppose. I’m not sure how you found out, but I don’t think anyone else knows.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to out you if you weren’t ready.” She bit her lip.

“I didn’t think you would tell anyone.”

“I wouldn’t Plus, I’ve known for a while. And we weren’t really friends most of last semester, so I wasn’t going to say anything. I think it’s one of the main reasons I’ve been so comfortable around you. I don’t do relationships. Feelings and emotions and love, if it exists at all, are completely overrated. If I’d thought you were into me, then none of this would have happened. I never would have let you get close.”