Forever Dark(6)

“Whoa!” Steve held up his hands laughing but he’s serious when he points to me. “That’s enough. You can’t get hurt!”

He was right. That was my throwing arm I fell on. I have to think about the game, and now my scholarship was also on the line.

Landon’s always been the party animal. If there’s a party, he’s at it. I usually am too if my boys are but I’m not into the rough stuff. Landon, however, was nearly always high, tonight was the exception. He claimed he played better that way but when they started doing random drug tests, he laid off the shit for most of the season. I had a feeling tomorrow night would be a different story altogether.

Eventually Madison is taking off her bikini and though it’s an outside pool and the lights are off, I can see her every curve. Alexa strips too. Landon and Steven as well with only Macy refusing to go full commando. She gets her top off and decides that’s enough.

None of us last long outside skinny dipping in the pool. For one, I don’t want to see Steven or Landon naked any more than I want them seeing Madison naked. For another, it’s December and cold as hell even with the heated pool.

“Do you think about next year?” I ask Madison when we’re inside the spare bedroom. We can hear Landon in the other room beating on the walls and making sex noises. He’s teasing. At least I hope he is because if he is that wild, he’s going to break something.

“Sometimes,” Madison says, her lips on my neck. “I think about us being able to do this every night if we want to.”

“We will want to.” I tease hovering over her, my hands tickling her sides. We’re naked but we haven’t had sex yet, I’m about to show her why we will most definitely want to.

“You were so sexy today doing that dance,” she says just as I enter her.

I smile, getting cocky, grinding my hips into her. “See, I’m the better dancer, huh?”

She arches into me wrapping her legs around my waist. “You’ve got the moves I want for sure.”

“You want me?” I pull back raising up on my elbows, knowing her response. I’ve had sex with Madison in my car more times I can count. Even on the bleachers at the stadium, on the field after a game, in the back of Landon’s truck and even in my bed. Most of the time we’re sneaking around and time is never on our side. Tonight though, we don’t have to rush. Alexa’s parents are away and it’s the first time we’ve been able to sleep together in a bed all night.

“Forever.”

Don’t propose while having sex. I have to tell myself this multiple times. Steven’s right, it should be tomorrow. It should be on a beach and it should be romantic. You only have one chance to pop the question and even though she prefers simplicity, I need her to know how epic of a moment this is for me because she’s mine, always.

Madison is wild and spur of the moment. She’s completely opposite from me. Some call her slutty but she’s only ever been with me.

I think about that ring as we lay in bed that night.

If my dad knew I bought a ring, he’d tell me I’m throwing away football for a girl.

He’d be pissed.

No one can say anything though. This girl is mine. She doesn’t push me away. She never would. She tells me she loves me and gives me forever.



December 4, 2010



I would think I would be nervous.

I prepared myself to be nervous.

When I wake up and I don’t feel that nervousness, it feels like something is off.

Despite that, the first few hours of the morning go by slowly as Macy cooks us all breakfast. By the time eight AM rolls around, we’re heading for the high school to meet the team.

Once on the bus, I’m not talking. I’m not interacting at all. I’m thinking. I do that a lot. My mind wanders but never landing on anything in particular.

I would say my main focus was on the offensive line. I had to know Landon and Steven were ready. I watched them over breakfast and I watch them inside the locker room once we get to the stadium, looking for any sign that the pressure is getting to them. Neither give me any indication that it is. I want to reassure myself and them that I’m not nervous but I am. A little. I’ve led these boys through an undefeated season and into a championship game.

Landon elbows me as I’m putting on my pads. “You okay, bro?”

I pull out my earbud and smile. “Yep.”

“Arms good and strong?” he raises an eyebrow reaching for his jersey in front of him.

“Yep.”

He smiles too and I put my earbuds back in and get lost in Nine Inch Nails.

We sit there in the locker room, each of us getting ready in our own ways. Steven is focused. He was by far the most talented player on the team. And I say that with one hundred percent certainty. Not only did he have a natural athletic talent at anything he did, football was his sport. I’m sure he was going to show those college boys a thing or two.