I laugh. It’s hard to get too amped about it as I don’t know if it’s for sure. They took my picture and did the interview but you just never know about those things.
I watch Landon. He can’t sit still. He’s jumping around, laughing at jokes that aren’t funny but you can’t stop us. We’re on that high. Steven’s beside me, he keeps elbowing me as he turns around to say something else to Landon about a play, or touchdown he made. They’re replaying the game but only one moment in that game really stands out for me.
Those ten seconds when I was on the field with them alone.
I glance at coach again, he’s smiling and laughing right along with Landon and Steven who are teasing him now and dumping Gatorade on him. On the bus.
Yeah, he’s going to remember us.
When we’re back at the school, we shuffle into the locker room long enough to unload our equipment and then we’re outside being greeted by most of Canby. The rain hasn’t let up but that’s not stopping anyone. I throw on a hoodie as I’m stepping outside. The cold rain slaps at my face only it’s colder now than it was on the field as the adrenaline starts to wear off slightly.
Madison jumps into my arms when she spots me, her legs wrapping around my waist. I bury my face in her neck, her moist skin wetting my lips. She tastes like winter, cool and crisp, fresh, like she’s been standing in the rain for hours cheering her boy on.
“I can’t believe it!” she squeals in my ear.
Maybe it’s the adrenaline, the high from the game and what tonight’s win means for this school, but my mind is no longer on those details. It’s on this girl and tonight, right now.
I set Madison down and kiss her forehead. I can’t stop there so my mouth goes lower, her nose, her cheek, and then her lips. She whimpers, just slightly when my tongue finds hers. It’s not a tender kiss. It’s one of desire and need.
It’s insight into what the night holds for us.
I’m showing her what I’ll be doing later.
Steven bumps me from behind with Alexa on his back. “Come on, let’s party when we get there!” He’s anxious to celebrate and I don’t blame him. I am too.
Madison lets go of me and starts to walk away putting her hoodie over her head. Lowering my hat a little, I watch her walking away and pat the pocket of my jacket to make sure the ring is in there.
“Can you fucking believe we won?” Landon shakes me whirling around in my face, his palms framing my face in excitement, the movement causing him to drop the celebration in his hand. A joint. He leans down and picks it up from the wet pavement. “Ah, damn it,” he looks over his shoulder. “Hey Madison, you got another?”
Madison is walking ahead of us towards Steven’s car, Macy beside her now. She doesn’t turn around but she holds it up in the air for him to see, her hoodie up over her head.
Smiling at Landon, we start walking towards the car too. We’re all heading out to Steven’s parent’s house on Cannon Beach. It’s the same house we’ve spent nearly every summer at for the last five years. It’s where I first kissed Madison and where I took her virginity in the car outside the house. It holds a lot of memories for us and it’s about to hold one more.
Just as I take a step toward the car, my dad finds me, his hand clasped over my shoulder. “Come on, son, let’s head home.” He means it by the look on his face.
It pisses me off that he tries to control me now.
“I’m going with my friends.” I say moving away from him.
My dad looks at me, and then my friends. “You need to come home.”
No way he’s fucking with my plans tonight. He knows what I’m doing tonight. He saw the ring a few days ago.
“Not tonight, Cash.”
I walk away.
He doesn’t stop me.
Fuck him and the life he thinks I should have.
I never look back.
Inside the car, Madison and I sit in the back. Steven’s in the car already, it’s running and he’s searching his playlist for something to listen to, talking about as fast as he usually drives.
At first Madison and I don’t bother with seatbelts. No, my hands are way too busy and I need the room. I’m practically on top of her like the horny teenager I am right then. I’ll be amazed if we make it there before we have sex. It wouldn’t be the first time we had sex in a car with other people in it. I want it now and I know she does. I’m on the floorboards, she’s on the seat when we hit the freeway. Her legs are spread and I’m between them tugging her to the edge of the seat so she can feel just how badly I want her. She comes forward letting out a whimper sliding down my dick through my jeans. It feels so fucking good I almost forget there’s a car full of people. Her breath is hot and heavy scorching my skin. It’s taking all my willpower not to unzip my pants. I start to pant, looking over my shoulder to see if anyone is watching.