The Line Between(25)

With raised brows, he replied, “Okaaaay, definitely no concussion.”

“So, is ‘Ambrose’ your first name, or…” I trailed off, hoping this guy would give me his name. I’d need some way to find him so that I could return his jersey.

“Chase,” he said. “My first name is Chase.”

I nodded once. “Well, Chase, I wish I could say it was a pleasure meeting you, but I’m not a liar. I’ll have your jersey cleaned before I get it back to you.”

I spun on my heel, and started walking away when his hand gripped my elbow.

“Do you want my number?” He asked. The expression on his face told me that he wasn’t usually the one to offer his number to girls, and clearly had no idea how to go about doing it.

“No,” I replied. “I’ll find you.”

I left him there, mouth agape, and instead of heading to the class that I was miserably late for, I text Jade to see where she was. My phone pinged, and I quickly changed direction when her text said that she was at the coffee shop with Grady.

‘Bean Me Up’ was the trendy coffee shop situated next to the student union  , and was always crammed with students. Its early morning hours made it the first stop for most students before class, and its late closing times provided come much-needed caffeine boosts during test week, and finals. Today though, it was even busier, if that were possible, and it was decorated with navy blue, gold, and white streamers – the school colors.

The school spirit was at an all-time high, and that usually only meant one thing. Football. I completely forgot that our team was facing their biggest rivals tomorrow, and with the atmosphere being so intense, students around me jumped up and down like they were high on E. I dodged a few people, and wound my way through the clustered tables until I found Jade and Grady huddled in the corner. They were caught up in a deep conversation, like they’d known each other forever. It didn’t take long for Grady to find his place in our little group, and even Ashley adored him. We went from being a group of three to a group of four without effort. Grady belonged with us, and had quickly nestled his way into my little family.

Jade stopped whatever it was she was saying, and as if they were somehow connected, their eyebrows simultaneously lifted when they saw what I was wearing. I graciously responded with an eye roll and muttered, “Don’t ask.”

“Seriously?” Asked Jade. “You’re wearing our star quarterbacks’ jersey, a day before the biggest game this season, and you expect us to have enough self-restraint to not ask any questions?”

Grady tsk’ed beside her, and shook his head in disapproval. “She’s right, honey bee. You need to -”

His words were cut off by a loud holler, and I turned to watch the entire football team walk in, their cheerleading hanger-ons hot on their heels.

“Right on time,” muttered Grady, a salacious grin on his face.

I turned back around to face him. “For what?”

He leaned forward, and spoke in a hushed tone. “That right there, is the crème de la crème of the male species here at Brighton. It’s our very own Hot Guy parade.”

I snorted, and then covered it up with my hand. “You are the most boy crazy boy I have ever met. Anyone over there tickle your fancy?”

“No, but apparently you tickle someone’s fancy.”

Just then the chair beside me moved, and I looked up in time to see Chase flip it around and sit down, resting his arms across the back. He grinned at Grady, and then grabbed his coffee out of his hands to take a sip. “Hey, big brother. I didn’t think I’d be seeing you on campus today. ‘Go Team Go’ isn’t really your thing.”

Did he just say big brother?

Grady sighed. “Ladies, this charmer over here is my little brother, Chase. Chase, this hellcat over here,” he gestured to Jade, “is Jade. And I’m assuming you already know my girl Kennedy.”

Grady quirked a brow, and after Chase shook Jade’s hand, he looked at me, his eyes bright with amusement. “Uh, yes. We’ve met.”

“We didn’t meet,” I responded defensively. “You threw a football at my head.”

“I didn’t throw it at you,” said Chase. “You weren’t paying attention, and intercepted a perfectly good pass.”

“Still doesn’t explain why you’re in his jersey,” added Jade. Her smile was wicked, and I glared at her. She was stirring the damn pot, as usual.

“When I fell, my coffee spilled down the front of my dress, and Chase offered me his jersey as a cover-up.” I left out the part about Chase giving me his jersey so that I could cover up my boobs, because well, no one needed to know that my ta-ta’s had been on display. I’d had enough of that to last me a lifetime.