Chapter 15 Grayce

“This is so not my idea of a good time.” The look on Alex’s face as we took a seat in the bleachers was comical. She kept brushing at invisible lint on her jacket as if trying to brush away her annoyance I’d dragged her to—God forbid—a football game played by men, of all creatures.
“Relax before you have a stroke,” I said. I handed Alex the container of cheap nachos we’d bought and sipped my soda. She was looking around at the players on the field, disinterested, but she was sweet enough that I knew she’d stick around, even if it were only for me.
“What number is Jaxon?” she asked, pretending to care.
“Thirteen,” I said. We spotted him at once, huddled up with his team on the field. The opposing players, the Falcons, were hoorah-ing on their side of the arena. As exciting as watching them get ready to tear each other apart, the fascinating part for me was probably the vibrant colors and face paints our college students showed off. It was school pride, something I hadn’t experienced much of during my time in college. I’d always been more concerned with studying and bedtime than I ever had been with school sports, so this was a new experience for Alex and me both.
“He looks good out there,” Alex said as the players got into their positions. As she stared at Jaxon, she lifted the sunglasses from her eyes to get a better view.
“He’s not your type,” I said. “It’s the penis.”
“He doesn’t have to be my type for me to want to jump those bones,” Alex said. “You could bounce a quarter off that ass.”
“You’re such a guy,” I said.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.” She elbowed me in the ribs, smirking.
“Jealous of what? You’re allowed to dream about humping anybody you want. It’s no skin off my back.” If I was trying not to pout, I was failing miserably, and Alex knew me almost better than I knew myself.
“I see,” she said. I had a bad feeling that although she was quiet now, this issue wouldn’t vanish anytime soon.
“Hello, ladies,” someone said behind us. Alex and I looked up just in time to see Shawn plop himself down on the empty bleacher seat next to me.
“Hi, Shawn,” I said, and Alex offered him a nacho. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a football game,” he said. “I’m here to support the team.” He took a chip off the top of the nacho pile and chewed loudly.
“You hate football,” Alex pointed out.
“So, do you,” Shawn said, and she shrugged because, unfortunately, he was totally right. “Both of you do,” he added.
“It’s my job to be here,” I said. “But that doesn’t mean you have to be.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Oh, really? When I tried to give you the assignment, you certainly minded quite a bit.”
“Yeah, well, lucky I didn’t take it because it seems you don’t mind reporting on Jaxon Tate,” Shawn said. “Not even a little bit.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Although Shawn was only my friend—a loyal and dedicated one, sure, but just a friend—I grew irritated by the conversation. Even Alex was starting to fidget uncomfortably as she pretended to focus on the game.
“You know what it means,” Shawn said. He sniffed loudly and rubbed his nose. “You have a thing for Jaxon Tate. You stuck to reporting on the games because you got to be around him. You’re just like every other idiot girl who feels the need to throw themselves at him.”
“Seriously?” Alex and I said at the same time. Shawn shrugged, and Alex reached over and squeezed my arm before I could do what I really wanted to do: punch Shawn in the face.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and it sounded like he meant it. He turned to me and caught my gaze, his expression sincere. “I don’t want to watch you get hurt, Grayce, and Jaxon will inevitably break your heart.” He paused and took a breath. “Just…be careful. Please?”
“You have nothing to worry about.” I looked away from him and at Alex. “I can take care of myself.”