The Freshman (College Years 1)

I send him a look. His expression is sweet and innocent, like an angel descended from heaven.

Right before he bursts out laughing and shakes his head.

“You fell for it, huh?” He nudges me in the ribs.

“I know you better than that,” I mutter, even though for the briefest second, I did sort of fall for it.

I should’ve known. Caleb isn’t looking for anyone special. None of these guys are, with the exception of Eli, who I’m sure thinks he’s already found her.

I might not believe in everlasting true love, but I know a good one when I see it, or in this case, her, and I know Hayden is a good one. She’s full of all kinds of possibilities.

And I want to explore every single one of them.

As long as we keep it casual.

We’re coming out of practice the next day when I spot a familiar blonde head in the distance. As we draw closer, I can see she’s wearing navy blue leggings and a red Bulldogs T-shirt, looking like a fangirl waiting for her favorite player to walk off the field.

I can’t help the grin that grows on my face when our gazes connect. Her hopeful expression transforms into a frown and I laugh. She shakes her head, mock glaring at me, and I grin the rest of the way, until I’m standing directly in front of her.

“Couldn’t resist me, could you?” I tease.

She rolls her eyes. Crosses her arms. Looks away before, reluctantly, facing me once more. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, okay?”

Her brutal honesty is much appreciated. “Same.”

“You couldn’t stop thinking about you either?” She raises a brow.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” I tap the tip of her nose, and I swear to God she blushes. “Why are you here?”

“I was waiting for you.”

“How’d you figure out where we were practicing?”

“It’s not hard, Sorrento. I’ve got a brain.”

“Never said you didn’t.” I start walking again, heading for the parking lot, and she falls into step beside me. I’m having a déjà vu moment right about now, but I decide to switch it up a little from our last parking lot encounter. “Want to grab dinner with me?”

“Are you asking me out on a date?” Her voice is ultra-high and I catch her batting her eyelashes at me, over-exaggerating everything. Mocking me, though I’m not insulted.

I feel like the mocking thing might be her defense mechanism.

“No. I’m asking if you want to grab dinner as friends. That’s it,” I say solemnly.

“I would be delighted.” She rests her hand on her chest.

“Want me to drive us there?”

“How about we take separate cars? Like friends do,” she suggests. “I can follow you.”

“Sure,” I say easily, not about to argue.

“How was practice?” she asks as we make our way toward the parking lot.

“Tough. They’re working us extra hard lately. I think we’re being tested. They want to see if we’ll stick.” The season is winding down, and it’s been a good one. I haven’t gotten much field time—most of my friends haven’t, with the exception of Diego—and this is when they put us to the test. See if we have what it takes for them to want to keep us next year.

It’s also a great way to get rid of the slackers who can’t hack it. I see the way the coaches watch me and Jackson. We both didn’t take things seriously at the beginning of the year, and we’re paying for it now.

I may have been distracted a couple of months ago with moving out, a new school, a new life, but I’m focused now. I want this. I’ve got nothing else. This bachelor’s degree I’m pursuing is nothing but a piece of paper that’ll make my dad proud. Once I graduate, he’ll pull me into the family business and my life will no longer be my own. I need to have something that brings me joy. Something that’s for me and no one else.