The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“I’m saying I didn’t move fast enough. I could’ve lost you,” I tell her, leaning in to lightly kiss her lips.

She starts to cry harder, too overcome to form words, I guess.

“Ah shit.” Unwanted emotion bubbles up in my chest and I close my eyes, tucking her close to me. “Don’t cry. I’m not worth your tears.”

“See, that’s the thing, Jackson.” She snuggles close, her arms wrapped tightly around me. “You are.”

Thirty

Ellie

I’m at work, busting my tail as I hustle around the restaurant, trying to keep up with cleaning tables among the influx of customers. We’re always super busy on Thursday nights, thanks to NFL football. The game is currently on every TV in the building, and every table in the place is full, bursting with people.

Ash Davis is playing tonight, and all of our customers want to cheer on the hometown hero.

I’d love to tell people that I went to the same high school as he did. I want to tell people my best friend is his fiancée’s little sister, but I keep my mouth shut. Most likely no one would believe me, so what’s the point?

Instead, I bask in the glory that is Ash’s local fan club.

At the top of the fourth quarter, Hayden and Gracie walk in, ordering a late dinner. They beckon me over to their table when they see me, and I go to them, telling my manager as I walk by her that I’m taking a quick break.

“Go for it,” Donna says. “You’ve been on your feet all night.”

I gladly settle into the booth seat next to Gracie, smiling at Hayden who’s sitting in a chair across from us. “What are you guys doing here? It’s Thursday Night Football.”

“I knew the restaurant would be packed with guys, so here I am,” Gracie says with a dazzling smile, just before she scans the room.

Hayden laughs. “I’m her wing-woman. We tried to get Tony to come with us, but his eyes were glued to the television at his place. Said he couldn’t risk leaving. The score could change and he’d miss something.”

“They have a pretty solid lead,” I say, glancing at one of the TVs to check the score.

“He would’ve killed my vibe,” Gracie says. “I don’t need Tony here cockblocking me.”

I laugh. She’s probably right.

“Enough about cockblocking and football,” Hayden says, leaning across the table, her gaze never leaving me. “We haven’t talked. Like, really talked in days. We need to know—what’s up with you and Jackson?”

“We’re good,” I say, barely containing the smile that wants to stretch across my face.

That is the understatement of the year. We had the best weekend ever. This week has been amazing too. Unfortunately, he left early for the away game this weekend. Had some plans come up, he explained, being very mysterious.

I have no idea exactly what’s going on, but when I pressed him about it, he said he’d be able to explain everything to me when he gets back Sunday.

Eeep, I hate secrets, but this isn’t a bad one. He seemed a little excited. He couldn’t stop smiling.

And last night, when he stayed over with me, he kept me up for half the night, driving me out of my mind every time he touched me. It’s getting better and better between us. I miss him so much now that he’s gone. There’s a hole in my heart just knowing how far away he is from me right now.

I hate it.

But I love him. So much, it’s overwhelming.

Does he feel the same way? Probably not as intensely as I do…

“Good?” Hayden’s brows shoot up. “That’s it? That’s all we get?”

“We need more details,” Gracie adds.

I laugh and launch into a story about the weekend first, and everything we did—without sharing many details at all, much to their disappointment. I wrap up that particular story with Jackson asking me to be his girlfriend.