The Senior (College Years 4)

Caleb frowns. “Why?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “She’s nervous. Afraid of the unknown, I guess? She doesn’t want her parents disappointed in her since she’s going to quit college and stay with me.”

“Is she moving into our apartment?” Caleb asks, his brows shooting up.

“Maybe…” Shit. That’s one of the plans we came up with. Probably should’ve checked with him first, especially since one of our plans is having Caleb move out. “Would you mind if she did?”

“Nah, once football is over, I’ll probably end up spending a lot of time with Gracie at her place. My class load next semester won’t be too heavy,” he says. “But what’s your plan after school?”

“Not sure yet.” My gaze slides to Diego, who’s smiling. “The NFL maybe?”

“Hell yeah.” Diego holds up his palm and I slap it with my own. We keep doing this. “We’re on our way, Bennett.”

“Hopefully,” I add.

“No hope about it, we’ve got this.” He laughs. “It’s our time. We deserve this.”

“Happy for you both,” Tony says, sounding like a proud dad. Bet he feels like one too.

“Yeah,” Caleb adds. “Maybe a little jealous too, though I’m happy for you guys.”

“I love you, Caleb,” I tell him, meaning every damn word I say. I love all of them. “I’m gonna miss playing with you fools.”

“Me too,” Tony says.

We nod in agreement, all of us quiet.

It’s coming to an end, this chapter in my life. College. Classes. Football. Parties. Living with my friends. Not having to worry about work or real life. I mean, this shit is real life and sometimes, I let it get to me way too much—hello my football season junior year—but it’s got nothing on what could be coming.

Again, bring it. I’m ready. I feel mentally and physically prepared.

We part ways after we eat—Tony needs to grab something from his car, Caleb has to drop something off to a class and Diego is meeting with Jocelyn—and I wander around campus, taking my time. I stop at the student store and go in to kill a few minutes, stopping short at the display of Bulldog gear near the front.

There’s a red baby onesie thing that looks like one of our football jerseys. There’s even one with a number one on the front with the words “Bulldog fan” beneath it. I flip the onesie over. Too bad it doesn’t have Bennett on the back of it.

I grab it and take it to the girl standing behind the cash register, her eyes widening when she spots me. “Aren’t you Eli Bennett?”

I nod, setting the onesie on the counter and reaching into my back pocket for my wallet. “Yep. And you are?”

“Uh, Clarissa.” She says it like a question, as if she’s unsure what her name is.

“Nice to meet you, Clarissa.”

“Nice to meet you too.” She taps away at the keypad on the register and then scans the price tag, hitting a few more keys before she rattles off the total. I slip my credit card into the reader, watching as she bags up the little onesie. “Isn’t number one yours?”

“It is.” I take my credit card out of the machine and put it back in my wallet.

“What a cute gift. Maybe saving it for later? When you’re married and have a baby?” she asks hopefully.

“Sure.” I take the bag and receipt from her, smiling at Clarissa. She smiles back, appearing a little starstruck. “I’m keep

ing it for when I’m married and having a baby.”

Which if all goes well, will happen in the next eight months.

After practice Caleb and I return to the apartment to find Ava waiting for us, the kitchen counter covered in various takeout boxes from a nearby Chinese restaurant. The delicious aroma hits me the moment I walk inside and my stomach growls.

Hey, I could get used to this kind of treatment quick.