But this year… this year it was ours. We were thirsty for it: training harder, pushing harder. I might have only been with the Quakers for a year, but I felt at home here. We had strong leadership, a strong defense, and one of the best offenses in the whole damn country.
It was our year to bring that trophy home.
So the grim line on Coach’s face had a pit carving through my stomach. Something was about to happen. Something that affected the team.
Fuck.
“I’ve got some news, ladies, and you’re not going to like it.” He yanked off his Quaker ball cap and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Manella is out.”
A collective grumble filled the air.
Lincoln Manella was our running back, our fucking captain. It was his senior year; he was supposed to be entering the draft next spring. He couldn’t be out.
“Just got word from his old man. He tore
his ACL and needs surgery.”
“Fuck,” I breathed, flicking my eyes to my friend Gio. His lips pulled into a thin line.
This was bad.
Very fucking bad.
“So, what’s the plan, Coach?” Jared Galloway, our starting fullback and one of the senior players, asked.
“We need a new captain.”
All eyes slid to me.
“Whoa.” I held up my hands and stepped back, bumping into the player behind me. “It should be an upperclassman.”
There were guys on the team who had more seniority than me, more experience. Just because I’d arrived last year a true freshman, taking the QB position from the senior player before me, didn’t mean I’d wanted or been qualified enough to be the captain.
“It should be you, son.” Coach tipped his chin in firm reassurance. He believed in me, he trusted me... and it floored me.
I’d led my high school team, carried that responsibility with pride and tenacity. But this was different.
This was college.
“I agree,” Jared said. “You more than proved yourself last year, Jase. You might only be a sophomore, but this is the right call.”
“Anyone got a problem with this?” Coach scanned the fifty young men surrounding him and not a single one of them stepped forward to disagree.
“Decision made. Congratulations, son.” A small smirk graced Coach’s rugged face. “You just became our fearless leader.”
The team broke out into a chorus of hoots and hollers as everyone congratulated me on the promotion. But I stood there blindsided, completely in shock, with only one thing on my mind.
I did not see that coming.
Felicity
Hot wet lips trailed up my neck, kissing and biting, teasing. A soft moan spilled from my mouth, lulling me from my nap, as I tilted my head, welcoming the delicious sensations.
“I missed you,” Jason whispered against my throat.
“It’s only been a few hours.”
Even if it felt like more.