First and Goal (Moving the Chains #1) (27 page)

T
oday has just royally sucked. I’m in the honors lounge, assigning students to cleaning crews when all I really want to do is go home and take a long, fucking nap and forget about my screwed up life. But I can’t. This afternoon is our bi-annual “Adopt a Highway” road cleaning for Honor Society members. As the president, it’s my job to organize the event.

The only thing I pawned off on my VP, who also happens to occasionally take pity on me, was to beg Eddie Hinton for the use of his truck. We’ll need it to pick up and haul away the garbage bags that the crews leave on the sides of the road. Alyssa somehow got him to agree to it. She didn’t tell me how. I don’t want to know.

No time for calc tutoring tonight, thank God. Rob looked like a cross between wanting to cry and pissed-the-fuck-off during bio. He really doesn’t want me to know who his secret crush is. I’m caught between feeling the same and desperately wanting to know her identity.

I think I played a pretty convincing actress last night at the diner. But I couldn’t help lying awake in bed last night. I’m grateful that I’ve gotten to know the real Rob Falls. Mama always says you can never have too many friends, and decent human beings are in short supply around these parts. He’s definitely proven to be one of the decent ones.

His little unrequited romance is kind of freaking cute. Who would expect that of a big, bad, hot quarterback who’s likely to go pro a few years down the road? Not me, that’s for sure. This lines up with the person he used to be before he had the skills and looks that he does now. Most people would let that kind of attention change them, but apparently not Rob.

With him, it’s all an act. I suspect that he plays the role of jock because it’s expected of him. It makes sense that he wouldn’t be able to lead a group of guys if he didn’t fit in with them, so he’s learned how to adapt in the public eye. Just like a good quarterback should. Behind closed doors he lets the mask slip. I’m honored that he trusts me enough to be himself around me.

What I still can’t explain is his massive personality shift last year. Yeah, he really came out of his shell as the starting quarterback, but what happened last winter is anyone’s guess. He’s alluded that his overnight transformation into a raging asshole had something to do with her. I just can’t fit all these puzzle pieces into place, and it’s driving me crazy.

He could literally have any girl he wants. Any girl at all. He’s obviously chosen the one who plays hard to get. It’s kind of sad, really. Especially considering how he feels about girls only being interested in him for one thing when he has so much to offer. I can’t help but feel sympathetic for the big guy and his plight. I know exactly what he’s going through.

I spent most of last night trying to narrow down the possible list of who she might be. Very few people know this about me, but I’m a sucker for a good romance. I just don’t usually believe they happen outside the realm of fantasy. And this is another clear cut case of why I believe that. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems in fiction.

I need more information to pare down the list of twenty or so girls I think might have kept his attention all these years. It obviously has to be someone in our class, or he wouldn’t have had a crush on her since ninth grade. She has to be gorgeous and smart to have held his unwavering interest for so long. And she has to be immune to his stud image, or she would have tripped all over herself to get with him if he showed the smallest spark of interest.

I didn’t fall asleep until around three in the morning, so consumed with who she might be and what, exactly, makes her the perfect girl for Rob.

Now I’m fucking exhausted. Caffeine isn’t even helping.

By the time I have all the supplies organized, hauled out to the parking lot, and hand out group assignments and directions, there are nearly a hundred students scattered around and waiting to head out to their designated areas.

Once all of that is done, I no longer have the necessary distraction from the sight I’ve been trying my hardest to ignore. Eddie leans against his truck, flirting with a few of the sophomore girls. Poor dumb things. The sight of that truck still makes me gag.

Maybe I should have Rob keep an eye on him.

The object of my rampant thoughts jogs up to me, still wearing his practice clothes and dripping with sweat. More football players and cheerleaders straggle toward the scene from the practice field.

“Sorry I’m late. Coach wanted us to run a few new drills. Which group am I taking?” His hands are on his hips while he catches his breath and surveys the surrounding scene.

“You have a group of five: Alexander, Barnes, Bertram, George, and Harris. They’re all standing over by the red Toyota.”

“Yeah, I see ‘em. Where we headed?” He looks over to his group of unruly sophomores, whom I assigned to him purposely. If anyone can keep them out of trouble, he can.

“Um, actually, can I ask you a favor?” I can’t believe I’m about to do this.

He turns to gaze at me expectantly, probably assuming I’m going to send him to the farthest reaches of our assigned area.

“Yeah, sure, anything,” he pants. “You name it.”

Seriously, what girl wouldn’t want him?
Shit
. Which girl doesn’t want him? “Um, before I ask you that favor, can you tell me something?”

He shrugs. “Yeah.”

“Is your lady love in Honor Society?”

He rolls his eyes and then stretches his neck, groaning. “Eva, I told you to drop it.”

“And I told you that you could call me Evie.” I cross my arms over my chest and steal another glance at Eddie.

“Yeah, well, I’m not really inclined to call you by a cute little nickname when you’re pissing me off.”

This is a bad idea. I need to just let it go.

“Okay, never mind,” I grind out. I really wish Mike were here right now, but then Chelsie would just get her dander up about us being attached at the hip, and I don’t really want that, either. I’m on my own as always.

“Yes! All right? She’s here!” He throws his hands up in exasperation.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to pry. I just don’t want to mess things up for you. Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it,” I say quietly, moving to walk away. I’m going to have to corral those stupid girls into their groups myself. Hopefully, they’ll listen. More likely, they’ll laugh at me. Maybe they’ll think I still have designs on the guy who supposedly took my virginity and assume I’m acting out of jealousy. Fuck me, will that one bad decision never cease to bite me in the ass?

“Evie.” Suddenly Rob is right beside me, his hand on the small of my back. I turn to face him only to see his concerned eyes gazing down at me. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

Rob’s gaze shifts between the scene by Eddie’s truck and me.

Though he had proven to me at the bonfire that he would have my back when it comes to Eddie, I have no right to ask it of him. Especially if he’s making a play for another girl. I would never have let him behave the way he had that night had I known about his secret crush. He’s already going to have to fight against the rumors going around school about us, thanks to bio. I just need to put on my big girl panties and shore up the last bit of energy I have to get through the rest of this day.

“No. It’s fine. I’m fine. Uh, here. Look at the list and try to find where she’s assigned and go with her group. That’ll be, uh,” I take a deep breath and hand my paper over to him. “That’ll be a good opportunity for you. I just need to go get those girls away from Eddie’s truck, and then I’ll take my group and go.”

He pulls me in a little closer to his side, wrapping his arm securely around my shoulders. His shirt is damp with sweat. The smell of salt evaporating on his skin wafts to my nose. “Evie, do you need me?”

“No. It won’t win her over if she sees you with me.”

“Hey,” he says gently. “Are we friends or not?”

My eyes meet his. Those damn sparkling gems are green today and as honest as ever. He flashes me that annoying smirk of his.

I can’t help but whisper, “Yes.”

“All right, then. Grab your crew, and I’ll go get those girls where they need to be. Then, I’m coming with you. Where are we going?”

“No, you don’t have to come with me,” I rush. “You’re already helping me enough as it is. Go with your crush. I assigned you a floating group anyway since I wasn’t sure your boys would be all that much help.”

He narrows his eyes playfully. “Wait. You assigned me a group of punks on purpose?”

“Yeah…” I admit.

“Oh, that seals it then.” He rubs his hands together. “Payback’s a bitch, Evie. We’re coming with you. Now, where we headed?”

I roll my eyes. “We have to drive over to Washington Road.”

“Okay, I’ll follow your car.” He lopes over to Eddie’s truck, and soon the girls head out of the parking lot with their groups.

The guys seem to have some silent standoff, but eventually Eddie climbs into his truck and roars out of the parking lot. Rob walks over to where our groups are waiting and hands me back the list. When we separate to head to our cars, it occurs to me that he never even looked at it.

We make slow headway on our assigned two miles of road. The conversation is light and friendly. The sophomores that make up our crews constantly laugh, horse around, and mercilessly flirt with each other. Rob and I try our best not to snicker at the boys’ efforts and the girls’ constant rejections. Sometimes he turns around so they can’t see him, and his whole body shakes with silent laughter. His amusement, in turn, makes me giggle like a dumb schoolgirl.

It’s ridiculous that we’re laughing at the boys’ failure to score. Considering that I’ve never had a real romantic relationship, and Rob is self-admittedly terrible with girls, we truly have no ground to stand on. I honestly think that watching their younger fumbling makes us feel a bit better about ourselves which is just sad and pathetic. At least we’re sad and pathetic together, I suppose.

Even so, it’s still a good time. As the trash bags fill up, my anxiousness over Rob bailing on his crush to come with me eases. It’s impossible to feel uncomfortable when he throws rapid-fire questions at me about everything from where I’ve been on vacation to what my earliest memory is. If he’s upset about missing an opportunity to flirt with the girl of his dreams, he’s a good sport about it and keeps his resentment under wraps.

One of the sophomore boys actually asks Rob for flirting advice, citing his apparent success with me. The idea is so ludicrous, knowing what I know about his mystery crush, that I laugh until my stomach hurts.

The same kid tries to grab my butt while I’m bent over, picking up a pop can. I would’ve been oblivious to his advance, but Rob threatens none too subtly to break his hand if he ever tries to touch me again. Poor little Brian George looks back and forth between us in confusion. He’s clearly at a loss since my denial of any relationship between us doesn’t match up with Rob’s over-protective attitude toward me.

Brian’s confusion is reinforced every time Eddie’s truck approaches. Rob stands by my side, his hand on my back just like in the parking lot at school.

“So she’s really not your girlfriend?” Brian doesn’t even try to lower his voice although I pretend not to overhear their conversation.

“She’s really not.” I swear I can actually hear Rob grinding his teeth even from ten feet away.

“But…why?” From the corner of my eye, I watch him throw his little gloved hands up in the air. “She’s so hot. If you don’t want to tap that then stop cock blocking me.”

“Kid.” Rob rolls his shoulders. He visibly shakes with the effort of trying to keep his temper in check. “I swear to God…if you make one single move on her, I will drop you on your ass so fast it will leave your head spinning.”

“Hey, man, if you’re not gonna claim her, then she’s fair game.”

Rob doesn’t even get the chance to respond before Greg Harris chimes in. “You better keep your slimy paws off her, Bri. I have a hundred bucks riding on them for the Bio bet.”

“Bio nothing. If Rob can’t close the deal, then I’m on it,” Brian responds.

“Are you for real right now? You’re a sophomore; she’s a senior. You’re not even as cool as Rob. He’s the quarterback, for fuck’s sake.” Jax Alexander joins the conversation.

I’m decidedly torn between laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all, and feeling guilty that it’s rumors and perceptions like this that are keeping Rob from sealing the deal that he really wants to make. Either way, I don’t want to admit that I can hear everything they’re saying, so I keep plucking trash from the weeds, keeping a safe enough distance to not be too suspicious.

“Well, my brother says that Eva has a no jocks rule, so that doesn’t exactly win Rob any points,” Brian retorts petulantly. His older brother would know all about my rule. He’s asked me out no less than ten times so far this year. I’ve turned him down every single time since he’s a junior on the football team.

“Yeah? Well, my brother says that she’s off limits, and every senior knows it ever since that conference last year…” Trey Barnes doesn’t even get the rest of the sentence out before Rob loses his shit.