Matchmaker (Empire High #4) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,110

and watch.” She squeezed my hand tighter.

I did as I was told. I held my breath as Jefferson swung and his foot made contact with the football. The ball went up into the air, straighter than I had ever seen him hit it before. Higher, higher. A perfect arc. And straight through the uprights.

Kennedy started screaming. She pulled her hand out of mine and threw both of hers up into the air. “Go, Henry!!!”

I started cheering too.

And the whole team joined in. Jumping and cheering, and chanting Jefferson’s name. A few of his teammates hoisted him up on their shoulders.

“Jeff-er-son! Jeff-er-son! Jeff-er-son!”

I felt tears in the corners of my eyes. He did it. He fucking did it!

Kennedy was jumping up and down clapping.

I leaned down and lifted her into my arms, twirling her around as she laughed. She wrapped her legs around my waist. “He did it!” she yelled. “Go, Henry!” She clasped her hands behind my neck, laughing.

“You did it,” I said in awe. “How the hell did you get through to him?” The chants of Jefferson’s name seemed to fade away as I stared at her.

“It’s all about the angles,” Kennedy said. “We figured out what angle he needed to hit it at. He’s really good at geometry.”

“You’re incredible.”

She laughed. “I just used his strengths…”

I kissed her. Not caring that the whole team could see. Not caring that I was standing in the middle of the Empire High football stadium. Not caring that she was supposed to be my friend and only my friend. Kennedy Alcaraz was a rock star. And she deserved to be told that every day. Brooklyn would always be my first love. But that didn’t mean she had to be my last. It didn’t mean I had to be miserable every day. I laughed as Kennedy pulled away to cheer for Jefferson again.

I wanted to be happy with her.

I put her back down on the ground and she grabbed my hand so we could run into the middle of the field to celebrate with the team.

“You okay, Coach?” Smith asked. “Looks like you’re about to cry.”

“Shut it, Smith.” I wasn’t about to cry. I was just…happy. Well, not entirely happy. I didn’t love the way some of the players were ogling Kennedy.

Smith laughed. “There’s no way we won’t go undefeated now. Hell, I’m about to cry too. Go, Jefferson!”

I pulled Smith into a hug. Because for once in his life, it seemed like he’d stopped being an ass. Today was a good day.

“Your girlfriend’s hot,” he said.

Nope, moment over. I blew my whistle. “Great practice everyone!” And this time, I actually meant it. For the first time, every single player was an all-star. “Now get out of here before I change my mind and make you do sprints!” I watched as the players left, Jefferson actually running in the pack for once.

Kennedy started helping me pick up the practice balls.

“You don’t have to help,” I said.

“It’s fine.” She grabbed another ball balancing a pile of them in her arms. “I’m basically a coach now too, don’t you think?”

I laughed as I picked up the last one. “Coach Alcaraz has a nice ring to it, huh?”

“Absolutely.”

We dumped the balls in my equipment bag and I hoisted it over my shoulder. “You know…I don’t actually have an assistant coach.”

“Are you asking me to be your number two?”

I smiled at her as we made our way to the parking lot. “Yes.” I stared at her. Maybe in more ways than one. “I am.”

“It was really fun seeing Henry smile so hard.”

“You know everyone calls him Jefferson, right?”

She shrugged. “I like first names. It’s more personal. Maybe you should give it a try. I might implement first names only as assistant coach.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Watch me. We’ll go undefeated under me.”

“We’re already undefeated.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Don’t let this go to your head, Alcaraz. I’m still the head coach. And you have to respect my authority.”

She laughed as we stopped by my car. “I will never respect your authority. And Alcaraz? Seriously? Don’t call me that.”

“What do you want me to call you?” I stepped forward and she backed up until her ass hit the passenger’s side door.

She didn’t say a word, she just stared at me. But I could tell her mind was racing.

“How about baby?” I suggested. “Or babe? Sugar muffin?”

She’d started smiling halfway through the options.

“No? Sex rocket?”

Now she was full on laughing. “Sex rocket? Who the hell would want to be called that?” She started laughing