The Realest Ever - By Keith Thomas Walker Page 0,68

and Donovan was delighted to run into his former football coach.

Coach Jackson was no longer molding bright minds and strong bodies at Finley High, but he never missed their games. He congratulated Donovan for everything from his game winning sack against Rosemont in 1997 to his current coaching success at Western Hills. It took Donovan nearly ten minutes to end the conversation.

“Sorry about that,” he said, chuckling, as he and Kyra continued their moonlit promenade.

“That man loves you to death,” she said. She was just as proud of him. Donovan was proof that you don’t have to make a million dollars or invent the next iPhone to have an impact on people’s lives. He was a hometown hero.

“It was hard for me to keep my mind on what Coach Jackson was saying, with you over there popping those Now & Later’s,” he told her.

Kyra gave him a curious look. Donovan grinned at her as he sipped his soda.

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean what do I mean. You know good and well what I mean.”

Kyra laughed. “Boy, you’re talking in riddles. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t remember the cherry Now & Later’s?”

Kyra shook her head. “I always used to eat these. They’re my favorite. I haven’t had any in over a year.”

“I’m talking about that day,” Donovan said. “Our kiss. You were eating cherry Now & Later’s.”

Kyra thought she remembered every second of that day, but she didn’t remember that. “I used to eat them all the time,” she said. “What about it?”

“I tasted it,” Donovan said. “When I kissed you.”

Kyra grinned mischievously as she realized what he was saying. Oh. “You remember what my tongue tastes like?”

Donovan stared at her beautiful lips as she spoke. Her tongue was completely red because of the candy.

“Kyra, I’ve dreamt of that taste, of your mouth, those red lips. You shouldn’t have ate that candy. I’m having all kinds of flashbacks. You don’t know what it’s doing to me.”

Damn. And Donovan didn’t know what he was doing to Kyra! The look in his eyes had her heart racing again. But they already talked about this. Donovan said he didn’t want to cross the threshold. She didn’t think a pack of candy could change that.

“Come on,” he said. Donovan dropped one of the sodas he was carrying and grabbed her hand. He began to move so fast Kyra lost hold of her pickle. She looked back at it as it rolled into the ice from Donovan’s spilled soda.

“What’s wrong? Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Donovan’s pace increased as he moved deftly around the pillars and concession stands at the stadium. Kyra thought he was in a rush to get back to their seats, but Donovan hurried past the corridor that led to the stairway. He stopped when they reached a locked gate. But it wasn’t locked. The chains were draped through both sides to make it appear impassible, but Donovan pulled the chains free, and the gate swung open.

Kyra couldn’t have been more perplexed. “What are you doing?”

“Come on,” he urged. He tossed his other soda and their popcorn in a nearby receptacle before he slipped inside the gate.

Kyra followed with butterflies flittering in her stomach. What in the world?

Once inside, Donovan draped the chains over the lock, like it was when they found it. He took Kyra’s hand again and led her deeper into the underbelly of the stadium.

Kyra noticed the bright lights above didn’t fully permeate this secluded area. But the noise from the crowd was just as loud. In fact, it sounded like they were right in the midst of it. Soon there was grass and gravel beneath their feet rather than concrete. There were discarded cups and food wrappers almost everywhere. Kyra looked up and saw slits of light shining through long metal planks. She looked closer and saw an assortment of shoes that still had legs attached to them. A lot of the feet were moving.

Oh my God, he took me under the bleachers!

Donovan finally came to a stop when he reached a large pillar. He turned and faced Kyra. He took her by the shoulders and turned her around. He backed her against the pillar and let her go. The bells on Kyra’s mum jingled in the darkness. Her breaths were hurried.

“What are we doing here?”

“Are you scared?” Donovan asked.

“No. Not with you.” Kyra’s eyes were wide. Her breasts rose and fell. It was hypnotizing, that lush caramel colored cleavage. Donovan took a step