that from his dad. But my dad hadn’t been a rising football star, and although he supported me, supported the team, he also had other things going on that required his attention.
Sometimes, it felt like I was standing at a crossroads: one foot planted firmly in my dreams of football and college and the promise of going all the way to the NFL; the other remaining rooted in real life where dreams didn’t always come true and life wasn’t always fair. And balancing the two… well, it was hard fucking work.
“Yo, Cam, grab an extra bag of chips.” Asher’s voice cut through my thoughts and I stuffed down all my shit and locked it away tight. Because right now I was a Raider, and football and all that came with it, needed to be my priority.
“I’m just saying,” Mackey stood tall, swaying slightly in the middle of our circle of chairs. “Alabama are looking tight this year, and Clemson are looking stronger than ever, but my money is on the Buckeyes.”
A sea of crumpled Solo cups rained down on him as he held up his hands to shield his face. “Come on, Jase, man, help a guy out. Ohio State wanted you, right? What do you think?”
My eyes fell to Jase who was sitting in a chair, legs kicked out in front of him, his eyes slightly glazed from one too many beers. “There’s no denying Ohio are going to be bringing everything they’ve got this year, but it’s not this season I’m interested in, it’s next season. And rumor has it, Penn State have recruited one of the best QB’s in the country.” He smirked. “It’s a motherfucking gamechanger.”
Quiet laughter rippled around the fire pit. “Not that I’m knocking the Nittany Lions, I’m not,” Grady said. “But you do know they haven’t won a national championship since nineteen-eighty-six, right?”
Jase shrugged, arrogance rolling off him. “I heard Deontay Syracuse is going to commit to Penn State. He’s the best DT in the country right now. Together, we’ll be unstoppable.”
Someone let out a low whistle.
“What about Chase? They want you too, right?”
It was my turn to shrug, taking a big swallow of beer. Jase’s eyes slid to mine but he didn’t speak. “I’m still deciding.”
The shrill of Asher’s ring tone pierced the thick silence that had descended over us, and he clambered to his feet. “The entertainment has arrived.” With a shit-eating grin he disappeared while Grady, Mackey, and a few of the other guys began scrutinizing Penn State’s two-thousand-nineteen line up.
When Asher reappeared, his arm was slung around a cute brunette I recognized from the gym team. “Girls, welcome,” he declared. “Make yourself at home. Drinks are in the kitchen.” He swung the girl around and pointed to the house. “Pool’s right over there, feel free to get in. But if you do, you should probably know about the rule.”
“Rule?” one of them asked.
“Yeah, it’s this whole thing my dad has about keeping the water clean.” He fought a smirk. “He prefers it if we all swim naked. Less chemicals.”
“Yeah, but more bodily fluids,” one of the guys howled, and laughter rumbled around us as the girls rolled their eyes, giggling and whispering about Asher’s smooth-talking ways.
But it worked. A couple of them broke away from their friends and started peeling off their clothes. Granted they didn’t get naked, but their tiny bikinis left very little to the imagination.
“Fuck yeah,” Mackey said, jumping up and yanking off his jersey. “Wait for me.” He took a running jump and bombed into the water, sending a shower of spray in the girls’ direction. They threw their heads back, laughing, grabbed each other’s hands and took off after him.
Things quickly escalated from the team hanging out and discussing the upcoming college football season to an all-out party. Asher cranked up the sound system before joining the girls in the pool, and Jenna Jarvis made a beeline for Jason, sliding onto his lap and running her fingers through his hair. He dipped his head, dragging his tongue along her jaw, and she opened up willingly, sucking it into her mouth. No sweet talk, no coercion, or promises of things he would never follow through on. But girls like Jenna were a dime a dozen. They knew what Jason was about and they were still willing to walk into the lion’s den. Just for the chance to say they had their shot at taming him.
I was still watching them out the corner of my eye