Waiting For You - Gianna Gabriela Page 0,1
what Mom said about athletes,” I start, knowing my sister knows exactly where I’m going with this makes me smile.
She rolls her eyes. “It’s not like I even know any of them. We haven’t even started!” she says defensively. “They won’t even be there until later in the semester,” she adds.
“Still, what does she always say?” I press, enjoying this way too much.
“Gotta stay away from them,” she repeats my mother’s words begrudgingly.
I clap, knowing it’ll annoy her even more. “Good job! Now don’t forget that warning now that you’ll be cheering for them,” I tell her.
She shakes her head and walks right out the door without saying another word. The moment the door slams shut I burst out laughing.
I’m about to grab the remote when my phone buzzes with an incoming message. I unlock the phone and find that the guy my sister swiped on has already sent me a message. I open it before I even have a chance to look at his picture.
Him: So, what brings you here?
NICK HUNTER
April
I sit on the couch of this full ass house watching my brothers with pride. Watching the day their hard work pays off.
I can’t help but feel jealous and a little sad, which is selfish, but it is what it is. I’m jealous that my dad made college graduation a requirement and so I couldn’t apply and be drafted alongside them. Sad that I’ll no longer be sharing a house with these guys, even though they were a pain most of the time. The truth is that college is really all we had; we may never live in the same state at the same time ever again. And that disappoints me, more than I thought it would.
I look around and see the way they sit nervously in the living room with their eyes fixed on the TV, waiting for the draft to begin, for their names to be called. My attention focuses on three guys specifically. My brother, Colton. His best friend, Chase. And my best friend, Zack. I can’t believe they’ll all be gone and I’ll still be stuck here on my own. I turn my attention to where Jesse and Zoe are, oddly enough talking to my dad and the other parents. I can’t believe Jesse is leaving the team. Though I guess his goal isn’t the NFL, it’s to be a doctor and he needs to focus on that now that he’s getting ready to go into his final year of undergrad.
It’ll be a team core rebuild, basically, and I’ll be the glue keeping it all together. Coach informed me that I was Captain and that now that my brother is leaving, I’m responsible for the Football House too, replacing one Hunter with another.
“Are you guys ready?!” Zack shouts just as the Commissioner walks toward the podium to welcome everyone to the draft. No one answers his question and I bet it’s because everyone is on the edge of their seats. Anticipation is killing them. I mean, all you’ve worked for as a football player comes down to this moment. Even the guys not getting drafted tonight, like me and Jesse, know the importance of this.
After a few minutes, the Cincinnati Bengals, who have the first pick, are finally on the clock. I sit there with a beer in my hand and look around the room. I take it all in one last time before things change. Because they will change, it’s inevitable.
I watch my brother, the guy I’ve looked up to my entire life, though I’d never tell him that. Even though he’s first pick material, he’s sitting here at the Football House with his family and friends, choosing us over a bunch of strangers, though that doesn’t surprise me. The Colton graduating looks nothing like the Colton who started at Bragan. We used to be more alike back then but people grow up. I look at the way he holds Mia’s hand. I can’t believe those two are getting married soon. Even though I miss the old Colton, I’m happy for the new one. He’s less miserable now and I have Mia to thank for that.
My eyes travel to Chase, who sits mere inches from Mia and Colton. He’s sitting next to a random brunette. I’ve never seen her before, but I don’t miss the way she tries to get his attention while he just focuses on the TV. I don’t even know why girls try to be around him; he never gives them