Waiting on the Sidelines

Reed rolled me to his side and held me close, brushing his fingertips over my back and kissing my neck, whispering in my ear. “I love you, Nolan, and I swear to God I always will,” he held me close, and we fell asleep together until the sun rose.

23. And So

XXX OOO

I loved the little texts Reed would send whenever he could from football camp during the first two weeks of summer. It had only been 10 days and I was missing him like crazy. I hated how dependent I had grown on his company, and I worried a little about losing myself in him, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that I thought about him every waking moment of my day.

Buck let me ride with him up north to Flagstaff to visit Reed on his last day of camp. When we pulled in to the practice field, I spotted Reed immediately. He was running through passing drills with a few different coaches. Watching him tuck and run from side to side, slipping tackles and staying on his feet—he was so gifted.

The gaggle of girls who were gathered on the bleachers, gawking at my boyfriend, didn’t go unnoticed either. Despite how much I believed, truly believed, in us, I still felt pangs of jealousy over those girls with confidence that seemed to be lurking around every corner. I was satisfied when they giggled, flipping their hair, and called out to try to get Reed’s attention as he ran off the field to get water. He just gave them a passing glance and smiled, turning right back to his destination. Better yet, he didn’t know I was there witnessing it.

“So, I hear there’s some fancy pants quarterback working out up here. Think he’ll give me an interview?” I said in my best disguised voice behind Reed at the watering station. I must have tricked him a little because he turned around a little irritated, wiping the drips of water from his chin with his arm and looking down. When he realized it was me, he tossed his cup at the recycling bin and pulled me into his arms, kissing me, sweaty workout clothes and all.

“Oh my god, I’ve missed you,” he kissed me and swung me around. “Did you come up with Dad?”

“Yeah, I hitch with the best,” I winked, nodding at his dad, already working the crowd of coaches at the camp. The man was all business.

“Good, you can come to dinner with us then. We get to eat at the stadium club at the college. It’s pretty good food,” he smiled and ran back out to the field to finish up for the day. The bleacher of bimbos shot daggers at me, and I was satisfied.

Reed was right. Dinner was amazing. The kitchen staff cooked for football players, so the cornbread muffins, carvings of meat and gravy was flowing, constantly hot and ready. It was maybe some of the best food I’d ever had.

I sat with Reed and a few of the other quarterbacks working out at the camp. I loved listening to them ‘talk shop.’ It was also amazing to hear how much his peers respected him. It was one thing for our town to know Reed was among the best, but to hear it from the others who were just trying to sit at the table with him? That was telling.

Reed kept his arm around me at the table and held my hand when we walked through the food lines, except when he took my tray. He kept refilling my tea for me and even made me an ice cream sundae. I could tell he missed me, and that made my heart jump for joy.

Leaving that evening was hard, but Buck had to get back and there really wasn’t anywhere for me to spend the night, not that my parents would allow it anyhow. I kept my hand to the cheek that Reed had kissed for nearly the entire first half of the drive home. When we were immersed in the desert finally, I heard my phone chirp and pulled it out to find a text from Reed.

It was sooooo good to see you. I’ve been surrounded by a bunch of sweaty dudes for waaaay too long ;-) I know I’m supposed to stay at my mom’s for two weeks, but maybe I could leave early?

I snuck a text back, hoping Buck didn’t think it was rude. I caught a grin on his face, though, and I knew he approved of Reed and me.

You can’t do that to your mom. We’ll manage. Besides, she hates me enough as it is. Don’t make her hate me more :-p

I was only half joking. The more time had passed between my first meeting with Millie the more I realized the differences between how Buck treated me and how Reed’s mother acted towards me. She was cold, and I couldn’t deny it.

One, she doesn’t hate you. But…you’re right. She’s been looking forward to this. I’ll be able to come see you a few times I’m sure. Maybe you can skate me a MicNic ;-) Love you!

Love you, too!

I tucked my phone in my bag and shut my eyes for the rest of the drive, picturing Reed surprising me at work while I skate up to his window. For the first time ever, I felt like the lucky one.