Waiting on Forever (10 page)

The score is still zero, zero at the half. I have witnessed Matt tackled, manhandled, and pile drived over and over. My stomach has dropped at least a zillion times and I’m wondering if getting a hotdog like I planned is such a great idea.

“Coming?” Summer asks after the team makes their way back down the tunnel to the locker room.

“Yeah,” I respond, following behind her and Collin to the concession stand below. Afraid to lose them, I grip the back of Summer’s shirt as we weave in and out of the swarm of people.

“Leah!” I hear a familiar bubbly voice shout from behind me.

Closing my eyes, I realize I was just caught. I take a deep breath, knowing that the detailed story that I bypassed earlier is not going to be avoidable now.

“Team Jacobs?” Kayla says with big eyes when I turn around.

Yup, here it comes!

“Please tell me you’re screwing Matthew Jacobs?” she shouts without a care in the world for who can hear her.

Looking around, I check to see if she’s welcomed any added drama to my life and provided the entire student body with the million dollar question of who Matthew Jacobs is now screwing.

“Um, no. I’m not screwing Matthew Jacobs,” I answer in a more appropriate tone.

“Don’t you lie to me, Leah Bennett. You’re wearing a team Jacobs shirt. Only girls lucky enough to get in their pants gets those shirts.”

“Sorry to break it to you, but I’ve yet to get in his pants,” I respond, matter-of-factly.

Yikes! That didn’t come out right.

“Yet? Does this mean you will? Are you guys flippin’ together?” And here it is, twenty-one questions.

“Kayla, I promise you I’ll fill you in at home, but I’m not gettin’ into it right now,” I promise her with a smile.

“So you are?” she continues with a huge grin.

Letting out a chuckle because honestly, it’s hard not to laugh when talking to her, I say, “Yes, Kayla. Matthew Jacobs is my boyfriend.”

“Oh my frickin god. This is insane. I
totally
underestimated you!” she practically cheers.

“Okay,” I laugh. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Oh my god, I’m so excited for you. My frickin roommate is dating Matthew Jacobs! Squee!”

“Bye, Kayla,” I say as I walk away, ignoring her ridiculously annoying high pitched excitement.

Rolling my eyes, I spot Collin and Summer in line at the concession stand and I push through the crowd to meet up with them.

“Sorry, my roommate,” I briefly explain.

“Sorority girl, huh? Lucky you,” Summer says sarcastically.

“Pledgee,” I add.

“Ugh, even better,” she laughs.

“Yeah, tell me about it. Last week she came home at two in the morning covered in BBQ sauce, Rice Krispies, chocolate syrup, and powdered sugar,” I continue in an annoyed tone.

“What? Why?”

“I have no frickin clue. Something about having to be ready whenever and wherever and as long as it doesn’t cause any harm to their body they have to do
anything
their
sisters
tell them to do if they want to be sworn in,” I explain, rolling my eyes. “It’s seriously the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I’ve never understood sororities. On top of doing all this stuff to get in, you’ve also got to pay all these dues and fees. You’re basically paying for friends to treat you like crap before bringing you into their cult. Doesn’t make sense,” Summer says, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Can I just say that I’m so happy you’re not one of them,” I admit to Summer. “I had it in my head that you were going to be another Kayla, and I wanted to tear my eyes out, thinking about having to spend the whole day with someone like that.”

“Oh my god, no! I’d tear my own eyes out,” she jokes.

Without even asking, Collin turns around and passes us each a hotdog and soda.

“Thanks,” I say, taking it from his hands. “How much do I owe ya?”

“Nothing. Matt would have my ass if I let you pay,” he assures me.

“Well, thanks.”

“No problem.” He winks.

With only a couple minutes left in halftime, we make our way back to our seats to catch the last of the cheerleading routine. I notice Collin’s face cringe when he sees them out on the field and he does everything in his power not to watch. Obviously, Summer picks up on my confusion because she whispers to me, “His ex was just in a wicked bad cheerleading accident two weeks ago…still fresh in his head.”

“He was with her?”

“All the guys were home for the homecoming game, and she was there cheering,” Summer explains.

“Is she okay?”

“I think so. Collin has talked to her a few times online, and she said she’s doing better,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.

“So they’re friends?”

“Yeah, now they are. She’s got a serious boyfriend.”

Huh? Interesting.

Soon after the cheerleaders exit the field, the football team returns. Keeping my eyes on Matt, he shoots me a smile and a wink before taking a seat on the bench. No matter how many times he does it, I have the same reaction–pounding heart and a pile of emotional mush.

Noticing our little exchange, Summer smiles at me and nudges my arm. I smile to myself as I get a feeling of fulfillment throughout my body. Not only have I never had a boyfriend, especially one as hot as Matt, but I’ve never had
real
friends before. For the first time in my life I can say that I’m truly happy.

This is good. It feels
really
good.

Ten seconds left in the game and we are down by four. We’ve just got a first down and are only a few short yards away from the end zone. My nails are completely chewed off and I’m on the edge of my seat. To say that my first football game is intense is an understatement. Never have I ever been so into a football game! But sitting here and rooting Matt on, I can’t help but be all in.

Judging from the previous plays, I have a feeling that the ball is going to be thrown to Matt. After the snap, I see Matt running towards the end zone looking back over his shoulder and watching the ball flying in his direction. Telling myself that this is just too much, I close my eyes and cross every single finger and toe that he catches it.

“Don’t close your eyes!” Summer shouts next to me, instantly making me open them. Just as I focus in on Matt, again, the ball falls right into his hands.

Touchdown!

Overwhelmed with excitement, we all jump out of our seats. Summer and I hug each other, jumping up and down like idiots. Turning back towards Matt, I watch as he takes his helmet off and says something to the sky, like he’s thanking the heavens above. Then taking me by surprise, he looks in my direction, kisses his fingers and points them to me. Feeling a rush of emotion, my heart jumps from chest and I have this sudden urge to cry.

Why am I crying?

Summer wraps her arm around my shoulder, squeezing me into her side. “It’s an awesome feeling, isn’t it?” she says, resting her head against mine.

Afraid that I’d burst out in an embarrassing sob, I decide to only respond by nodding my head in agreement. She is completely right in every way.

The way I feel right now, so full of emotion and happiness, is nothing short of amazing.

Chapter 13

Given our VIP status, we’re allowed to go down and wait outside the locker rooms for the players to get dressed and exit. Similar to the nerves I get on the first day of school, I feel eager and nervous as I stare at the red doors and wait for them to open. There’s a million conversations going on around me and it is so loud that I can’t even hear myself think, but it’s all white noise to me as I stand there, anxious to see Matt.

Hearing the men’s laughter and talking getting closer, everyone crowds closer to the doors to watch as they swing open with all the players smiling on the other side. Standing only five foot tall, I’m immediately lost in the middle of the crowd with no chance of being found.

Just as I’m about to pout like a pitiful dumbass, Summer pulls my arm and jerks me forward. “Come on!”

Ducking behind Summer, she weaves in and out of people with ease like she does this every day. Realizing that we’ve finally pushed through everyone, I look up and I’m greeted by Matt’s beautiful face. Without even thinking I run and jump into his arms, giving him a huge celebratory hug and kiss. Holding me tight in his embrace, my feet dangle at least a foot off the ground as we kiss long and hard, not caring who can see us. Even though it’s been less than twenty-four hours since my lips have last touched his, it feels like days and I just can’t get enough.

Finally deciding that I’m probably going to need some air within the next couple of seconds to avoid passing out, I remove my mouth from his and whisper, “Congratulations,” against his lips.

“Thanks, Babe,” he whispers back with the most adorable grin before pecking my lips again.

After placing me back on the ground, Matt and Collin do their little handshake and Summer gives Matt a congratulatory hug.

“Dude, that was a crazy fuckin’ game,” Collin says to Matt.

“Yeah, no shit. Nothin’ like coming down to that last second.”

“They were pushin’ hard on the QB in the second half. He was so f’in close to being sacked that last play.”

Listening to them carry on about football and watching the enthusiasm as they talk, I’d think they were brothers rather than best friends. You can tell they go way back and now, knowing that Matt’s childhood wasn’t the easiest, it warms my heart that Matt at least had Collin always by his side.

“So, are we gonna just stand in the hallway all night and talk about football, or are we gonna actually celebrate?” Summer chimes in.

They both turn and look at us, completely clueless as to how long they’ve been standing there chatting it up.

“Uh, sorry ladies,” Matt says with a smile. “I don’t know about you guys, but I could use a beer or two or three.”

Apparently celebrating is on everyone’s minds because all I can see is a mass amount of people pouring in and out of Matt’s house when we pull in. My eyes bulge open. I was completely not expecting this when we returned.

“Yeah, kind of figured this was gonna happen,” Matt admits, squeezing my hand as he pulls me up the stairs of the front porch.

“Yeah, buddy. MJ is in the house!” one guy shouts, seeing us walk through the door. The whole house gets ridiculously loud, excited to see the MVP of the game.

Feeling like it just got ten times more crowded in here, Matt pulls me in closer to his side as we make our way towards the back of the house. Going down a dark hallway past the kitchen, Matt opens the door to what looks like the garage.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he winks as he turns on the light.

At the bottom of the stairs, to the left, is another refrigerator with a lock on it. Pulling his key ring out of his back pocket, he unlocks the door and shows me a whole other stock of beer and food.

“Your own private stash of non-shitty beer,” he says, holding out his arm and presenting it to me.

“Are you kidding me?” I ask with complete shock, especially since it was so late when he got home last night. “Thank you,” I add, wrapping my arms around his waist.