Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Hanging out with the team,” I told her, watching her face drop. She would get over it and get under some other guy. “It was cool seeing you again, but I gotta go. Coach wants to talk to me.”
Before Nicole could reply, I turned and headed over to Coach Jacobson just as the person he was talking to was leaving.
“Coach!” I called out.
Coach Jacobson turned and nodded to me with that usual serious look on his face. He was stout with thinning, black hair and prominent wrinkles on his forehead from glaring too much.
“Reid,” he greeted me, his voice naturally sounding like a huff. “Getting some gym time in?”
I nodded as I adjusted the strap of my workout, straightening my posture.
“Six times a week,” I said. Maybe I was bordering on overkill, since I also had to balance my responsibilities as a business major, but I felt the best when I was doing something physical. Sitting in a classroom and learning about business plans and practices made me want to drive my head through the wall, but I had to learn something. Besides, business was the major that my parents would have no issue with, so it was an easy choice for me.
“I’m sure your father would be happy to hear that you’re taking your athletic career so seriously,” Coach Jacobson stated.
Coach Jacobson was a good friend of my dad’s. I got on the team because of my skill as a player, but I wished that they weren’t so close so that people didn’t assume I was only on the team because of my dad’s relationship with the coach. Sure, I was given a lot in my life, but I worked my ass off to make the team.
That was why people already knew me around campus. That was why my name was already in the local media, predicting that I was going to lead my team to victory based off my success in other leagues. Money couldn’t buy athletic skill. All of that was me.
“I’m not going to let him down,” I replied, my eyes narrowing in a determined manner. Pleasing my family was just an added bonus, but I wanted to do well for myself. There was nothing more rewarding than seeing all of my hard work being paid off at the end of a long, tough season.
I chose that feeling over anything else.
Over any girl. Any experience.
Coach Jacobson patted me on the shoulder.
“I don’t doubt that, kid,” he said. “See you at practice.”
I watched him walk off to his office, adrenaline surging through me. I almost wanted to go back into the gym, itching to condition myself even just a little bit more. The thought of sitting in my dorm and doing homework made a dark cloud roll over my head, dampening the spirit that even being in this building gave me.
If I was honest, I didn’t even care about school, but I got good grades to keep my parents happy. I supposed if I wanted to stay here and keep playing, I had to do my homework. And do well on my tests. And participate in class…
I let out a sigh as I walked out of the athletic building only to be greeted by a light shower of rain that sent students hurrying to their classes. With a grimace, I lowered my head and stepped out from under the awning into the rain, my white sneakers hitting the wet concrete. I approached a small set of stairs that led up to the main sidewalk, my eyes shifting up to see a girl with dark brown hair hurrying down the steps.
Our eyes locked for a brief second before she gasped and slipped on one of the stairs, her hand flying out to try to grab the railing.
I was faster. I lunged forward and wrapped an arm around her, anchoring her to my chest and helping her get steady.
“You okay?” I asked as rain continued to fall on us, glistening drops trailing along her smooth skin.
Now that I got a better look at her, I realized that she was downright gorgeous. Full lips. Green eyes. A faint dash of freckles across her cheeks. Beneath my hand, I could feel her toned, slim figure. Obviously athletic, which wasn’t some guy’s cup of tea, but it definitely appealed to me.
It seemed like she was on the way to the athletic building, but I didn’t recognize her.
She nodded and stood up straight, running her fingers through her hair with a meek look on her face.
“Yeah, I guess that’s what I get for running in the rain,” she said with a light laugh.
I cracked a smile.
“Where are you going in a hurry?” I asked her. Maybe she was another soccer player or something. She had nice legs too from what I could see under her black leggings. She was dressed fairly casually with a university t-shirt and black sneakers as well.