Clarity

03

Dean.

"Dean?" Riley calls out, stepping forward as her eyes trace over the surroundings behind me, "I didn't mean to intrude."

I didn't anticipate seeing her again this soon. But I'm not complaining. Not when it's this girl.

It was pure luck that she chose to travel to a new coffee shop, and then that we got given each other's order. I took advantage of the situation and addressed myself.

That coffee shop is my pre-game ritual-well, getting hot chocolate with marshmallows is. It was the initial gift my parents gave me before the earliest football game I can recall. And since then, it's been a tradition. I feel as if I won't perform as well if I don't consume the beverage.

"That's okay. I'm the only one in here." I assure, reaching for one of the many energy drinks off the bar parallel to my body.

Blue raspberry. My go-to flavor after any game.

Following any tedious football game, I'm entirely worn out from head to toe. I'm either calling heads or tails before the coin flip or throwing the ball forward.

Being the quarterback and team captain in one requires me to balance the tactical aspects as well as the leadership duties on the field.

It's a difficult role to fill. Especially while balancing class work and a social life.

I'm not very sociable. But I make an effort to interact with the people around me, especially my teammates. They're like my brothers.

A moment of silence passes between the room, her fingers trailing over the gold jewelry layering around her neck, "You're not bad on the field."

I scoff, grinning after I take a mouthful of the tart, caffeinated beverage, "Not bad, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."

She shrugs, rolling her moonlit eyes underneath her lengthy eyelashes as she teases, "Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't."

God, her eyes.

"What brought you here? Just to compliment my game?" I wonder, smirking while observing as she structures an answer.

Riley is breathtaking. Between her hickory, brown hair, the muted freckles trailing over her face, and the whiteness of her teeth as she smiles, she's a beacon to be reckoned with.

She models the sort of beauty that once you witness it, you can't ignore it. It'll linger in your mind for longer than anticipated.

"I saw what happened out there." She comments, nudging her shoulder backward, hinting at the altercation with Carter on the field.

Between his possible transfer and the situation with Sienna, I'm his biggest critic.

"Not my best moment. But he's a prick." I sigh, shrugging at the mention of the dude. I step over to the lengthy mirror, attempting to brush through my hair with my fingers.

Riley peers out from behind me, glancing at my actions through the mirror as she wonders, "What did he do this time?"

"This time?" I question with raised eyebrows, but she doesn't notice as I sense her vision tracing my body. She pauses, seeming disappointed by the words about to exit her glossy lips, "Carter is my ex-boyfriend."