BET

Chapter Sixteen

Kasia

I step out of my car, shutting the door behind me and squinting up at the bright lights that illuminate the football field in front of me. With a deep sigh, I walk forward, past the gates that are now propped open and lead to the field.

    I told my friends I would meet them here, so once I am inside the gates, I glance around the sea of people that are walking around and already littered through the bleachers. I don't spot Evelyn or Juliette anywhere at first, unable to make out their faces amongst the hundreds of others around me.

    I do see the team on the field, stretching and practicing in preparation for the game to begin. My eyes scan over the players quickly, but I don't linger on them for long, afraid that I might see any of the three people that I am here for. Instead, I walk towards the bleachers to find a seat.

    "Kasia!" someone calls out as I climb the stairs.

    I look up and see Juliette waving to me from her seat and beckoning me over to where she and Evelyn are. I smile, waving back and climb up the rest of the stairs to get to them.

    "Took you long enough to get here." Evelyn says once I am seated beside them.

    I sigh, glancing out at our view of the field. "That's because I was contemplating not showing up."

    Juliette makes a sad face as she leans forward. "Worried about the guys?"

    "Worried that she won't be able to resist." Evelyn interjects, answering for me.

    Just as she speaks the words, the game seems to begin, the teams walking onto the field together. I don't pretend to know anything about football. It is not even close to the top of the list of things that I am interested in. So my mind is certainly not on the formations that they are making and the calls that the referee shouts throughout the game.

    My thoughts are solely on the names that line the backs of all the jerseys and when I see any of the three that I am familiar with. Griffin, Sutton, and Barlow.

The first quarter of the game isn't very exciting. Both teams struggle to score and I haven't been able to pinpoint any of the guys besides a quick glance before they are merging again and I lose them.

    During the second quarter, the team finally is able to score and as the offense players walk off the field and the defense walks on, I watch some of the players approach the sidelines and remove their helmets. As I scan their faces, I finally see one that I recognize.

    Underneath one of the helmets is a mop of reddish hair that he instantly pushes back from his face when it falls down over his eyes. Henry leans his head back, his mouth falling open as he reaches for a water bottle. He peers up into the bleachers as he tips the bottle back and drinks from it and his eyes seem to find mine in the crowd.

    I don't think anything of it, sure that he is just glancing into the audience of people watching the game and that he hasn't singled me out, but I continue to watch him all the same. He lets the water bottle down, swallowing quickly and then his mouth forms into a smile. He looks like he is about to turn around to face the field again, but before he does, Henry winks.

    I inhale quickly, looking over at my friends and wondering if either of them saw. Their eyes seem to be trained on the defensive players that are on the field and not on the ones standing on the sidelines like mine were. I focus back on the game, a smile making its way onto my face.

    I peer back at the guys on the sidelines a few times throughout the game. One of those times, I manage to spot Simon too. He sits on the edge of one of the benches, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees with his helmet in his hands. He watches the game intensely, barely moving except for his head that turns to follow whatever play is happening on the field.