Big Shot | ✓

20 | effortless charm

A week had gone by since Reid and I had slept together, and somehow it felt like both no time had passed and several years had passed. I tried to tell myself it hadn't changed anything between us, but I knew the way we now held each other's gaze across the practice field was anything but the same as it was. He'd give me a quick wink, then look away and smirk to himself, like neither one of us could believe he'd just done that. I almost liked it.

When he'd walk by me in practice I found myself inadvertently holding my breath, afraid to make a sound or a sudden movement in the way that sudden movement attracts the attention of apex predators. I was afraid that sudden movement would attract unwanted attention to my aching, lusting heart.

Thankfully the team was too wrapped up in preparations for the opening game against Georgia, and with five days left until we all made the 40 minute bus ride to Atlanta, I'd barely seen him beyond the hedges.

I'd submitted our first article for final approval by the ESPN staff, but it wouldn't be going up until the day before the game. I wasn't nervous about it, despite the fact that in the moments (hours, if we're splitting hairs) before sending it off to my ESPN contact I read and reread it no less than 533 times.

I'd become overly sensitive to everything Reid-related seemingly overnight. It wasn't that I hadn't wanted the article to be perfect before, but now I wanted it perfect for more than just my own sake.

The universe must have felt my internal tug-of-war, because as I was leaving the media offices after uploading practice content in preparation for some hype videos leading up to the game, JJ was on his way out of the film rooms. JJ normally greeted me (and everyone, I assumed) with the enthusiasm of someone you saw once a year instead of every single day.

But not today.

"Oh, hey." He gave me a quick head nod as our paths conjoined on the way out of the complex.

"Doing a little extra film study?" I asked him, tilting my head back towards the hallway.

He nodded again, his expression far more contemplative than I was used to seeing from him. "Working on a few bubble screens and stuff. Coach Nix thinks we're gonna have to rely on the short pass game for Saturday."

"No moon shots for the Archer, huh?" I threw in a chuckle, hoping it might get one out of JJ.

JJ scoffed. "Not unless he wants it returned for six in the other direction."

We walked mostly in stride out of the complex, the late afternoon sun still throwing off hellish levels of heat and glare. JJ lingered, and so did I.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, squinting up at him.

JJ pursed his lips as he slipped on his Ray Bans. "Okay look Jo, I'm not asking you to betray girl code or whatever, but like...did Kayla tell you?"

I arched an eyebrow. "Did Kayla tell me what?"

"We're not...hooking up, or hanging out anymore, or...whatever." JJ paused and blew out a sigh. He was like Reid - gently bouncing on his toes, his arms swaying, like their energy flow was just so intense it couldn't bear to have them stand still. "I just...I figured..."

"No, she didn't." I shook my head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry." JJ shrugged. "I mean it sucks, but her job's important to her. I know that. I get that."

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, letting him know if he wanted to say anything else, my feet would be planted. Kayla was my friend, but so was JJ, and I just wanted to understand.

"So this is...the potential conflict of interest because she works for the ACC network, and you're a standout on an ACC football team," I confirmed, suddenly aware of the wariness in my voice.