Jackson Harrington, a talented college football player grappling with the pressures of his high-profile athletic career and personal life.
Amidst his demanding schedule, Jackson finds himself drawn to Lily Harper, a spirited cheerleader with a pass...
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It had been two days since I was paired with Lily. Today marked the official start of the community program. I decided to check in on the boys and maybe ride with them to Greenfield Community Park.
I drove to the football house, where I had once stayed with my team before my parents decided to give me a place in one of the hotels they owned. At first, it hadn't bothered me, but now I could see how lonely it could get up there.
I parked in front of the building and stepped out of my car. As I entered, I was greeted by some of the guys before I raced upstairs to Ryan's room.
"Next time, knock!" Ryan exclaimed, covering his so-called man boobs.
"It would take the fun out of it," I chuckled. "You ready?" I asked, noting that he was almost done.
"Yeah, Ethan and Tyler will be here in five minutes, then we can go," Ryan replied.
I sat on his bed, waiting for the others to arrive. The door finally swung open, revealing my other two friends. "Yo," Ethan greeted me with a bro handshake, and Tyler followed suit. "Prince Charming is here," Tyler smirked, walking over to greet Ryan.
"So, we're going to be with the girls for four hours straight. Let's make it worth it," Ethan grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking; Ethan's devious side had a way of surfacing. "Bro, let's respect them. They seem really genuine, and you know damn well that Lily will be your in-law one day," Tyler interjected, glancing at me.
"Speaking of Lily, she texted me. The girls are already at the park," I said, checking my phone.
"Guess we should head out," Ryan said, grabbing his things.
We all headed out and climbed into the football van. As more of the team piled into the vehicle, we set off for the park. I couldn't help but scroll through Lily's Instagram for the tenth time this week. "Man, her Instagram is so bright, it's almost blinding," Ethan grumbled, always complaining about how happy Lily looked. Personally, I liked it; it represented her sweet nature.
Eventually, the van stopped by the park. From where I sat, I could see the girls gathered around a round table—some on their phones, some chatting, and a few asleep.
We all got out and walked towards them.
"I hate being late," Emma mocked, casting a glance at Coach Mitchell. He looked ready to say something, but Coach Thompson stepped in. "Emma, you need to respect your elders," Thompson scolded.
"I don't see any elders," Emma retorted, pretending to look around, which drew a few laughs. "Emma!" Thompson's voice was irritated.
Many of the girls had a grudge against Coach Mitchell because of his sexist behavior. Emma had been one of his targets last year, and she'd been giving him attitude ever since. She's feisty, that's for sure.
I scanned the group for Lily and spotted her talking to Macy by the benches. She must have sensed my presence because her blue eyes met mine with a smile. She waved, and my heart raced at the sight of her. I signaled for her and Macy to come over.
