Quarterback Dare

2

Hayden drove for miles. I could feel the night air as he drove on the freeway. It felt an exhilarating feeling that I hadn't thought of or felt in years. But I couldn't help but feel myself thinking about that night. When we finally stopped, it was a parking lot to the beach near Fort Mea. He got off his motorcycle and took off his helmet. He set it on the handle.

He looked at me as if he expected me to do something. His eyes were captivating into mine. I looked at him unknowingly.

"Um—are you going to take a walk or are you going to continue to sit there looking ridiculous?" He said, his lips peirce up a sarcastic smile.

I took off the white helmet and my hair was disheveled into a jumbled mess. The ocean breeze came through my hair in a quick second which made my hair more disheveled. Hayden looked at me and chuckled.

"Pretty hair." He says, sarcastically.

I narrowed my eyes. Hayden started to walk up to the ocean and I tried to catch up but my heels wouldn't let me so I took them off. Hayden stopped walking and looked into the ocean. He had his eyes closed. I look at him and he suddenly says, "All jokes aside, I think we should talk about this."

"I think we should, Mr. Anderson," I said.

He looked at me and a genuine smile bored on his face. "I don't skip off on a dare, Ms. Matthews...especially my best friend's wife. She's a real big thorn in my side sometimes." He smiled awkwardly.

"So, you and Myles are best friends?" I asked.

He put on a gentle smile. "Yeah."

I nodded. "So what does this mean for us?"

He put his shoulders to his head. "I don't know."

"I think we should make people think we're dating but we're not actually—"

"Whoa. Whoa. And what would you be getting from this?" He asked, suspiciously. "If you just want a good social eye because of me I'd rather not."

I looked at Hayden. "I have my motives."

He looks at me even deeper. "So this is not about the public eye?"

I gave myself a fake choke-out. Hayden snickered a little. He leaned against the gazebo pole. He continued to look deep into my green eyes.

"I couldn't give a flying fuck about the public," I said. "My ex. He broke my heart. He's stalking me almost every day, sending me love letters. But if I had a 'boyfriend' we could make him think we're together."

"Your ex is a crazy stalker?" Hayden asked.

"Yes. He and I go back to seventh grade." I said. "You would give me the protection I need from him."

His eyes continued to bore into mine. I looked at him giving him knowledge that I'm not joking about this. He simply nods and smiles.

"But if we do this. I think there should be ground rules." I said, breaking our eye contact.

"Of course." He said.

"You have to be one hundred percent less grumpy when we're together and especially when we're with the team." I pause. I looked at him thoughtfully.

"Duly noted."

"Oh, yes. We have to spend one day of the week to be with one another to make this believable."

He nodded in agreement happily. "Fridays would work with me. Anything else?"

"Oh yeah. One last thing. No sex."

Hayden looked pained but he simply said, "Okay, no sex."

"I'm sorry if you thought we were going to—"

Hayden scowled at me. His body leaned up towards mine so he was towering over me. He's inches away. His expression softened. He's looking at me. "You think we're just doing this so I can have sex with you, Lily? I'm a grouchy ass but not that big of an ass."

I looked at Hayden embarrassed. "You're right. Sorry."

"So, we're doing this?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Can I add my own rules?" He asks.

I nodded again. Hayden looked at me observably. His looks are very different every time he looks at me, but his eyes bored into mine every time.

"The NFL Quarterback awards are coming up. You should be my date for it. You should come to the games and practices so it's believable." He paused. "And we have a yearly camping trip. You should come for that as well." He continued.

I thought about it. I don't do fancy parties. I certainly don't camp. But this needs to be believable. And to that, I said, "Okay." I put my hand to him so he could shake it but he smirked arrogantly.

"Okay, girlfriend." He said, shaking my hand.

Hayden walked over to the ocean and looked at the dark sky ahead of us. "I should be getting home. Do you need a ride home?"

"I can take the bus or—"

I see Hayden looking at me. "If you want to Mr. Anderson."

Hayden crossed his arms to his chest and stood there looking at me annoyed. "Okay. The formality has to stop. It's Hayden."

I nodded. We walked up to Hayden's motorcycle. He put his helmet on and got on. I put the helmet on and grabbed onto him. Tighter when he drove away.

The night air felt so light on my skin. It felt so cold but warm at the same time.

"What's your address?" He asked.

"1245 West Street," I said.

After he drove me back home he looked at my house and took off his helmet so he could look at me. I saw that he wanted to say something so I took off the helmet and got off the motorcycle. Hayden's gaze never left me.

"You're the daughter of the General of the Army?" He asked, looking at a stake and saying "General Matthews"

I looked at my house then at Hayden. "Yes. Is that a problem?"

Hayden looked at my house and shook his head. "No, it isn't. I just didn't know you were that Matthews."

I looked at him gazing at him. His beautiful facial features. His eyes darted from my house to me. He smiled at me genuinely. I grinned at him.

"Well, goodnight...Hayden." I said, walking towards my front door.

"Wait, Lily." He exclaimed. I turned around and looked at him intrigued. He sighed deeply and said, "The team is having a beach day tomorrow. Do you want to come?"

I blinked a few times. "Of course. When?"

He gave me a sly smile. "I'll text you."

"How? You don't have my number." I asked, crossing my arms to my chest.

"I have my sources." He said, getting on his motorcycle and putting on his helmet.

"Good night." I waved.