We get in Landon's car and he drives us around aimlessly.
"Tell me more about yourself," He asks.
"How about you tell me about yourself," I challenge with a smile.
"What would you like to know?"
"Siblings?
"I have a younger sister, Luna. She's sixteen and the most spoiled thing ever." He grins, deep green eyes sparkling.
I try to keep my face cool, "Are you guys close?"
"Depends," he laughs, "We were terrible when we were kids. Man did she get on my nerves. I could kill her sometimes but I'd kill for her any day."
"Parents?" I quiz.
"Alive and divorced. Dad cheated and got himself a new family with his mistress. He's in the oil business and my mom works for Gucci."
My mouth drops open, "You're kidding!"
He chuckles, "I'm not. She's the president of marketing and management. Course Luna loves all the clothes and shoes and belts,"
"Okay I could not be more jealous." I state.
He scoffs, "You, jealous?"
"What?" I frown.
He shook his head, "It's just, you seem to have it all."
"Key word, seem." I say, thinking of my huge blowout with Drill.
Landon reaches over and grabs my hand, "What's missing from your life, Avery?"
He pulls into a park and we get out and walk across the lush green field.
We lay side by side and stare up at the stars before I answer, "I can't really answer that, Landon."
The fresh night air brushes against my heated skin. I have always felt something was missing from my life. For a while I thought it was football, but playing it for years now, I've learned that's not it. Can't be my cold mother's affection because she is slowly unbecoming who she used to be. Maybe my friends? No, can't be them. It's not Duke either.
"I have a loving family, amazing friends most aren't lucky enough to have. I'm fulfilling my dreams of college and football and stuff but I don't know. I have everything I could ever want, so why do I feel empty sometimes?" I hadn't realized tears streak the sides of my temples.
Landon's thumb wipes them away as he rolls over, "When you seemingly have everything, what's there left to have, to want, to need."
His hand cups my face and I stare into his beautiful eyes, noting how he smelled of vanilla soap and peppermint.
"Maybe, I need a purpose again," I say slowly.
He grins, "Oh yeah? Such as?"
I shrug, "Well, I get so many letters from people across the globe and I have such a huge social media platform. Maybe I could use those to help others."
"Like become a Youtuber or something?"
"Or something," I repeat, smiling. "I wanna be an advocate for people. I want to help and make a difference in someone's life. But also continue my football career."
"Well, girl, whatever you decide, I'll stand by you and help in any way I can."
"I have a live interview on Thursday then on Friday I'm going to visit a school where a student wrote a speech about me. Maybe I could record both events." I tap my lip. It doesn't escape me how Landon stares hungrily at my lower lip.
YOU ARE READING
Playing the Field
Teen FictionSEQUEL TO PLAYING THE GAME Highschool is long behind her and now Avery is tackling her second year of college. Here there are new challenges, more haters and extreme amounts of pressure. She plays football openly, is the little starlet of ESPN, ador...