When Football is Life

Chapter 8: Miami vs Duke

On the ride to the airport the next morning, I sat beside Ethan, both of us had our earphones in. He poked me to get me out of my music zone. I took an ear bud out to show him I was listening. 

"I've thought it over," he started. "and I give you permission to sit next to Brett on the plane ride to Duke."

"I needed permission?" I joked. 

"Al, don't laugh," Ethan chuckled. "we always traveled together, but now your boo is one of us, I'll let you be with him. Don't get used to it."

"Okay..." I said slowly as I put my ear bud back in. 

As we boarded the plane, I found my seat next Brett. 

"Hey, babe." he smiled when I sat down. 

"Hey," I sighed as he kissed my cheek. "this feels weird."

"What? My kiss?" He asked. 

"No," I chuckled. "not sitting with Ethan. But he gave me 'permission' to sit with you this time." 

"Yeah, y'all are definitely best friends." He laughed. 

"I know." I smiled as Brett grabbed my hand. 

"So, tell me something," Brett said as he took out his playbook. "are we expected to lose or win against these Blue Devils?"

"We are expected to win," I said. "all these dudes are a bunch of wannabe doctors." I said as the pilot prepared us for take-off. 

"Good." Brett smiled. 

"Do you always carry your playbook around?" I asked, taking the playbook from him and setting it in my lap and looking through it. 

"Ever since I was placed in first string, I have," Brett answered. "I take football very seriously."

"You sound like my dad," I laughed. "he took it so seriously that he didn't care that I came home all scratched up from playing tackle football everyday."

"Me and him would get along well." Brett smiled, taking the playbook from me. 

"My brothers, too," I added. I looked at my watch for the time. "it's time for my nap." I said, resting my head on his shoulder. 

When we reached the hotel, George handed my room key to me. "Thanks, George." I smiled and headed to the elevator with Ethan and the guys. 

"Did you bring the chessboard?" He asked me. 

"Of course." I smiled. 

"Guess who I'm rooming with?" He winked. 

"You know I suck at guessing." I sighed as we got into the elevator. 

"Brett." Ethan laughed. 

"That makes sense, because Pete used to room with you," I said. "good quarterback and running-back bonding."

"Don't be sucking face when you're supposed to be helping me with my pregame ritual." Ethan warned. 

"I've never been like that and you know that." I said as the elevator reached my floor. 

"My room at eleven, Al." Ethan said as I exited the elevator. 

"Checkmate!" Ethan yelled as he won his third chess match that night. "Ya know, I'm not gonna let you win just because your boyfriend is in the room." 

"Shit," I laughed. "I would lose even if you tried to let me win." 

Brett was on his bed studying the playbook and looked pretty annoyed with the noises Ethan and I were making.