3

“Yeah, but I didn’t think he’d…”

“What? Choose the trailer trash over Cheer Barbie?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh, I know exactly what you meant, Linds.” Peyton flashed her a saccharine smile. “Happy first day back.”

Ashleigh snorted, but I rolled my eyes. “Peyton,” I said.

“It’s okay, babe. Lindsey was just leaving, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, whatever. Come on,” she said to her friends and they turned and sauntered off.

“Do you have to poke the bear?” I hissed.

“Oh, come on, Lil. She deserved it. Lindsey is a grade A bitch, who, might I add, is only going to get worse now it’s senior year.”

“I wish you wouldn’t encourage her.”

“Peyton’s right,” Ashleigh nodded, “she deserves everything she gets.”

The hall ushered into silence as a group of guys entered the building. Not just any guys.

Rixon East Eagles.

They all wore their red and white jerseys, moving as one. A ripple went through the air as the whispers started, rising like a wave hurtling toward the shore.

“Holy shit, they have balls,” Peyton whispered as we stood and watched the scene unfold.

They passed us and the air seemed to thin, but then our players entered the building, and Jenson Monroe, the captain of the football team, called out, “Yo, Eagles. You seem to have forgotten this isn’t your school.”

The new guys turned, and one pushed to the front, coming face-to-face with Jenson.

Anticipation crackled around us as the two teams went head-to-head in the hall. Ashleigh laced her arm through mine and pulled me close.

“You’re not welcome here,” Jenson said.

“You think I give a shit what you think, Monroe? I’m here to play ball and graduate, that’s all.” The Eagles’ mouthpiece was as tall as Jenson, with the same broad shoulders and muscular arms. His hair was mousey brown streaked through with dark blond, falling in his face a little, but it was his menacing eyes that stood out.

“Okay, okay.” Dad appeared, instantly cooling the situation. “Football players, locker room, now.” His hard gaze moved past Jenson to the Eagles’ players. “All of you. Everyone else, get to class.”

“Everything okay here?” he asked, his eyes lingering on mine, and I nodded.

“Good. I’m going to deal with this.” He stalked off down the hall, but that’s when I noticed a couple of the players hadn’t moved.

“Problem?” Peyton snapped.

“No problem.” The guy said coolly, and he turned to follow his teammates.

But Peyton stepped forward. “Hey, new guy, what’s your name?” she called after him.

He looked back, but his eyes slid straight past my best friend to me. “Kaiden,” he said. “Kaiden

Thatcher.”

Kaiden MY GUYS WAITED FOR ME, and I led them into the locker room. None of us wanted to be here, in a different school, with a different team. Our rival team, no less. The whole thing was a fucking shitshow, but the damage to Rixon East was too substantial for it to reopen in time for the semester. Which meant playing for another team or watching senior year go up in flames too.

The Raiders were bunched up on one side of the room, making it clear they had no intention of welcoming us with open arms.

“Take a seat, gentlemen.” Coach Ford met my hard gaze and tipped his chin. It wasn’t the first time I’d met him. But it was the first time he’d addressed me directly.

I knew all about Jason Ford, NFL legend and Rixon royalty. But where most people recognized him for his successful career with the Philadelphia Eagles, I knew him for other reasons.

He and my dad went back, way back. Back to when they were in high school. I’d heard the stories. The rival’s week pranks and mayhem. There was no love lost between my old man and my new coach.

None at all.

In fact, my father had petitioned for me to attend one of the other local high schools instead, but I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I wanted Rixon High. Coach Ford was the best, and if I had any hopes of getting a full ride to the college of my choice, I needed to play with the best.

My guys hesitated behind me, unsure of what the fuck they should do.

“I don’t have all day, ladies,” Coach added, and I gave my team a small nod.

They fell into step beside me as we got ourselves situated on the available benches.

“Okay, listen up.” Coach Ford yanked off his ball cap and ran a hand through his dark hair. “This isn’t how I saw the season going, just like how I’m sure it isn’t how you saw the season going, but here we are.

“The reality is, I have too many players and not enough spots. Which means things are going to have to change.”

“That’s bullshit, Coach,” Jenson Monroe shot up, “and you know it.”

“What I know, son, is that this team has a championship to defend. So unless you want to see it slip through our fingers this season, I suggest you sit your ass down and get with the program.

“This is how it’s going to go. You show up to practice, you work hard, you follow my lead, and

I’ll make sure you get time on the field.”

The room exploded with chatter. Monroe’s guys were arguing amongst themselves, outraged that we were coming in trying to steal their positions, while my guys were moaning about being forced to play with a team they hated. But not me and Monroe. We sat quiet, glaring at the other. He was their quarterback. The team’s leader. He was good too. But he wasn’t as good as me. And from the flicker of fear in his eyes, he knew it.