Fair Catch

by Kandi Steiner

I didn’t care if I’d hurt his feelings. He’d hurt me and my entire family far more than that.

“All this means is that you learn a little differently than other kids,” he added.

Mom chimed in. “And you’ll get extra time on your tests now so you can take more time to read and understand what you’re being tested on.”

one day, you’re going to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft.

Who cares if you can’t read a book in a day, or that you don’t have an A in history class?”

They went from supporting me as a kid playing football for fun, to drilling me like the NFL player they already knew I would be one day.

I wasn’t the star student. I was the star athlete. And today, I’d remind myself why that was enough.

His biceps bulged where his jersey cut into the flesh,

the crisp white contrasted against his black skin.

You were already planning to fail tonight,

life has taught you that any time things are going great,

the other shoe will drop and everything will crash...

“When you’re performing well, you’re happy and amazing.

even the tiniest bit, you feel worthless and like an imposter.”

“So… you help me on the field,

I help you with schoolwork,” she finally said.

he inhaled that next kiss like a man who’d been underwater for years and I was the surface.

he kissed me harder, like he didn’t know if he wanted to choke me or worship me.

this was Zeke unraveling me with every touch.

Zeke, my brother’s best friend.

my teammate, my r...

whom I hate, whom I wish had neve...

whom I blame for ruining my bro...

“Because I ache for you,” he breathed against my lips next.

I’ll end anyone who touches what’s mine.”

From the time Zeke burst through my bedroom door

ripped Chance off me only to claim me for his own, we’d barely come up for air.

She didn’t want more, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of not having her at all.

I went from loathing Zeke one moment and wishing he had never been born

aching for him any second we weren’t together.

don’t want casual,” he continued. “I don’t want to

pretend that I’m not yours in every way there is to belong to someone,

We wanted to be together.

truth to face. Even if I did run, I’d never be able to run far enough to forget her.

even if you hate me for the rest of your life, I need you to know that I love you.”