Touchdown Read online

  She stared up at the man with the blue eyes. “You’re right, I can’t marry him! If I’m like my mother, I’ll wreak nothing but havoc on Avner’s life. I couldn’t hurt him like that!” Sobbing, Goldie ran from the room and out of the hall. She ran onto the sidewalk, past onlookers walking their small dogs.

  “Goldie! Wait!” She heard the man’s voice, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

  “I can’t do that to him!” she called back. “I can’t do that to Mindy or my father!”

  “Goldie, it’s not like that. Come with me,” she heard him say.

  “Stop talking!” she cried as she ran quickly in her heels, past Labradors and Dalmatians playfully trotting beside her. “I won’t be a crazy woman like my mother and destroy anyone else. I’m not going to have a child only to leave her all alone on her wedding day!”

  “Goldie! You have to stop, now!”

  Goldie shook her head as she ran. “Get out of my head, you handsome man!” She ran until she passed an apartment building, where she sat down in the adjacent alleyway and sobbed. She heard the barking sounds of dogs in the distance and noticed how dirty her beautiful silk gown had become from her jaunt.

  “Goldie?” She heard the faint calls of Mindy, her father, and Avner.

  She stood up in the alleyway. Even if she couldn’t go through with the wedding, she had to explain why.

  The sounds of barking dogs grew louder. “I’m here, people,” Goldie said, as she tried to wipe her face clean. She hoped she didn’t look as messy and out of control as she felt. She noticed the alley growing dark around her and she walked toward the street entrance to flag down her family.

  “Goldie!” She heard the faint sounds of her name, but she couldn’t see her family through the darkness. Instead, she heard the low-pitched growl of what looked to be stray dogs approaching.

  At first she saw one small Chihuahua barking beside her, but then noticed half a dozen pit bulls were running at her, and behind them—a pack of dogs of all types and breeds.

  She froze.

  The man in the white suit appeared beside her. “Goldie, stay put. Don’t move and you’ll be fine.”

  She wanted to trust him, but then a crowd of German shepherds lunged at her as they barked loudly. Instinct kicked in and she started to run.

  “Goldie, don’t!” the man shouted, but she couldn’t listen and ran instead into the street. She heard her family calling to her but couldn’t see them.

  It took only a moment for her to realize she was standing in middle of a busy thoroughfare as she watched a huge Mack truck speeding straight at her. By the time she looked up, it was too late.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Clay focused on the ball. He had one shot to get it in the end zone. The crowd was deafening as Clay held his breath. Where’s Leigh? Is she watching? Focus.

  He smelled the fear on his team—this play would make it or break it for them and he couldn’t let them down. The pressure was overwhelming.

  Maybe Leigh was sitting beside his parents in the stands. His parents . . . he knew he had to make them proud.

  “Just play the game like we play back home,” Leigh had said before the game. Focus. But his shoulder hurt—bad—from the last tackle. Was it sprained? He tried not to give in to the pain. When Leigh had his back, Clay knew he could do anything.

  Sweat dripped down his face. Coach would love him like a son or hate him like a traitor, depending on how it went. What would Leigh say? He felt her rooting for him, felt her encouraging him . . . Focus.

  The sounds of the stadium were deafening. He was five yards out of the end zone and the score was twelve to seventeen with less than twenty seconds left on the clock. He gazed at Brooks, and instinctively he threw the ball. This one’s for you, Leigh.

  He held his breath for a moment, though it felt like eternity as he watched the ball hurtle through the air.

  Brooks caught it, with one second to spare! Touchdown!

  The crowd went wild as a crushing roar filled the stadium. His teammates converged on him with unbridled joy; he was their hero, and some of them could sign with an NFL agent over this game. Maybe a scout would pick him.

  He scanned the crowd to see if he could find Leigh, but felt disappointed when he didn’t.

  Carolyn ran over to him, her blonde curls bouncing as she jumped on his wounded shoulder. “Claybear!” she cheered, holding him tight. “You were awesome!”

  His parents came by, too, and his dad smacked his shoulder hard. “Good job, son!” he said. Clay’s shoulder now throbbed like crazy, but he didn’t say anything.

  Coach gave him the thumbs-up and it felt great being the hero everybody wanted him to be. He just wondered where the heck Leigh was, and when they could hang out and celebrate together away from the crowd.

  Victory was in the air and the team decided to relocate its frenzied cheering and drinking to the frat house.

  Clay finally spotted Leigh on the field, talking to second-stringer Thomas Booth. Why would she talk to him? he wondered, and noticed Thomas smiling at her like she was available. Which, he supposed, she was.

  He watched Leigh smile back at Thomas and felt a knot tighten in his gut. All the cheering in the stadium couldn’t replace the sheer panic he felt at the possibility that one day, Leigh might be with some other guy, and not be there for him. Clay watched them laugh together and realized he was jealous.

  “Hey, are y’all coming to the party?” Clay walked over and interrupted their conversation.

  Leigh shrugged. “Great game, Clay, but you know frat parties aren’t my scene.”

  Thomas nodded. “You could skip out with me,” he said.

  Clay grabbed Leigh’s hand. “No, she’s busy,” he said and abruptly led her alongside him.

  “What’s up?” she said as they walked to his Jeep. “Why’d you scare off Thomas?”

  “No reason,” he said. “Just thought you should come to the party.”

  Leigh’s eyes widened. “Why? I was planning on getting a ride home with your parents.”

  He shrugged.

  “You think I’ll fit in with your friends?”

  “Like you fit with Thomas?”

  “Huh?”

  “Never mind. Lets enjoy the win. Okay?”

  • • •

  The bass was thumping so loud it seemed that the house was dancing as Clay pulled into the driveway. He noticed that Leigh wasn’t saying much.

  “You all right, Leigh?”

  Leigh brushed her bangs out of her eyes and nodded as she got out of the car. “Sure, I’m fine.” She glanced at Clay. “But are you sure I should be here? I don’t really know your college friends.”

  “It’s fine. They’ll love you.”

  Leigh bit her nails. “And what you were telling me before—you sure this is the right time to break it off with Carolyn?”

  Clay shrugged and slammed his car door. “Why not?”

  Leigh looked at the college kids spilling out of the house, red cups of beer in their hands. They stumbled onto the immaculate lawn and promptly downed their drinks.

  “It’s a party, Clay. You’re going to ruin it for Carolyn if you break up with her in front of all her friends. Why, you might as well just text her.”

  “Hey, I didn’t think of that.” Clay perked up. “That’s not a bad idea.”

  “I was being sarcastic.” Leigh shook her head. “You can’t break up with someone by texting. Clayton Harper, you’re truly a hopeless case.”

  Clay laughed. “Chill, Leigh. I’m going to let her down gently. No way I’m going to continue going out with a woman I don’t love.”

  Leigh nodded. “If you say so.”

  Clay didn’t even bother ringing the doorbell—it was so loud, what difference would it have made—and opened the door.

  The crowd of people was overwhelming. Way too many football players in one room; they swarmed and pulsed to the music like one single mass. Clay knew Leigh was uncomfortable, and he guessed
she fought the urge to run away from the crowd. He suddenly thought that maybe it hadn’t been a great idea to take Leigh to this party after all. But Austin spotted Clay and walked over.

  “Clay! My man! Awesome game!” Austin gave Clay a bear hug, his beer sloshing out of the cup. Clay grinned as his teammate stumbled on his words. “Whoa, epic, man! That throw totally made the whole friggin’ game! Noooo—the whole friggin’ season!”

  Clay nodded sheepishly. “Thanks, bro.”

  Leigh stood to the side, looking uncomfortable.

  “Hey, man, we’ll catch you later.” Clay slapped Austin’s back and led Leigh through the clumps of partygoers toward the kitchen. He secured a can of beer from a cooler and popped it open. “Here you go, Leigh. It’ll help you loosen up.”

  Leigh shrugged. “Clay, I don’t usually drink much, you know that.”

  Clay’s blue eyes bored through her. “You don’t usually go to parties either.”

  Leigh tentatively took a sip.

  He watched her carefully while drinking from his own can. “So, you good? If any drunk guys bother you, you’ll know how to handle it?”

  Leigh nodded enthusiastically. “Sure, Clay, don’t you worry. You know I can take care of myself. You got a girl to break up with. I’ll be waiting right here for you.”

  • • •

  “Clayton!” A high-pitched squeal drowned out Leigh’s words as Carolyn held out her arms and jumped on Clay. Usually he would swing her around but this time he held her gingerly and put her down.

  “Hey,” he said.

  Carolyn’s face glowed with uncontainable energy. Her glossy ponytail had been taken out, and her golden hair fell in soft waves down her back. There was no girl in the room who could compete with her natural beauty.

  “Clay! What you did out there was just incredible!” She held his arm and squeezed. “I mean my dad was saying that if you keep on playing like that you’ll for sure get to the pros! It’s going to be such an amazing journey.”

  Clay didn’t remove her arm.

  Carolyn continued. “That play, it was like the angels up in the heaven were singing! I am so happy for you, Clay. For us!” She ran her manicured nails through Clay’s sandy hair and pressed a hand to his cheek. “We are all so proud, you know.” She inched closer to Clay and leaned in for a kiss.

  “Uh . . . actually, Carolyn . . . ”

  On a good day, Carolyn had little concept of personal space or boundaries, but Clay realized that when she was a tipsy, she had none.

  Carolyn proceeded to sit on Clay’s lap and continued talking. “The big leagues! The N.F.L!” she gasped. “I mean, Clay, it’s going to be like a dream come true! It’s going to be such an adventure. I can’t wait!”

  She tried to plant another kiss, but Clay turned his head and Carolyn didn’t notice a thing. He wanted to break up with her but he had no clue as to how to do it. Focus, he thought, only he knew Carolyn would be really mad at him if he did. She might even cry. He hated it when she cried. How could he let her down? He knew that all of their friends would be annoyed at him, too.

  “Well . . . the thing is, Carolyn, that . . . ”

  Carolyn closed her eyes dreamily and sighed. “I’ve always wanted to see Paris. And London. You’ll make so much money in the NFL—we’ll be able to go places. Maybe you’ll even get a deal with Nike or something . . . ”

  She took a swig of Clay’s beer and continued her soliloquy. “I mean, the only thing is, like, we wouldn’t be able to bring the kids everywhere. Maybe a nanny?” Carolyn sat brooding for a moment. “Oh, I could ask my mom!”

  Clay’s eyes widened. “Carolyn!”

  Carolyn turned her head to Clay’s and nuzzled his nose.

  “What, Clay?”

  “I need to talk to you. Alone. Now.”

  Carolyn threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, Clay—now?”

  Clay reddened. “No,” he tried to explain.

  “Then later,” Carolyn teased as she hopped off his lap to mingle with her sorority sisters.

  Leigh walked over to Clay, her eyebrows raised. Clearly she’d been watching them.

  “So that was you breaking up with her?”

  “Leigh . . . you saw I tried. She didn’t let me get a word in edgewise!” Clay rested his forehead into his hands. “Jeez. I bet she has our babies’ names picked out.”

  Leigh smirked. “Do you like the name Ashley? It’s this year’s most popular Southern baby-girl name.”

  Clay sighed. “How did I get into this mess?”

  Leigh slurped the last of her beer. “Simple. Coach’s beautiful daughter likes you, and you like her.”

  “I do like her, she’s sweet. But I don’t love her.” Clay turned to Leigh. “I’m going to end it. Really, I’m going to.”

  “Right.” Leigh tossed her can in the garbage. “Whatever you say, Clayton.”

  Carolyn stuck her head back into the kitchen “Clay! Clay’s friend! Yoo-hoo—Come on down to the basement, y’all. The team is hanging down there.”

  Clay and Leigh exchanged a look and started down the stairs.

  The team was sprawled out on the couches and the carpets. A couple of the teammates were dueling each other in a game of Halo, letting out colorful expletives now and then.

  Carolyn and all her sorority sisters sat in a loose circle, tittering and gossiping, keeping an eye on their boyfriends, comparing fake tans and salon stories.

  When Clay made his entrance, the whole team cheered.

  “Guys!” Carolyn called out, immediately commanding the entire basement’s attention. “I think we should play spin the bottle!”

  Clay noticed that alcohol-fueled Carolyn was even peppier than normal Carolyn. It seemed juvenile to play a game they hadn’t played since they were kids, though no one wanted to argue with her.

  “Come on!” Carolyn herded everyone to the center of the room and flicked off the video game. “Don’t be party poopers!” The gamers let out a small whine, but acquiesced.

  “Spin the bottle is so much fun! It’s like, so vintage.” Carolyn motioned everyone to join.

  Leigh and Clay rolled their eyes simultaneously but obediently joined the circle. Nobody had played this since junior high. At least she didn’t insist on her game of Twister, like she had at their last party.

  “When are you putting your plan into action?” Leigh whispered.

  “After this,” Clay muttered through gritted teeth. Carolyn wasn’t the girl for him, but she was still nice. He guessed it might not be a great idea to break up with her in front of the whole football team.

  Carolyn pranced to the center and placed the beer can in the middle of the circle.

  “Okay. Who wants to go first?”

  No one was volunteering.

  Clay felt bad for her, so he stood up. “All right Carolyn, I’ll go,” he volunteered. Maybe the can would spin to Austin and he’d give him a fat, wet kiss on his cheek. That would be a hoot.

  Carolyn brightened and let out a high squeal. “Yay! You go ahead, Clay.”

  The crowd tittered as they watched their quarterback.

  Clay pushed the can and as it wobbled and the team started chanting Carolyn’s name: “Carolyn, Carolyn, Carolyn!”

  But the can passed by Carolyn and came to rest pointing directly—blatantly—at Leigh.

  Clay froze and looked at Leigh, his best buddy. Austin tittered. Carolyn was oblivious and shrugged at Clay, grinning, as if to say: well, that’s the fun of the game.

  It was all in good cheer, after all.

  Clay swallowed. He was supposed to kiss Leigh, his best friend?

  He wanted to pretend that it wouldn’t mean anything, but he knew better than that. Leigh, whom he had walked with to and from school when they were kids. Leigh, who knew every secret, who was always there for him no matter what trouble he got into . . . who was the only one who knew how nasty his dad could get when he was angry or drank too much, or how sad his mom could be when—

  Le
igh, who did dishes with Clay at three in the morning. Leigh, who fixed cars, and loved Taylor Swift. Leigh, the most decent person who walked the earth . . . She was the only person in the world who truly knew him, yet still accepted him and was always there for him. No. He couldn’t kiss her. He knew it wouldn’t be platonic. It couldn’t. That would just be crazy.

  Leigh turned beet red, a sure sign that she was immensely nervous and also horribly uncomfortable.

  Clay turned to her and hesitated. He was so close he could smell her breath—spearmint gum mixed with the beer he’d given her.

  Austin guffawed. “Hurry up, guys! It’s just a kiss!”

  Clay felt terrified.

  Leigh looked at him with her eyes wide and nodded slightly, as if giving him permission.

  Clay tucked a reddish curl behind Leigh’s freckled ears and pressed his lips against the lips of his best friend in the whole world.

  Her mouth was perfect; it fit his like a puzzle. The kiss was powerful and loving and dizzying all at once. It was the most intense feeling Clay had ever experienced and chills ran up his spine. Their kiss lasted a second too long but it ended too quickly, and the players began hooting.

  Leigh broke away and looked at him, confused.

  Even Carolyn looked quizzically at Clay.

  Clay’s heart was pounding so loud he thought that everyone could hear it. Did he really just kiss Leigh? And did it just feel . . . like nothing he had ever felt before?

  Austin would not shut his fat trap. “Dang, did it just get hotter in here?”

  Carolyn, clearly annoyed, said, “No, Austin.”

  Clay’s teammates elbowed each other and looked at Clay admirably. He was a stud. Meanwhile, all the girls in the room tried to demolish Leigh with their eyes.

  Leigh kept blushing redder, redder, and redder.

  A million thoughts were racing through Clay’s mind. He fumbled, and then said loudly, avoiding Leigh’s eyes, “Well, Leigh, at least we got that over with. Now, let’s party!”

  The team hooted loudly. The girls laughed.

  Leigh turned and fled the room.

  • • •

  Clay kept sipping his drink, willing the alcohol to work its calming effect. Leigh had left silently, but Clay knew that she must be really angry. She would never strand Clay if she weren’t fuming.