Brandon

I don't want to run out on Lizzie, but I kind of have to. I have a gym session followed by practice. I won't be done until much later this evening. We have organized that tomorrow I will hook up with her instead. She wants to hang with Tammy and Lilly tonight.

"Don't worry about it, honestly, Brandon. It'll be good for me to hang out with the girls. We can be all nerdy and read books, chat about guys, and you know, the dreaded prom."

"We've got you covered now, girl," I say and notice how she blushes. Man, it is fucking adorable. This girl is starting to kill me.

"Thanks for coming to the movies with me, it was huge fun. I absolutely loved it." Lizzie gushed as we came out of the cinema. I helped her into the truck, personally it was just an excuse to touch her again. Do you think it's wrong that I am feeling this way about her? I have no idea, but it kind of feels weird to me.

The worst thing is that she only sees me as her bestie, and now the thought of her leaving me to go to Paris or Texas if her folks stop her from going to Europe, well, let's just say it's filling me with dread.

I'll miss her like crazy, and what if she meets some guy who sweeps her off her feet? Okay, now I feel jealous. Shit. Damn.

"Are you even listening to me ?" Nope, I was too busy imagining some French dude kissing my Lizziey-Baby.

"Nah, sorry, I was in the practice with my head," I lie. Feeling like a shit.

"It's okay. Let's organize something with Lilly, Denver, Tammy and Tobias tomorrow. We could take a drive out somewhere. Have a picnic and just hang out. What do you think?"

"Sounds like a plan. Denver and I need some quiet time and headspace. The game next week is going to be a crucifying one. We've got to win, the coach is on our back constantly about it."

"It's the final, of course, he's going to be on at you about it. Also, I know how much it means to you, Brandon. It's your last game at school. You'll be at college next year and on a completely different team. It's going to be weird not playing with the guys who are now your family practically." I nod.

Her hand is warm and small as it sits in mine. Lizzie gets up easily into the truck; seriously, it's so big it almost swallows her whole. When I start earning proper bucks, I'll get into the NFL. I am getting into the NFL, I'm swapping it out for a Mustang. Yep, the one my dad won't let me have at my age. I roll my eyes.

"What are you rolling your eyes for?" she asks, her brow furrowed. I didn't realize I had.

"Ah, nothing."

"Let's go to Edgewood Park. I love the natural preserve there."

Lizzie sounds bubbling with excitement. It's kind of infectious.

"Then that's what we'll do. I'll let Denver know. Although he usually has that whole Sunday thing with his folks. Best check with Lilly, too."

"Shoot. I forgot about that. I'll message Lilly now and then Tammy. Oh, right, we're already at mine." Lizzie sounds almost disappointed. In a way, I am too. I loved every minute of being at the movies with her, watching her sip her Coke and eat her hot dogs. I'm not even going to go there with what was racing through my mind. Suffice to say, I wanted to jerk myself off like no tomorrow.

I definitely need to get laid again. I have to do something that is going to take my mind off Lizzie and the images I keep having swimming in my head.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Lizzie Baby." I lean over and kiss her on the cheek. Lizzie looks shocked. I am shocked. Where the fuck did that just come from? Whoa. I need to rein it in; otherwise, this girl is going to be on to me, and I'll feel like a prick.

"Yeah, course. Catch you tomorrow. Have a good practice session and don't let the coach yell at you too much." I snort. It's the coach's favorite thing to yell at me. He's always damn yelling at me. My old man says it's to keep me in line and make the best of the best.

Well in my opinion, I'm already the fucking best.

I watch as Lizzie makes it into her house and pulls away from the house. Across the street, my mother is in the garden. I told you before, this woman is insane about gardening, plants, shrubs, the whole nine yards. She waves. I press the button to wind my window down and angle the car so I can face her.

"Hey, Mom. Having a nice time?"

"Sure am, Honey. Are you off to the pitch now?" She removes her gardening gloves and pushes a lock of hair away from her face.

"Yep, heading over to the gym first, then to practice. I'll be in for dinner, though."

"Great, I made hotpot your favorite." I love my mom's hotpot it is the best.

"And baked apple Alaska for dessert." Wow, she knows how to keep her boy happy that's for real.

"Can't wait. Gotta go. Enjoy the rest of your day. By the way, Lizzie and I and a couple of the others are going out tomorrow, just wanted to let you know not to include me for Sunday lunch."

"Got it." Mom puts her gloves back on, waves me off and then focuses on whatever the hell it is she's doing. I smile as I pull away and put my music on. Currently, I'm into Waterparks – man, I love this group. I really want to go see them live. It's not impossible, I just have to get around to booking some damn tickets. I know if I spoke to my old man or Lizzie, she'd be able to cut it so we get to meet them personally.

As I drive along, I have one arm leaning out of the window, my fingers drumming against my steering wheel, and life is perfect. Except for the one flaw. The one thing that is marring my day is Lizzie.

Not Lizzie per se, but how I'm starting to feel about her.

The way she looks, I mean, this girl is so damn beautiful – she's always been pretty, even as a kid and when she had to wear braces for a few years. That was an adorable phase of hers. Although I am groaning at the braids she decided to wear, man, they were not her best look. It makes me chuckle.

She's a stunner and it's not going to take long for her to realize this and for other guys to want to hang with her. They already are buzzing around her like bees and honey. It makes me angry. I am so possessive of her and try my best not to show it. But lately, it's becoming a real problem.

The thing is, I don't have one I can really talk to about this. It's not like I can speak with Denver. He's my best guy friend but honestly, he'll just take the piss and tell me that he's known all along I've got the hots for Lizzie.

The Hots For Lizzie – really?

I've arrived at the gym, and Denver is just going through the large glass-fronted, sliding doors with a couple of the other kids I know from our team. This should be a fun session, we like to compete against each other and do just dumbass stupid shit in the gym, like who can bench press the most, who can do the fastest reps. We're in for sixty minutes today then coach wants us all to hit the pool. I'm not one for swimming not really. I'd rather be out on the field with a ball and my kit on, but whatever coach says ultimately goes. He is the boss after all.

I honk my horn. Denver stops, looks back, and raises his hand.

"Wait up." I shout at him. He stops and waits. The guy is huge, it never ceases to amaze me how strong and fit he looks. He's definitely got some arms on him; the girls go wild for him. Lilly is so sweet to just put up with it but then she trusts him.

I'm kind of jealous if I admit it. I'd love a girl to be mine, to feel what Denver and Lilly have got going on. The other part of me doesn't want any commitment at all, I'm way too busy having fun and then some, not to mention. I really don't have much time for a full-time girl in my life.

Only Lizzie. Every guy needs a bestie, and she never expects anything of me; she doesn't demand anything. She's just my Lizzie-Baby.

"How's it going?" Denver slaps me on the back almost knocking me flat on my face.

"Yo, Brandon," shouts out Stetson. We call him that because he's from Texas. Another big, burly guy, blonde-white hair that is all natural and eyes like Iceman from Top Gun. Now he's one mean player who gets a lot of girls wrapped around him. Stetson is definitely not settling down anytime soon.

"Hey, Stets. Not bad. Looking forward to a whipping in practice?" I laugh. He gives me the bird. "Nice, Man. Real nice." Denver has one arm around my shoulders as we walk into the reception area and head straight for the double doors to our left that lead to the guys' changing rooms.

Girls are swarming around the open-plan coffee area, all smiling and giggling. A cute, tiny redhead comes over to me. "Hi, Brandon, can I have your autograph, please, on my wrist?" She hands me a pen, crap like this happens a lot, and I'm not even in the big league yet. It makes me feel good, and I love it.

"You don't want his, c'mon, darlin', you want mine." Stetson has pushed in front of me and grabs her pen. Now the redhead is giggling even more. It's my sign to move the hell away and leave her to Stetson. She probably only cares that some jock has signed her arm in any case.

"Crazies," Denver says. I nod in agreement. That's for sure.

"Let's pump some iron." I set my bag down and start to strip off my tee, admiring my six-pack in the mirror by my locker. Damn, I'm fine. I wonder what it'd feel like with Lizzie raking her fingernails down my stomach and reaching inside the top of my jeans.

Oh fuck.

Not the right thing to be thinking as I'm standing in the changing room with a host of guys surrounding me. Shoot.