Intercepting Love

25. Cooper

25

COOPER

For once in my life I wasn’t in any pain. My shoulder felt the best it had ever been since I injured it and I had Kate to thank for that. I never realized how much better I’d feel by getting clean.

We were in the locker room getting ready to run out and take the field when Evan came up beside me and said, “You look like you’re feeling better today. I must admit the guys and I were worried that you’d flake out on us. You weren’t looking too good this week.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling good at all,” I replied cautiously. “But I think I’m better now.”

“Great! Then you and Kate can come to the party tonight. It’s going to be at Derek’s.”

“I can’t,” I told him, before he could walk away. “I have plans to take your sister out tonight.”

Evan had his back to me, but he turned around slowly and waltzed back over to me. “So you’re choosing my sister over the team tonight?”

“Yes, I am. Is that a problem?”

He stared at me for a moment, but then laughed and slapped me on the arm. “Nope, not at all. There’s going to be strippers at the party tonight, so I guess it’s a good thing you’re not going to be there. I’d hate to kick your a*s for drooling over them when you have my sister, especially since Luke seems to not stop talking about her. I didn’t want to ask you when you were sick because you literally looked like you could rip someone’s head off, but he told me about this letter you found. You didn’t write it, did you?”

“What? Hell no, I didn’t write it. Kate chose me before the note even got written. Why would I even do that?” I asked incredulously.

Evan shrugged. “I don’t know, but Luke says he didn’t either. If he didn’t then that means someone else did. I’d like to know who. Whatever’s going on it involves my sister and I don’t like it.”

“And you believe that Luke didn’t do it?” I asked.

He didn’t think twice before responding, “Yes, I do. Luke can be many things, but he wouldn’t lie to me about this. He was the one who came to me. Do you mind asking Kate if she thinks it could be anyone else?”

Sighing, I hung my head and closed my eyes; I knew I should have just told her. “That might be a problem. I never told her about the letter.”

Evan’s eyes went wide. “Why not? Luke figured that was why Kate’s ignored his calls this week. He thought she was mad at him. I think she needs to know.”

Now more than ever I thought so, too. If Luke wasn’t the one who put the note on my car, then who did?

“I’ll tell her later tonight after we go on our date,” I told him. “I don’t want to ruin the evening by telling her before then. Now all we need to do is figure out who put it on my car. Is there anyone else who has a thing for your sister?”

Evan shrugged. “I’m not sure. She’s only ever around the team, so if it’s someone who likes her it could be one of the others. Tonight after your date ask her if any of the guys have been coming on to her. It might give us an idea on who it could be.”

“And if it happens to be someone on the team?” I asked.

“Then we kick his a*s,” he replied, cracking his knuckles, “just like we’re going to do to the Seahawks this afternoon. Don’t worry, though, we’ll figure it all out. Right now we need to get our heads in the game.”

Easier said than done when I wanted answers.

The time had come for the game, and now a new worry had fallen in my lap. I hadn’t thought more on the note until now, and as I watched each and every single player walk out of the locker room, I couldn’t imagine that one of them would stab me in the back. If there was one thing I knew for certain, I had to keep my eyes open.

* * *

We were up by six points in the fourth quarter with only one minute left to spare. It was anyone’s game so we couldn’t celebrate yet. The call was for me to reverse the play to our running back and have him pass it off to Evan. The only problem I had with that play was that there was too much room for error. My uncle was going to kick my a*s, but I had to go with my instinct.

Our full back, Ashton Blake, was one of the fastest runners we had, and that was what I needed at the moment. If we went with our current running back and counted on him to pass the ball to Evan we’d be screwed. I would rather just pass the ball to Evan myself and be done with it, but the Seahawks knew that Evan was my prime choice. I had to switch it up.

“It’s coming to you, Ash,” I whispered low as I passed him to get into position.

He nodded once and I knew I only had one chance to make this play. Once into position, I glanced at our line quickly and yelled, “Blue 24, Blue 24, Hut, Hut, Hike!”

The second the ball snapped to me, I waited for Ashton to get in the clear, blocking out the yells Joel spat my way. Once I threw it, I didn’t get to see Ashton catch it because the moment the ball left my fingers my body slammed into the ground by a giant Seahawk tackling me to the ground. The breath was knocked out of my lungs and they burned as I gasped for air.

What the f**k? That hurt.

Screams and cheers erupted through the stands, and when I turned my head to look at the score I hollered as well. As soon as the other player got off of me, I jumped to my feet and ran down the field toward Ashton. All of the players surrounded him, including my uncle who was ecstatic and cheering along. Kate, however, ran toward me.

“Cooper, are you okay? How’s your shoulder?” she asked worriedly.

Lifting her in my arms, I held her tight and kissed her. “It’s doing great. Don’t worry about me, love.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t know about that just yet. Joel wasn’t too happy with the play change.” We both turned to look at Joel who had the biggest grin on his face. “Well, maybe he’s happy now, but just a few minutes ago he was pissed.”

Taking her hand, I pulled her along beside me and off the field. “Well, how about we get out of here before he has a chance to yell at me. That could take all night, and I promised to take you out on our first date. I can’t have him ruining that.”

Kate looked back at the screaming mass on the field and picked up her pace. “I agree … let’s go!”