Chapter 10

LILY

I can’t believe I actually did it!

I made the volleyball team!

And I get to be partners with Brittany!

“Are you ready?” Brittany bumps her shoulder against mine as we walk into the college gym together for our first official volleyball practice as college students.

“I feel like my stomach is going to fall out of my vagina,” I answer honestly, making her laugh.

“Please. You’ll be the best on the team,” she brushes off casually.

“Yeah, not sure about that.” I shake my head.

“Lily Bennett,” she snaps, stopping in her tracks, grabbing hold of my shoulders, and shaking them aggressively. “Get the fuck out of your head.”

She’s right. I need to get out of my head. If I wasn’t a good player, I wouldn’t have made the team. Hell, I’m a fucking multi-time state champion.

“Now repeat after me,” she says, looking me dead in the eyes.

“I, Lily Bennett.”

“I, Lily Bennett,” I repeat, fighting back my smile, “am a boss-ass bitch.”

“And will finally let my best friend Brittany become a champion,” she says quickly, making me laugh.

“Now say it,” she orders, making me laugh harder.

“And will finally let my best friend Brittany become a champion.”

“Wow, you two really weren’t joking when you said you were besties.” Coach Grant’s voice makes Brittany finally let go of me.

“I’m intrigued. How did it happen?” she asks, looking between us. “I mean, a girl from Greendale and a girl from Ridgewood. If that was even thought about in my day, your life would be made a living hell.”

“Well, this traitor started dating our QB.” Britt jabs her thumb toward me, and I swear Madeleine’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“Oh, it gets better,” Brittany says before launching into storytelling mode. She briefly skips over how Mason and I met but goes into full detail about how she and I went from “enemies” to best friends.

“Wow.” Madeline lets out a low whistle. “Never beat her, huh?”

“Not one damn time,” Brittany confirms with a fake sad sigh.

“You know I could never beat Emma.” Madeline smiles as she points to the assistant coach. “And I still haven’t, actually!” She laughs and gives us a wink before heading over to some of the other girls.

College volleyball training is a lot harder than high school training. By the end of it, I’m exhausted and ready to fall asleep. Thank God I live on campus and don’t have to travel far.

“Oh my god, I’m so sore already,” Britt groans as we walk out of the gym together.

“I need to start running again,” I agree. When I started college, I stopped going for my morning runs and clearly need to start again. I miss spending that time with Mason. Maybe I should go to his apartment and wake him up just like he used to wake me up.

“I can’t believe we have to play with that bitch, Mandy,” Brittany grumbles as we head toward the dorm block. Thankfully, Zoey is also on the team, and she seems really cool. I swear Mandy aimed to hit me with the ball a few times in practice.

By the time I’ve gotten back to my dorm room, all I want to do is eat, shower, and fall asleep.

“You look like shit,” Sophia states as I drop my bag onto my bed.

“Geez, thanks,” I reply, rolling my eyes.

“So what? Did you give up cheer for volleyball? I’m surprised you’re such a coward after all that shit you talked at the comp last year. I mean, you didn’t even show up to tryouts.”

I frown, wondering what the hell she’s talking about. “I didn’t go to any competitions last year. I quit at the start of senior year,” I explain, making her eyes go very wide.

“Wait, what?” she asks, standing up and looking me up and down. “Lily Fields, right? Cheer captain of Ridgewood High, dating the hottest quarterback and coming to this college.” Her eyes narrow as she looks at me up and down. Now I understand.

“I’m Lily Bennett. That was Leah Fields,” I explain.

“Oh my God! I’ve treated you like shit this whole time thinking you were someone else!” she gasps, looking like she might actually be sick.

“I am so, so sorry for being such a bitch to you! Can we start over?” she asks, giving me a small, almost nervous smile. I understand her now. If I thought my roommate was Leah, I’d be a bitch to her too.

“She used to be my best friend, so I totally understand why you were a bitch.” I laugh before giving her a small smirk. “We can start over as long as you get me dinner while I shower,” I joke, making her playfully roll her eyes.

“Deal.”

***

I’m sitting on the bleachers, freezing my ass off and bored out of my mind because Jeff is playing, and Mason is once again on the sidelines. I’m squished between Brooke and Kayla, which is making me feel claustrophobic.

Maya is sitting at the end of the row, looking just as pissed as she was last week. She hasn’t spoken a word to me either. She only gave me a polite nod when I walked past.

“Yeah, baby!” Kayla cheers, jumping to her feet and clapping at something Matt has done.

I clap along, not having any clue what’s going on.

My eyes keep looking for Mason on the bench and watching Brittany cheer. His leg is bouncing up and down, and he’s tugging on his bottom lip—something I’ve noticed he only does when he’s nervous.

When the whistle blows at the end of the first quarter, Brooke is practically bouncing up and down with excitement. Maya looks more pissed than she did last week.

I assume Jeff must be playing like shit again. My assumption is confirmed when I see Mason jogging onto the field, and Maya mutters something under her breath that I don’t quite catch.

He quickly takes his place in the huddle, then they get into formation. Even though I’ve seen him play so many times now, I still can’t get over how good he really is.

Mason takes the hike, and my eyes are glued to him as he drops back a few steps. His head moves left and right quickly as he scans the field.

A player from the other team comes running toward him. He goes to throw it but doesn’t let it go—a fake. The other team’s player jumps anyway, and Mason sprints away from him.

“What’s he doing?” I whisper to myself as he suddenly throws the ball from the forty-yard line all the way into the end zone, where one of his teammates snags it out of nowhere.

“What the fuck?” I gasp, jumping to my feet along with the rest of the stadium, who have broken out into cheers. I bite down on my lip as my eyes begin to sting with tears of pride.

He truly is incredible. The whole game, Mason plays practically flawlessly. He seems faster and stronger than everyone else out there.

Every single time he throws the ball, I feel myself growing impossibly prouder and prouder. By the end, it’s not even a close game—Mason destroyed them.

As he heads off the field, the entire team seems to surround him, slapping him on the helmet and shoulder pads. The second the final whistle blows, I’m on my feet and pushing past everyone to go wait by the locker rooms for Mason.

I’m waiting no more than five minutes before a body is thrown into mine.

“Oh my god, Lily!” Brittany squeals, squishing her face against mine. “Did you see how amazing Mase played?”

“He was incredible.” I can’t help but smile.

“Are you two going to come to the party tonight?” she asks before shaking her head. “Actually, no. You two are coming tonight. You don’t have a choice,” she corrects herself.

“Aren’t you cold?” I ask, changing the subject and pointing at her cheerleading uniform.

“I’m too hyped,” she says, shaking her head. “I haven’t seen Mason play that well since…well, never!” She quite literally bounces around.

By the time Mason and Liam emerge from the locker rooms, Britt has calmed down a bit.

“What’s with her?” another player asks, looking at Brittany with wide, scared eyes.

“She’s hyped. You get used to her,” Liam replies, smiling fondly as he looks at her.

Brittany is rambling and reenacting a fake pass. “And the way that Mason faked that pass like…”

“Jesus Christ,” the other guy mumbles.

Mason pulls me tightly into his side. “Should we ditch the party?” he asks, smiling down at me.

“No, you two cannot ditch the party again. Especially after a game like that,” Brittany retorts, sticking her hip out and placing her hand on it. “He”—she jabs a finger at Liam—“is driving us all to the apartment so we”—she flaps her finger between me and her—“can get all pretty. Then we can all celebrate the fact you just played the best fucking game of football you’ve ever played.”

“You’re so bossy,” Mason grumbles, rolling his eyes. I can see the corner of his mouth twitching up into a smile, though.

“Yup,” she replies, smiling widely and showing off her perfect teeth.

I’m actually excited about celebrating Mason tonight. However, something in my gut is telling me something isn’t quite right.

He’s only played in two games, and he’s getting crazy attention already. The spotlight is way brighter in college.

Is Mason going to love the life football gives him and leave me behind? The opportunities and the women that are going to come his way… I worry I’ll just slow him down.

I try to shake off this feeling, but I can’t.