Obsession

Tonight

Caleb

Pulling off my helmet, I took a deep breath and leaned forward slightly, resting my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.

Fuck.

My legs hurt. My back hurt. My head hurt.

In fact, everything was hurting right now.

Shit.

The early spring sun shone down on the open football field, heating up the air around me, making the late afternoon seem warmer than it really was.

A couple of kids were sitting in the stands, some were watching us practise, a few were studying, a couple of them were making out. All of them were enjoying the last few hours of the day.

Heaving a sigh, I pushed myself to stand up straight again, arching my back, trying to work out the kinks. Beads of sweat trickled down my brow and I felt a pop in my shoulder as I stretched my arms out front.

God.

I wasn't sure I would last the season if I felt like this now. And this was only practice.

Shit.

A hard slap to my back had me whipping my head around, only to come face to face with the captain of the football team and one of the most gorgeous guys I had ever laid eyes on.

Asher Williams.

He stood next to me, a large grin lighting up his handsome face.

"Hey, man," he chuckled, his hand resting on my shoulder. "You look beat."

Offering a crooked smile of my own, I said, "I feel like I've just done ten rounds in a boxing ring."

"You look like it, too."

Narrowing my eyes at him playfully, I took a deep breath, ready to throw back my own sarcastic comment, but coughed instead.

Ugh.

Asher guffawed. "Are you that unfit?" He dodged my helmet perfectly as my hand sent it flying towards him, then threw his head back laughing as he danced out of the way.

I could only stand and watch him, a smile tugging on my lips at the sight of my biggest crush acting playful. His green eyes were glittering with amusement, his full lips were pulled into a smile and his toned body snugly fitted into his football uniform.

My heart rate picked up as I stared at him, and my mouth felt dry, sandy. Trying to swallow, I coughed again, then winced as the shake of my shoulders jolted my back.

Fuck.

Asher chuckled some more, then reached down to grab my helmet that had landed at his feet. He nodded towards the edge of the field where the rest of our teammates were gathered around Coach, all of them ready to shower off the mud, dirt and sweat of the practice session.

"Come on." He stretched a hand out to me. "I'll help your sorry ass get to the locker rooms."

"Fuck off," I grumbled, unable to stop the smile from tugging at my lips as Asher chuckled again.

I grabbed my helmet out of his hand, then felt goosebumps rush across my skin as he rested a hand on my lower back. My heart was beating happily at his closeness, and my legs were wobbly as he gently pushed me towards the edge of the football field, leading me towards the locker room.

"Is it on for tonight?" Asher asked, his eyes on the floor, his hand pressing into my back. He was swinging his helmet in his other hand as he walked alongside me.