Jared pressed his cheek against mine. “You’re going to have to tone that down or I’m going to get pummeled,” he whispered in my ear.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Like it would hurt you.”

He jogged out with Ryan and Zack, and the other team met them in the center of the grass.

I watched them over the next hour. The skins team quickly realized that with Jared they had the clear advantage. Zack assigned Jared the quarterback position, and I laughed and cheered as his team ran in one touchdown after another. Before long, they had drawn quite the crowd. A small group of girls were soon drowning out my feeble cheering each time Jared made a play.

Jared’s face was exultant, and I wondered when the last time was that he was free to let loose. He’d always had to keep an eye on me from afar, and now that I was just yards away he had more time for himself. I realized that it was like that at night as well, and guilt swept over me for making him spend the night in his car instead of beside me in his warm bed.

Jared fired the ball in a perfect spiral, and Ryan caught it flawlessly for the winning touchdown. The crowd cheered, and Josh’s team ambled around their side of the makeshift field, notably less enthusiastic.

Jared jogged over to me, glistening with sweat and grinning from ear to ear. He lifted me and then twirled me around, kissing me with boyish enthusiasm.

“You were amazing!” I squealed.

Jared lowered me to my feet. “Agh…I’m sorry honey, I’m all sweaty.”

“I don’t care!” I said, flinging my arms around his middle.

“You ready to go?” he asked. When I nodded, he cleared the crowd from our blanket.

As Jared shook off grass and folded, Ryan approached us. “Good game, Jared,” he said, sounding only half-sincere.

I heard Jared mumble a thank you as he tried not to watch us converse.

“You were great!” I said, waiting as others agreed with me. “It’s safe to say you’re fully recovered.” I held up my hand for a high-five and Ryan smacked it. His fingers intertwined in mine.

I instinctually pulled my hand back, tucking my hair behind my ear to avoid drawing any more attention to the situation.

Ryan smiled. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a couple of hours, okay? You want me to swing by?”

“I’ll meet you there. I have a few things to do, first.” I said.