The Boys of Hawthorne by Ashtyn Short

Chapter Seventeen 

Boston 

“Boston, pull your head out of your ass!” Coach yells as I miss Line’s pass for the umpteenth time since practice started. 

Coach is riding our asses hard, making sure that we’re ready for the big game on Friday against one of our biggest rivals, the Brighton Bulldogs. 

on Friday because you can’t get over your 

“Man, get with it! We can’t have you benc guilt.” Linc chastises me once he gets close enough for me to hear him as we both make our way to the sidelines to get a drink of water. As he passes me, he smacks the back of my helmet, as if trying to knock some sense into me. 

Point taken. 

Grabbing a water bottle, I glance out at the bleachers to where I’d first spotted Aspen on Friday night. The adrenaline from the play had my heart still beating fast, but when I locked eyes with the gorgeous brunette watching me from the bleachers, my pulse increased for a completely different reason than before. 

My dick hardened in my cup, and fuck is that an uncomfortable feeling. But, damn. I wanted her. I didn’t even know her, but it didn’t matter. 

I wanted her. 

Coming out of the locker rooms after showering, I walked around while waiting for Line, hoping that I’d see her but as the crowd thinned out, I realized that she’d had to have already left and I missed her. 

Finding her walking down the side of the road after the game was sheer luck, and I knew that someone was definitely on my side, but it also pissed me off that she was walking while it was dark out and I had no doubt that she was new to the area. 

Why I didn’t put two and two together before seeing her Saturday morning, well, I’ll just 

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Chapter Seventeen 

blame it on raging teenage hormones. I knew that dad had said that Ashlynn and her 

daughter were moving in, but I didn’t realize that her daughter was our age. That she was our new stepsister. 

When dad told us, I’d imagined this cute little eight–year–old with a missing front tooth. Not, an eighteen–year–old knockout that I immediately wanted to sink my dick into. 

The sound of the Coach’s whistle brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present. I finish chugging my bottle of water and then rush back out onto the field where Coach has us setting up for another play. 

“Boston, if you miss this next pass, your ass is benched Friday night. Got it?” 

“Yes, sir.” Nodding my head, I pull my helmet back on and get into position. 

The center hikes the ball to Linc as I take off running down the field, looking back as I close in on the twenty–yard line, I see the ball sailing towards me, and easily catch it as I cross it. Cradling the ball, I sprint towards the end zone. 

“That’s more like it!” Coach yells from the sidelines as I cross the line that would have given us a point if we were playing a game. After that, the rest of practice is pretty smooth sailing- or as smooth as it can be with Coach pushing us to go as hard as we can. 

“I was worried about you there for a minute, bro,” Linc says as we make our way from the 

showers to our lockers. 

“Yeah…” I say, pulling my shirt over my head. 

“Boston, in my office after your ass is dressed!” Coach calls as he saunters into his office. 

“Yes, sir,” I say, widening my eyes at Linc as my gut clenches with nerves. 

Sitting on the bench, I quickly pull on my socks and shoes. Standing up, I turn towards my brother, “just wait for me at the truck. Hopefully, I won’t be long,” I say, tossing him my keys. 

“Good luck!” He calls out behind me as I head towards the Coach’s office. 

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“Come in and have a seat.” He nods to one of the two chairs in front of his desk, I do as he says and slip into one of them. 

Sitting forwards, he leans against his desk, folding his hands together and steepling his index fingers, resting his chin on them for a moment as he releases a deep breath, “Talk to me, Boston. What’s going on with you? I haven’t seen you miss or drop passes like you did today since Freshman year.” 

I snort a laugh, even though it’s not funny. More pathetic, but he’s right. I haven’t performed as badly as I did today since I was a freshman. 

Dropping my head into my hands and shaking it, I mutter more to myself than Coach, “I just couldn’t get my head into it today.” 

“And why do you think that is? What’s eating at you, son?” I just pin him with my stare, raising my right eyebrow but not wanting to say out. 

How cliché is it that a girl is messing up my game? 

“Okay, I get it. I suggest you get it cleared up because you can’t play in games the way you played today. Scouts won’t give you a second thought and I can tell you right now that there’s been talk of interest in you. Now is not the time to let a girl get in your head.” Coach stands. up, comes around his desk, and leans against the edge, “I remember being eighteen and chasing tail too. But son, this is your future.” But what if she is too? 

“Yes, sir. I’ll get it straightened out.” I say, standing up at the same time that Coach does. 

“See that you do. I’d hate to see you throw away your chance at playing college ball because of…well, you know what the circumstances are, I don’t.” We step out his door, and Coach places his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it slightly in a comforting gesture, “Just, get it 

taken care of.” 

Nodding my understanding, I take my leave, making my way through the locker room and out to the parking lot where Linc is waiting for me at my truck. 

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Chapter Seventeen 

“What did he say?” Line asks as soon as he sees me approaching. 

“Wanted to know what my deal was.” I say with a shrug of my right shoulder, “I told him I’d 

take care of it.” 

“And what’s your plan on that?” Linc asks as soon as we both shut our doors. 

Rocking the key forward, the engine roars to life as I turn my attention towards my brother, “I think I’ve gotta tell her the truth, apologize out my ass, and hope to God that she 

understands.” 

“You know the rest of us will be there if you want, right?” 

“Yeah, and I really appreciate it. I honestly don’t know if it would be better to do with just 

her and me, or all of us.” On one hand, having my brothers there to maybe help her better 

understand where my head was at when we concocted this ridiculous plan may work in our favor. On the other hand, I feel like she deserves to hear it from me. “Maybe I go in first and 

then you guys come in as backup?” 

“Whatever you need, bro. We’ll have your back.”