Draw Play: A Sports Romance by Tia Lewis Read Free Book Online Page B

ways. If I abbreviated something because the professor was talking too fast and I couldn’t keep up, I’m more likely to remember what he or she was saying if I review the notes that day. I can make the point clearer when I’m typing. Second, it helps me commit the material to memory.”
    I shook my head. “That’s a lot of work. I usually have all my time wrapped up in practice and stuff.”
    She tilted her head. “Since when is a badass football player afraid of a little extra hard work?”
    “That’s something I’ve meant to ask you.” I leaned forward. “Why do you keep talking about me playing ball like it’s a bad thing? What’s your problem with football players?”
    That got her. She wasn’t so full of herself anymore. “Nothing.” Her voice was quieter.
    “Bullshit.”
    She stared defiantly. “I told you it’s nothing.”
    “Don’t act like I’m some stupid jock who doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground,” I snapped, trying my best to whisper.
    “Aren’t you?”
    I shoved myself back from the table and stood. “Fuck this. I don’t have to take this shit from you. Tell Coach whatever you want to tell him.”
    “And you’re giving up that easily, huh?”
    “What if I am? I can do this shit on my own. I always do well enough on my own.”
    “Got it. And just doing well enough is enough for you?” Her eyes were narrowed, and I noticed for the first time what an unusual shade of green they were. Probably the prettiest thing about her.
    I shook myself to get my head straight. “Everything I’ve got I put into my game. Everything. What little I have left over goes to my family. So I’m sorry if I don’t care too much about getting straight A’s. I’m sure you do, though. You don’t have anything else going for you, the way I do.”
    That stung. Claire sat back in her chair, and all the fight was gone out of her. Asshole , I thought. What a shitty thing to say .
    I sat down again. After a deep breath, I said, “I’m sorry. That wasn’t cool.”
    Her voice was flat, with all the fight gone from it. “I’m pre-law, Jake. I don’t get to fucking screw around. If I want to get into a good law school, I have to be the best. Just like if you want to get onto a pro football team after college, you have to be the best. It’s the same thing, just different goals.”
    I hated myself for going that extra step too far. “You’re right. But that goes both ways, too. You work hard. I work hard. Just for different things.”
    She nodded, taking a deep breath. “You’re right. I have to get over my issues with guys like you. I admit I have them.”
    “Why? Did they bully you? Not all football players are the same. I hate being stereotyped.”
    She smiled and shook her head. “Funny how that’s the first thing you guessed, though.”
    “It happens. I never said I did it. A lot of people have trouble with jocks, though.” I waited for her to explain to me why she had a problem, but she didn’t.
    “Okay, let’s get back on track, please,” Claire said like nothing happened.
    I shook my head—if she wanted to drop it, well, that was all right with me.
    “I think another good idea is to have a calendar for the semester and plug in the dates you know you’ll have something due. You can work around those dates and plan out how you’ll prepare for an exam or paper.”
    “You plan for papers?” I asked.
    “My papers have a lot of research in them. I have to find cases to back up my points.”
    “Jesus, that sounds like a lot of work.”
    “It is. But I like it.”
    “You do? I mean, really?”
    “Yeah, actually. Do you really like hurting yourself every week during a season?”
    I laughed. “Okay, I get it.”
    She grinned. “I like the law. I like figuring out ways to prove a case.” Then she tapped her pen against her chin, looking at me. “Why do you want to play football?”
    “Because it’s what I love to do.”
    “Why, though?”
    “It’s fun.”
    “So