Hit Me With Your Best Shot // Pat Benatar

It's early when my phone rings. The sun isn't even up yet. I wake with a jolt, my hand shoots out from under the covers and I fumble for my phone. Of course I knock it on the ground, still ringing. Is that ringer getting louder? I pop one eye open as I lean over the side of the bed and feel around for it, finally grabbing it just as the ringing stops.

"Ugh. Shit. Uhhhh." I add a grunt to the mix, my own playlist of irritated exclamations. I roll back on my pillow still gripping my phone, pulling the covers over my head with my free hand. As my eyes close it rings again startling me once more. This time I swipe to answer immediately.

"There better be a fire."

I hear myself speak with the same level of irritation I used to grunt, realizing I never even checked to see who was trying to call me. It could be an emergency. This thought wakes me up, fully alert, because maybe there is a fire.

"Not a morning person. Noted. Sorry babe."

"Jeff, what's going on?" My emotions are in a freefall because I'm happy that Jeff is calling me but it's freaking early in the morning.

"I have a full day, morning workouts in twenty minutes, and I need to talk to you about something before I go. It was too late last night when I got back to campus to try calling but maybe I should have texted you."

I rub my eyes as I listen. "No, it's fine. I get it. Talk to me."

Jeff is quiet for a few long seconds. Meanwhile I prop my pillows against the headboard and lean against them. Sitting in my apartment, in the dark, at what is probably sometime close to 5 am, my heart starts racing at what he might need to tell me.

"Remember the guy I told you about? The senior quarterback who's friends with the former player, Declan?"

Something deep in my gut clenches. "Yeah I remember."

"The guy, Reign, texted me for a favor. It's no big deal, but he mentioned that he knew about you and me. I downplayed it by not answering his question directly. I want to keep you in the loop when this shit comes up so there isn't any secrets between us."

The initial worry I felt retreats. Jeff's confession puts me at ease.

"Well, thank you. I appreciate that you want me to know what's going on."

"Of course, I do."

"Jeff, you have to realize this isn't the norm. Most guys would've kept that to themselves."

He chuckles. "Does it bother you that I want to share?"

"No. Not even a little." I smile. "What's the favor?"

"He needs a ride to practice today."

"Oh. That seems...oddly normal."

"How so?"

"I don't know. I guess it's odd that he'd ask you."

Jeff hums quietly before speaking again. "Yeah I felt the same way. But I guess it's an opportunity to get to know him, show him I'm a good guy, pave the way for us to go public."

That makes me laugh.

"What?" he asks.

"I never thought I'd be part of a conversation where we'd be discussing the timing of going public. It's surreal."

Jeff chuckles again. "Makes me feel like a rock star. Or like I'm dating one."

"Funny." I deadpan because I'm the antithesis of a rock star. Dorky photography intern doesn't hold anyone's interest.

"You're my rock star, Ali."

My heart melts at the nickname. I wish I had one for him, but how do you shorten Jeff? J?

"I better get going. I've got to pick up Reign and get to the field on time."

"Have a good practice."

"I'll try. If I'm not puking it's a win."

"Jeez, why do you play again? I'd cut and run if that was what I had to look forward to."

"If I wasn't playing, I might not know you. Micah's the one who had the tickets to the music festival."

I sigh while smiling. "You need to go."

"Bye," he whispers then ends the call.

I stretch and roll over, attempting to catch a little more sleep. I don't have to be up for a few hours. Although now I'm wide awake with thoughts of Jeff and his favor. Something about it makes me uncomfortable but I'm not sure what. I decide I'm overthinking things. People ask for rides all the time. Maybe he's the easiest one to call on for a lift.

After a while I feel myself drifting to sleep. The last thought I have as oblivion overtakes me is Jeff in his uniform. I end up dreaming of him on the field being pushed to his limits. My dream feels like a warning, of danger just around the bend, and Jeff is right in the middle of it.

***

"Are you available?" I ask Misty the second she answers the phone. I have no idea what her schedule is today but my need to check on Jeff is stronger than my patience.

"That depends. Available for coffee? Possibly. For a hot date even after Milo crushed my heart by cheating on me? Absolutely. I'm a badass bish who deserves a good time. Available to bail you out of jail? Babe I'm you're ride or die and you know it. Available to do your taxes? Nah, I'll get us both arrested for tax fraud cause numbers and me don't mix."

I rub my face. This girl. "None of the above."

"Oh. Well hit me up, I'll make room in my schedule for ya, sweetie."

"I just need a ride, sheesh!" It's all I can do to keep from pacing the tiny apartment. I've been jacked up on caffeine and nerves all day. I need to see Jeff with my own two eyes at this point. No other way to come down from this cliff.

"You should have led with that." Misty laughs. "Is this Jeff related because I'm sensing some tension."

I groan. "It's so stupid. He had to give a teammate a ride to practice today but something about it gave me the creeps. I had a terrible dream about him and now I just need to know everything's okay. I need to see him at practice."

"I'm grabbing my keys as we speak. I'm assuming you mean to go now, right?"

"Yeah. Afternoon practice just started. He hasn't answered any of my texts but that's not completely out of the norm. He's slammed from sunup to sundown most days." I wring my hands, feeling like a nervous mother now.

"Okay, babe. Deep breath. I'm on my way. Be there in ten."

I release a deep breath of nerves and nod, Misty having already ended the call. I rush around grabbing my purse and decide at the last second to take my camera equipment. If anyone wonders why I'm there, I can just use the camera as my excuse.

No, I'm not here to spy on any players...of course not, I don't even know the guys on my team. Yeah, my dad's the coach but I'm here on assignment.

Yes, that'll work. I gather my tripod and a few different lenses. I won't even shoot the players. I'll focus on the stadium, the hard lines of the bleachers, the industrial lighting...

It's a stupid cloak and dagger mindset, I realize, but that's how the dream felt so I'm going with it. By tonight I'll be lying in bed laughing at how ridiculous I've been all day.

Exactly ten minutes after Misty hung up the call, she texts me that she's arrived and is waiting out front. I race out the door, locking it before running to her car and dumping my equipment in the backseat. When I settle in beside her, Misty gives me a look.

"Have we changed plans?"

"Nope. Destination: Fallbrook stadium. This is my disguise. Photography assignment."

Misty grips her steering wheel and leans forward with purpose. "Got it. Recon mission engaged. Let's hit it."

Then she pulls away like a bat out of hell, whipping around a corner and zooming down the next street.

"How about not crashing on the way. Or not getting a ticket. That'd be fine, too."

"Don't worry. I'll get us there just fine. You sit tight and go over the game plan."

"I'm not sure you were the right person for this job. Maybe I should have called..." I stop because there's no one else to call. It's a fact almost as sad as what I'm attempting to do. Spy on my boyfriend because I'm afraid he's getting involved in something bad. All because he gave a ride to a teammate. I lean forward, covering my face with my hands and groaning.

"I'm an idiot. This is nuts."

Misty pats my back. "It's fun. I'm sure everything is all good, but why not make an adventure out of the situation? I'm always up for sneaking around and not getting caught, you know that."

"Hence the reason I called you. Besides, your idea of an adventure is dressing up like a murderous clown and dancing to music meant to melt your brain."

"Hey, that clown concert is the exact reason we're on this mission. No clown metal, no cute football player."

I laugh. "True." The radio had been on quietly in the background, so I turn the sound up, ready to stop talking until we get there.

There's little traffic on the road to Fallbrook. The ride is smooth. We pull into the staff lot with the pass my dad gave me when I was helping out. I never had to return it because he keeps me on the volunteer list. I think it's his way of trying to convince me to transfer to Fallbrook U.

"We can use the office entrance," I say to Misty. She grabs the tripod and I haul the rest of my camera gear out of the car. She follows me to the team office entrance, where my dad spends most of his time off the field. I still have a key so getting in is no problem. The only hitch we hit is in the tunnel. The guys are all on the field or in the locker room, thankfully, so we don't see any of them as we walk through the long passage. But as we get to the stairs leading to the stands, a security guard is standing on duty.

"Marshall, hey." I wave at the older man who's been a campus guard as long as I can remember.

"Alison. Your dad's pretty busy right about now. Or are you helping out today?"

"No. Not today." I gesture to Misty. "This is my friend, Misty. She's helping me with a photography project. Can you let us into the stands for a bit?"

Marshall gives the two of us a glance, pausing at my gear. While he's looking, I pull my camera out and start making adjustments, just in case he's questioning my story.

"Sure thing. You always did love taking pictures."

I smile. Thank goodness he steps aside. I breathe a sigh of relief and hustle up the ramp to the field level stands. I don't look out to the field as I continue to the stairs leading to the upper deck. I want to be as high up as possible to avoid being seen. I have a telephoto lens. I'll still be able to see the sweat beading on their foreheads no matter if I'm on the top row.

My legs are jello as we get to the upper deck. I find a spot that's shielded enough from the action to make me feel safe, hidden from view. I start pulling out my lenses, not wasting a second more to locate Jeff on the field.

Scanning the line of players one after another, I finally find Jeff. He's standing next to a guy with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. Neither of them are talking but both have their arms crossed, watching other players attempting a pass. A second later they both rush to the field, mocking up a play that has Jeff rushing for twenty yards before catching the pass smoothly. It was beautiful. I find myself looking forward to the season. I can't be here to congratulate him with open arms, but I'll be watching from a distance anyway.

The plan to take shots of the architecture of the stadium resurfaces in my mind, but before I can pull the lens away from Jeff, he's grabbed around the collar by a familiar face.

Reign Benson. I didn't realize this was the guy Jeff mentioned, but seeing him now I remember him from his freshman year. He's a lot bigger than he used to be. The two of them run a flawless play, which should make Jeff happy, but I can tell he's irritated instead. Before they run one more, Reign once again pulls Jeff close.

Jeff nods his head as Reign's arm is still wrapped around his neck and shoulders. I can't be sure from where I'm sitting but Jeff looks...uncomfortable. Not in a physical way, as though Reign's hold is too tight. But Jeff isn't excited to have Reign's attention. His smile is tense, his jaw tight. I can see the tendons in his neck tighten as he clenches.

Not good. Very not good.

Reign leans in close to say something to Jeff, pushing his mouth right next to Jeff's ear. Reign laughs hysterically but Jeff doesn't. He presses his lips tight and if I didn't know the guy better I'd think he was seconds away from losing his shit.

Instead, Jeff puts his helmet on and runs back to the field, centering on the fifty-yard line and watching the pass that Reign just threw to him. Jeff gets under it, wraps his fingers around it but instead of pulling the ball in and cradling it like he's supposed to, he lets it slip away.

I think I just watched him lose his shit.

Okay, once again things went in a different direction than originally planned but I think I've worked out some kinks in the plot. The next chapter will pick up where this one leaves off and I CANT WAIT!!

My cinnamon roll baby, Jeff, is about to go alpha and I'm so here for it ❤️❤️. Timeline background: school has started and season is about to. Matt and Hannah haven't hit their bump in the road yet but that will be incorporated here once it happens.

Music this week has two purposes: 1 Ali is taking matters into her own hands.2 The second reason will be made clear next week. 😏 Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/0JRgHol94Xc

Jump over to IG, Twitter or TT for more of my attitude lol!!