Free Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally Page B

you around then.”
    “Wait, Ty—how are you getting home?”
    “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to arrange rides for me.”
    Tears rush to my eyes. “Um, I was going to offer to take you home. And, to ask if maybe you, I mean, if you aren’t doing anything on Sunday…”
    He stops, turns, and raises his eyebrows. “Yeah?”
    “Um, would you want to go to my dad’s preseason game with me? In Nashvil e? He’s playing the Patriots. I always go when he plays New England because Tom Brady’s awesome, but don’t tel my dad I said that.”
    Ty smiles. “A Titans game? An actual NFL game? I’ve never been to one before.”
    That surprises me. It’s strange that someone as good as Ty has never been to a pro game. “Yeah,” I say, “JJ, Carter, and I are going together.
    And maybe Henry, if he can drag himself out of bed in time. That’s doubtful, though.”
    “Do I need to get a ticket?”
    “Of course not—we’l sit in the owner’s box.”
    “Damn. Yeah, I definitely want to come.”
    “Cool. I’l cal you about details. Oh—and wear a suit or something nice.”
    “I can do that. Thanks for the invite.”
    I smile. This is great. I get to hang out with Ty under the supervision of JJ and Carter. They’l keep me sane. “Did you want a ride home tonight?”
    “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’l check out this party.”
    “Gonna hang with Kristen again?”
    “Hel no,” he says, laughing. “I like being with girls who have actual brain activity. Girls like you.”
    Oh. My. God. I quickly say, “Have fun. I’l cal you tomorrow. Bye!” I jump into my truck and drive away. I don’t bother looking in the rearview mirror this time. I know he’s watching me.

    •••

    At home, I run upstairs to Mike’s room and pound on the door.
    “Come in.” I open the door to find Mike lounging on the floor playing a footbal video game. I sit down next to him, and he passes me the second control er. “What are you doing home so early?” he asks. “No parties or anything? No hot date with Ty?”
    “If you want to play bal tomorrow, you’d better shut your mouth, because I’l kick your ass, bro.”
    “Yeah, right.” Mike laughs as he immediately scores a touchdown. Man, do I suck at video games.
    “So tel me what the Alabama coach said about me already!”
    “We’re going to talk about Ty first. He’s real y cool, Jordan. And even though he’s not starting this year, he’l have his pick of col eges.”
    “Great,” I say, throwing the control er down. I stand and shuffle across the room and fal onto Mike’s bed. “Tel me what the Alabama guy said.”
    “Wel , on the down low, since I stretched the rules a bit by talking to him about you, if you keep playing like you did tonight, they’l offer you a ful ride.”
    “You’re kidding me!”
    “Nope,” Mike says. “Keep up the good work and you’re a shoo-in for Alabama. Just don’t get distracted, don’t get hurt, and don’t do anything stupid.”
    “But isn’t it kinda weird that they’re wil ing to give me the ful ride even though I didn’t make any big passes tonight?”
    “Hel , don’t question it,” Mike says, laughing. “Just rol with it. I would.”
    “It would be awesome if I went to Alabama—we’d be rivals!”
    “Tennessee would total y kick your ass.”
    “Sure, keep tel ing yourself that.”
    Mike rubs his jaw. “But there’s one thing I don’t think either of us has considered. The coaches of any school you go to are going to use you as a recruitment tool. Alabama wil be showcasing you al the time, and they’l want you to help with advertising.”
    “Ugh,” I say. “Like that time Sports Illustrated wanted to do an article on me? Thank God Dad stepped in and said no.”
    “Yup,” Mike says. “I don’t think your life wil be so private anymore. Everyone’s going to know everything about you.”
    “As long as I can play col ege bal , I don’t care.”
    “Cool. Now, on to more