While Tim went off to wrangle an interview out of Nathan, I stared at the to-do list in my hand, wondering how my career had gone downhill so fast. Fucking Tim, I thought as I watched him swagger across the field looking like a total moron. I half hoped Nathan and the rest of the guys would laugh him out of the locker room, but I knew that doing so would be a pretty bad move on their part. Tim was a vindictive son of a bitch. It was in Nathan’s best interest to give him what he wanted. And if he had given me the chance, that’s what I would have told him.

“Hey.” Mandy leaned over the bleachers towards me. “You OK?”

“Oh, sure.” I glanced back at her. “I love working with sexist douchebags.”

Mandy shook her head, eyes wide. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone quite as douche-y as that guy.”

“Sadly, I’ve got an office full of them waiting for me in Houston.” My stomach twisted as I realized it was the truth. I was terrified of getting fired but I didn’t really want to go back to the Register. At least not the way it was now, full of assholes who thought more about my cup size than the quality of my work.

The guys came back onto the field, Tim trailing behind them, obviously trying to get a word in with Nathan, who was ignoring him to talk to Chris. Both of them glanced up at us, but it was only Chris that waved.

I looked over at Mandy, who waved back, a glow brightening her face. Apparently things were going very well with Chris.

“You seem happy,” I told her as I joined her in the stands, and her smile widened.

“Yeah.” She blushed a little. “Things are good.”

I noticed that in addition to the ever-present camera around her neck, there was a brand new camera bag at her side.

“Nice bag,” I pointed out and leaned closer to take a good look.

“Thanks,” Mandy said, the blush growing stronger. “Chris got it for me.” She gave it an affectionate pat.

I let out a low whistle. Chris took direction and then some. When I had suggested that he buy Mandy a camera bag, I thought he was going to get her a nice one, but I never imagined it would be this nice. It was the kind of bag that I usually saw slung on a professional’s shoulder. A well-paid professional. Real fancy, expensive, soft leather and apparently handmade. And the beautiful monogram stitched on the side was just icing on the already super high-quality cake.

I glanced out on the field where the guys were. Chris and Nathan were, as usual, standing together talking, looking too handsome for their own good, doing their best to avoid eye contact with Tim who could not look more out of place if he tried. The coach blew a whistle and the best part of practice began—the stretching.

Mandy gave a little sigh. “I could watch this all day.” She had a lusty gleam in her eyes and I couldn’t blame her. There wasn’t much on this earth that could beat the sight of a field full of perfectly built men bending and flexing. It was cool for the season, but I was suddenly feeling very, very hot.

“What’s going to happen with the article?” Mandy asked after the guys were done with their extremely necessary calisthenics and began their practice. “Are you going to have to go back to Houston?”

The final game was in a few days and though they were on a fierce winning streak, I knew that there was a lot of pressure on those graduating players—Chris and Nathan included—to finish with a win. I realized suddenly that I really wanted to be there to watch them play. To watch Nathan win. Because I knew he would.

“Not until Tim feels he has enough,” I said. “But once he does, then yeah, back to Houston.”

“Mmhmmm.” She sounded disappointed.

“What about you?” I asked her. “Where are you going after graduation? Have you thought about Houston? Maybe applying for a job at the Register? There are a few people there that aren’t douchebags,” I told her, imagining how much more fun work would be if she was there. “I could put in a good word,” I offered, hoping I wouldn’t be permanently demoted by that point.

Mandy’s eyes lit up. “Really? You think they’d be interested?”

“Sure,” I said, already excited for the possibility of the two of us working together. “They’re always looking for photographers and you’re really talented.”

“Thanks.” She blushed. “Chris thinks so too, but well, it’s hard to trust the judgment of the guy you just started sleeping with. They tell you everything about you is wonderful.”

I smiled. “Not all of them. Just the good ones.”

Mandy let out a happy sigh. “Well, I guess Chris is one of the good ones, then.”

“He is definitely one of the good ones,” I confirmed.

Mandy gave me a sideways glance. “Nathan is a pretty good one, too,” she said, not too subtly.

“I can’t,” I told her, trying to ignore that warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. It seemed to happen each time someone mentioned Nathan. It was unnerving. “You know I can’t.”

“Oh, come on.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen you two together. The chemistry, the tension is insane. Frankly, it’s driving us all a little crazy. I’m amazed you’ve gone this long without something happening.”

I didn’t say anything, but it didn’t matter because I’m sure it was written all over my face.

Mandy gaped at me. “You didn’t!”

“It was just a kiss.” I spun towards her. “Just a kiss,” of course, was the understatement of the century, but the last thing I needed was good-intentioned Mandy convincing me that sleeping with Nathan was a good idea. Because I knew that’s exactly what she was going to do. And exactly what I really, really wanted to do.

“How was it?” she asked, her eyes gleaming. “The first time Chris and I kissed, it was like…” She mimicked an explosion with her hands. “Pow!”

Yep. That was the best way to describe how it had felt when Nathan kissed me. I was pretty sure there were parts of my body still smoldering from the fire that had been started from his touch. It was a good thing I was determined not to sleep with him because I wasn’t sure my body would be able to handle it. I might just explode with pleasure.

Mandy laughed and I realized I had just been sitting there, most likely with a dazed expression on my face.

“That good, huh?” she asked and let out a whistle. “Sophie, what are you waiting for?”

“It’s not professional,” I told her, and her face fell. “You know it isn’t.”

“I know,” she said. “It’s just, well, I like you. And I like Nathan. And I like you two together.”

“We barely know each other,” I objected, though I was deeply touched by her dedication and affection towards me. It was mutual and I was very much hoping that she would come to Houston after graduation. I already knew I was going to miss her when I left.

“But you like each other,” she pointed out. “That much is obvious. The rest you figure out as you go. At least, that’s what my mom always said.”

“My mom always says get the man before your boobs go.”

Mandy laughed at that. “Not bad advice either.” She looked down at her own great boobs. “Thank you, guys,” she told them.

I glanced down at mine. “Good luck,” I said to them.

Mandy and I shared a laugh, and she looped her arm over my shoulders and pulled me into a half-hug.

“Just make sure you don’t lose a good thing before you get a chance to have it,” she intoned.

“That barely makes sense,” I told her, but I knew exactly what she was talking about and it made me nervous. Even if it were possible for Nathan and I to be together, what then? We were just too different. Guys like him didn’t fall for girls like me. Not really.

“You know what I mean,” she poked me.

“I do.” I was once again flooded with a sense of tenderness towards her.

“We’ll figure it out,” she whispered. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I already had.