The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

catch it, wincing when the leather scrapes my palms.
     
    “That stung.” I pretend to be hurt, cradling my wrist.
     
    His arms fall to his side and he strides toward me. “Callie, I’m so—”
     
    I fling back my arm and throw the football as hard as I can in his direction. He runs backward, jumping just in time to catch it.
     
    When his feet touch the grass again, he shakes his head. “You play dirty.”
     
    I shrug, not arguing. “It was how I was taught. My dad takes the game very seriously.”
     
    “Oh, I know that. Do you know how many times he chewed my ass off for messing up? It was a good thing, though.” He throws the football to my side and I have to move quickly to catch it. “He kept me on my toes and pushed me. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have never gotten the scholarship.”
     
    I hold the football in my hands. “I don’t want this to come out rude, but couldn’t your family afford to pay for your tuition if you wouldn’t have received the scholarship?”
     
    “My dad wouldn’t,” he says, swallowing hard. “He used to tell us all the time, either we found our own way out of the house, or we’d be stuck there… I didn’t want to be stuck there.” I start to open my mouth, but he claps his hands and then holds them out in front of him. “Here, throw it to me.”
     
    I toss it back to him and he catches it easily with a grin on his face. “Alright, this time I’m going to throw it to you and then try to tackle you.”
     
    My eyes widen as my jaw drops. “Are you being serious?”
     
    He chucks it high up in the air. “I never kid about football. So, go long. It’ll give you more of a chance to outrun me.”
     
    I back down the field, still doubting he’ll actually chase me and tackle me to the ground.  When I’m fairly close to the touchdown zone, I stop and face him. “Are you really going to chase me down? Or, are you just trying to make me play better?”
     
    He’s a ways away, but the deviousness masking his expression is evident. “Trust me, I’m not joking. In fact, I’m kind of looking forward to it.”
     
    My heart skips at the gruffness of his voice. “Fine, throw the ball, but I’m going to win.”
     
    He looks momentarily stunned, but then he backs up, his feet picking up momentum, before his arm swings forward and the ball spirals through the air toward me.  My feet move quickly as I sprint backwards with my hands up in the air. At the last second, I give a little jump, and snag the ball in midair. When my feet touch the grass, I hesitate, still unsure if he’s going to chase me down.
     
    As soon as I’m steady, he runs at me, like really runs. I whirl around on my toes and take off down the field. Thankfully, I’m close because there’s no way my tiny legs are going to be able to outrun his long ones for very long.
     
    He’s laughing as he chases me and his heavy footsteps are approaching rapidly. My eyes zone in on the yellow poles at the end and the white line I need to make it over. When my foot crosses it, I spin around with my arms above my head.
     
    Kayden slows to a jog, shaking his head and panting. “Okay, I think I might have underestimated you and given you too much of a head start.”
     
    A grin spreads across my face as I throw the football at the grass. “What is it you guys do when you get a touchdown?” I put my finger to my chin, pretending to think deeply. “Oh, yeah.” I skip backwards, waving my hands in front of me, doing a silly little dance.
     
    He laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Wow, you have a cocky streak in you.”
     
    I pick up the football, grab the pole with my free hand, and spin around it, feeling alive and weightless. For a second, I shut my eyes and enjoy the cool breeze against my cheeks, owning the moment. When I open my eyelids again, Kayden is walking toward me, taking leisurely strides with his hands tucked into his pockets.
     
    I slow down, still holding onto the pole, watching him narrow the distance. He doesn’t say a word, his emerald eyes fastened on me with confusion and intensity in them. As he reaches me, I lean against the pole, fighting to keep my breathing steady against the desire flowing off him.
     
    He takes the ball out of my hand and throws it over his shoulder toward the end of the field. “Let’s get rid of that stupid thing.”
     
    “I thought that’s why you brought me here?” I say with an uneven voice, unable to take my eyes off