Prologue
Three years ago
Duncan
“Is this what you’ve always dreamt of?” My mother asked coming over and resting her back against the railing I was leaning up against.
What more could I ask for than jogging out as the captain of college football?
"Yeah, I am good,"
I am one of the lucky jocks to be selected from high school to play on the varsity football team. I was awarded a bursary and the only concern my parents had was my grades.
Both my parents graduated from university with honours and they were pushing for me to do the same. They cared about my ambition for football but also wanted me to focus on the academy. For future reference. In case I break a leg or I don’t get selected for the big leagues.
“How’s football season going?” She asked since I haven’t spent much time at home anymore and since I graduated from high school, I was now a full-time varsity jock.
I shrugged. “They voted me as captain,”
“That’s wonderful. You’ve always had the leadership skills,”
I scratched the back of my neck. “I was told to smile more often,”
My mother giggled and pinched my chin between her fingers. “You are perfect the way you are,”
“And who cares about your smile when you are leading a great team and showcasing your talent,”
She softly patted my cheek. “I am just going to check up on your father. He is having some one-on-one lectures with the professors,”
I smirked. “Can’t blame a man of his status and education to not wanting to share his experience,”
My mother gave me a blunt stare. “He’s a show-off,”
I decided to stand looking at the field for a while longer before meeting up with my parents. I glanced over my shoulder when I heard light, steady footsteps and expected to see a guy but I was left speechless when my eyes landed on the small person.
I first thought nothing of her, thinking that her boyfriend was probably on the team but then as she got closer, I got blown away by the way she looked at the field with such desperation, giving me the impression that she probably knew more than me about the game.
She was extraordinarily beautiful but her beauty wasn’t the object drawing me to her. It was the football tucked in her hands that flickered curiosity in me.
I watched her closely as she made her way down to the field. Her eyes solely focused on the field and I recognized that look in her eyes. It’s the same reflection my sister has when she finds and stares at a rare painting at the museum.
I watched her in silence as she just stood there on the field taking everything in until she pushed her foot back and launched the ball across the field.
I gaped as I watched the ball fly over between the goalposts. I stared at her wordlessly as she went to pick up the ball but she halted when she finally saw me standing next to the field, leaning over the barrier.
I was afraid to say something. Afraid I will chase her off. My body stiffened and I couldn’t get my lips moving when she was staring at me. I could have sworn I’d seen her before.
She has this honest and sincere look in her eyes but I also sensed her confident demeanour.
“Duncan,” My shoulders slightly jumped at my sister’s voice.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Come on, Mom and Dad are taking us out to dinner,”
I gazed back over to where the mystery girl still stood on the field, her full attention grasped by the 120-yard field not realizing that I was completely captivated by her.
“Hey! Come on! I am telling Mom to leave without you,” Ivy said growing impatient.
Her attention turned to me and I expected her to run away but she didn’t spare me another minute as she turned her attention back to the field for another spiral drive of the ball. I tightened my hand around the railing when I wanted to go up there and introduce myself—maybe even throw in a fancy flirtatious remark. But knowing how I scare girls off with my hardened looks, I decided to leave and catch up with my sister.
“You know, college boy. I am not going to treat you any different because you’re in college now,” Ivy sarcastically muttered.
“I didn’t ask of you to treat me any different,” I pressed finding my sister’s banter amusing.
Our parents waited for us in the car. Our father looked chuffed with himself. I had a feeling his lecture went great.
“Guess Dad had more of a fun night than you and it should have been your night,”
I chuckled and raised my shoulders. “I won’t ever understand what is so sexy about a person being so smart,”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “I don’t understand what fun you get from chasing after a ball,”
“And I don’t understand how you can stand for hours and stare at a painting,”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I guess we are opposite like our parents,”
“You got the brains and I got the looks,”
