Page 5 of Chasing the Rush
“A huge penalty,” Luca replies with a laugh. “That’s a massive no-no.” He leans forward, his passion evident. “Sometimes, a quarterback doesn’t even try to throw the ball. Sometimes, he just quickly hands it off to someone to run with it, which means there’s not even a chance for me to try for a sack.”
“Oh no.”
“In that case, I try to take down whoever’s running with the ball, instead of the quarterback.”
“Interesting. So, you’re busy during the game pretty much no matter what, then?”
“Yep. It’s nonstop action for me when it’s my turn to be out on the field. I mean, sometimes the guy with the ball doesn’t come anywhere near me on the field—outside linebackers line up on theoutside, which is toward the sideline, rather than in the middle of the field.”
“Ah.”
“But even then, I’m gonna be blocking someone to help my teammate or running around like a madman to try to get to the play.”
“Oh my gosh, there’s so much to know. I had no idea.” Man, I’m having a blast listening to this passionate, gorgeous boy explaining the sport to me. Back home, this is the stuff I’m always explaining to everyone else till their eyes glaze over.And since moving into the dorms two months ago, it’s only gotten worse.
“Football sounds complicated,” I say, placing my elbow on the table and my chin in my palm. “Also, really dangerous.”
Luca shrugs. “Yeah, it’s both. But we all wear pads and helmets to minimize injury. And we practice and study up like crazy before every game to be ready for anything.” He side-eyes me. “Wait just a goddamned minute. Don’t play dumb with me, Chelsea.”
My heart stops.
“As an expert quarterback, you could probably explain all this stuff to me, right?”
When my heart rate returns and I realize he’s joking, I smile and say, “You got me, Luca. I was just testing you. Not all expert mathletes like us also know football.”
“Ain’t that the truth. Most of the mathletes I know don’t know jack shit about football.”
Ain’t that the truth.“That’s been my experience, too. It’s so unfortunate.”
“So unfortunate.”
I twirl a lock of my dark hair around my fingertip. “So, what’s your favorite kind of math, Mr. Mathlete?”
Luca’s features twist up adorably. “There’s more than one kind?”
I giggle. “Says the supposed math expert.”
Luca waves his hand dismissively. “Baby, trust me, I’m the Einstein of math. I meant I couldn’t possibly pick just one because they’reallmy favorite.”
Another giggle escapes me. “It’s the same for me. Also, FYI, Einstein was the Einstein of math.”
A crease forms on Luca’s forehead. “I thought Einstein was a scientist.”
“He was far more well known for his contributions to theoretical physics, but he was also exceptionally skilled inmath, which is why he had the foundation to formulate his theorems.”
Luca takes a big bite of bacon and winks at me. “I already knew that, Chelsea. I was just testingyourknowledge of math, given your football background. Congrats. You passed the test. I believe you.”
Butterflies.They’re overwhelming me.
I love his lips. That Cupid’s bow at the top is incredible. Also, I’m electrified every time he uses my name. All the boys at recent parties I’ve been dragged to by Daisy always forget my name two seconds after I give it.
He leans back, the full width of his chest and muscular arms on display beneath and around theNEBRASKAon his T-shirt. “Okay, let’s take this testing stuff to the next level. Ask me anything math-y, anything at all, and I’ll prove my math prowess to you.”
“Something ‘math-y’?”
Luca taps the table with purpose. “Don’t be easy on me now. Let ’er rip.”
He’s adorable. Charming. Charismatic to the extreme. In fact, just this fast, I’m pretty sure I’ve never met anyone quite like Luca “Satan’s Brother” Maguire. I thought I’d get my first proper, passionate kiss from someone at school by now. But although I’ve had several opportunities, it turns out opportunity has to intersect with physical attraction for me to feel the urge to go for it, and that intersection hasn’t happened for me just yet. Until now.
