Claiming Carter (Waverly Wildcats Book 1)

can hardly believe it.”
“Hey, I never actually said we were wasted.” Reid throws his hands up defensively, like he’s worried I might quote him to the paper. “Besides, I told him not to take the dare.”
“He obviously didn’t value your opinion much if he ignored it,” I point out, earning another laugh from Coop.
“I like her,” he says, elbowing an annoyed-looking Reid. “She’s going to fit right in.”
Like hell. “This has been fun and all, but I have to get to work. Good luck with your search.”
“Didn’t you just come from work?” Coop asks, brows furrowed. “We heard—” He swallows the rest of the sentence, a sheepish grin on his face.
My cheeks heat, and I do my best to stuff the embarrassment down deep. So what if they heard Coach dressing me down for being late?
“Yes, well, my soccer scholarship is only a partial.” A sigh escapes before I can stop it. I’m bone-tired and the fall semester hasn’t even started yet. I straighten my spine and slam the door on that line of thinking. Carter women don’t do self-pity. I’ve got three years under my belt. I can do one more. I give Reid an icy glare, because, arrogant quarterback. “Those of us who live below the football gods actually have to work. And now you’ve made me late.”
This time, he doesn’t try to stop me when I turn to go.
“Spellman had to withdraw this semester, which means he won’t be playing ball this year. He had a full-ride.” Reid’s words are quiet, but there’s no mistaking the emphasis he places on the word had. “It’s too late to recruit a placekicker. The football program has scholarship money available.”
I freeze midstride. A full-ride?
“Remind me, Coop. What’s the going rate on a football scholarship?”
“Thirty-six grand. Give or take.”
No, it’s ridiculous. No one is going to give a woman a football scholarship at a D1 school. Not one who’s never played a day in her life. And certainly not one who despises the sport.
“If you had a full-ride, you could quit working and focus on the game,” Reid says, sounding every bit like a snake in the garden as I turn to face him.
Manipulative ass.
I chew my lower lip, mulling over his words. We may have different priorities, but he’s right about one thing. If I had a full-ride, I could quit working—and put more focus on my academics.
“You make the team, they’ll probably make one of those inspirational TV movies about you,” Coop quips, although I suspect he’s only half joking about the enormity of what they’re suggesting.
The thought is sobering. This is a big freaking deal. It’s also utterly ridiculous. “Last I checked, the team captain doesn’t have the authority to make player selections or award scholarships.”
Reid shrugs. “True. But if you come out to camp tomorrow, Coach Collins will give you a shot.” He tucks his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts and lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Under all that bluster, he’s a big old teddy bear.”
Somehow, I doubt it. The man is regularly in the news for his sideline antics and is as likely to be seen throwing a clipboard as yelling at the refs.
“What do you say?” Reid asks, a hopeful note in his voice.
What can I say? As ridiculous as it sounds, a full-ride is what I’ve always wanted, but they’re few and far between. I could’ve gotten one at a lesser school, but soccer isn’t my endgame. I need to be somewhere with a strong engineering program and that’s Waverly, even if it means Mom and I both have to work our asses off to make ends meet.
But a full-ride? Now? That would mean less work study. And it would ease Mom’s burden. She wouldn’t have to take so much overtime and God knows I’d do anything to lighten her load.
The real problem is that even if this batshit-crazy idea works, I’ll have to give up soccer. There’s no way I can do both, and I can’t screw the team by quitting.
“Not interested.” I adjust my bag and steel my resolve. I can’t afford to risk my soccer scholarship for a pipe dream. Besides, me hanging with a bunch of swaggering football players? Never going to happen.
Reid’s face falls for an instant, but the cocky quarterback smirk is back in place before I can blink. “Why don’t you sleep on it, Carter?” He nudges Coop and they turn to go. They make it a whole three steps—yes, I counted—before Reid looks back at me over his shoulder, a challenge burning in his eyes. “Camp starts at eight tomorrow. You can meet us on the practice fields when you change your mind.”
The arrogant bastard actually says when. Not if, when.
“Spoiler alert, Reid. I won’t change my mind.” I plant my hands on my hips, determined to get the message through his thick skull. “I’d rather streak across campus naked than play ball with you.”

Chapter Two
Austin
The day’s shaping up to be another scorcher and I’m already sweating through my pads thirty minutes into practice. Coach is putting us through the wringer with speed drills, and I’m not the only one dripping sweat. Coop’s looking good, and I give silent thanks that at least my top receiver’s got his head in the game, because the O-line looks like shit.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were out partying last night.
“Come on, Jones! Get your balls wet!” I yell at the sophomore running back who’s going to see real action for the first time this year. He picks up the pace, and I clap my approval.
Coop approaches and I lift my helmet, letting it rest on the crown of my head so I can get a little fresh air. Sweat runs down the back of my neck, but I don’t bother wiping it away. Plenty more where that came from.
“What’s got your shorts in a twist?” Coop asks, offering me a water bottle.
“Coach’s been riding my ass all morning.” I