She Wore the Team Mascot Costume to Pay for College — Then the Star Quarterback Left His Cheerleader Girlfriend for Her
Chapter 2
The next morning, Emily was back in the library.
No costume.
No cheering crowd.
Just a stack of textbooks and a half-finished coffee.
A football player approached the desk.
“Excuse me.”
Emily looked up.
Jackson Reed.
She almost dropped her pen.
“Yes?”
He smiled.
“I need a book.”
“What book?”
“Honestly?”
“Preferably.”
He pulled out his phone.
“My professor said I have to read this before Wednesday.”
Emily looked at the title.
“You waited until Monday?”
“Obviously.”
She tried not to smile.
“You’re impossible.”
He stared at her.
“Have we met?”
“Not officially.”
Something about her answer made him laugh.
She found the book.
“Here.”
He took it.
“Thanks.”
He looked at her name tag.
“Emily.”
She nodded.
“Jackson.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“Everyone knows.”
She returned to her computer.
He didn’t leave immediately.
“Do you work here often?”
“Most mornings.”
“Then I’ll probably see you again.”
“Why?”
He shrugged.
“Maybe I need another book.”
“Or maybe you need to stop procrastinating.”
He laughed.
“That too.”
He walked away.
Emily stared after him.
It was ridiculous.
She didn’t have time for football stars.
She had bills.
Classes.
Deadlines.
And a buffalo costume waiting for her next paycheck.
Still, she couldn’t help smiling.
