She Wore the Team Mascot Costume to Pay for College — Then the Star Quarterback Left His Cheerleader Girlfriend for Her
Chapter 5
The identity of the mascot was supposed to be confidential.
But one rainy afternoon, Emily made a mistake.
She left the costume room carrying her backpack.
Jackson happened to be walking past.
He saw the buffalo head sitting on the bench.
Then he saw Emily.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
His eyes moved between her and the costume.
Emily froze.
“You…”
He stared.
“You’re Bruno.”
She covered her face.
“Oh no.”
He started laughing.
“You’re the buffalo?”
“Don’t call me that.”
He laughed harder.
“You’ve been dancing at me all season.”
“You noticed?”
“Of course.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“You thought it was funny.”
“It was.”
“Great.”
“But…”
He stopped.
“I think it’s kind of amazing.”
She looked at him.
“Really?”
“You do that every week after everything else you do.”
He pointed toward her backpack.
“You work. You study. You tutor. Then you put on a giant buffalo costume.”
She shrugged.
“I need the money.”
He smiled.
“I think it’s impressive.”
She didn’t know what to say.
For once, Jackson Reed wasn’t looking at her like she was beneath him.
He was looking at her like he admired her.
That frightened her more than anything else.
