Read Online Rough & Tumble by Kristen Hope Mazzola - Free Book Online

 
    Chapter 1.
     
    Holy.
    Mother fucking.
    Shit-balls-of-fire.
    How can this really be happening right now?
    I sat in front of my computer desk in my squeaky rolling chair on Monday morning, trembling as my chocolate Labrador looked up at me like I was the craziest person in the world, but I didn’t care. Nothing mattered other than the news I’d just hung up the freaking phone from getting. It was a dream come true —my dream come true, and it was finally sinking in that it was a reality. That coming Sunday I would officially be one of the photographers for the North Carolina Hogs. I excitedly texted my best friend to share the good news.
    How did a girl like me, fresh out of college, land an NFL dream job right after graduating?
    I shrieked a little and Molly whimpered at me with her leash hanging from her mouth. It was way past her normal walk time and gosh darn it she was going to let me know, come hell or high water she needed to go outside and read her emails—at least that’s what Mom always called it.
    “All right…all right…” I muttered, shuffling into my sandals by the door of my row home as I clipped Molly’s leash onto her collar.
    It was weird living alone, boxes still packed up, lining the walls and taking up most of my floor space. It had been almost a month since graduation and growing up was in order. Being in the limbo between being an adult and not knowing what the hell being an adult actually meant was unnerving, but that morning I’d taken the biggest step into adulthood: my career was starting. I looked over to the empty living room before heading out the door and sighed; I still hadn’t found the right furniture to fill the large empty space in front of the old brick fireplace.
    All in due time.
    Molly dragged me down the steps and swiftly onto the dampened concrete of the sidewalk. She zigzagged and bobbed along, sniffing every blade of grass she could. The neighborhood was quiet; most of the people had already ventured off to work or school. Being a freelance photographer made my schedule wonky, to say the least. If it wasn’t for Molly keeping me somewhat on point with seeing daylight, I was sure I would have turned nocturnal by then.
    My cell vibrated with a text from my bestie, Brittainy.
    Brittainy: Holy moly! That is freaking incredible!
    Me: It doesn’t feel real. I feel like tomorrow morning I am going to wake up and it is all just going to be a dream.
    Brittainy: Get a grip, Peyton, this shit is really happening!
    Me: What if I suck?
    My biggest fear in the world was sucking so bad that my dream job would be thrown out the window before it really had a chance to take off. It was totally possible. Everyone has a sucky day every once in a while, or the weather could be shit and the lighting could be completely off, or the shots could turn out blurry.
    God, I am going to be sick!
    Brittainy: You don’t suck! You were the best in our class. Come on love, it’s going to be great.
    Me: Yeah, I hope you’re right.
    Brittainy: I’m always right. The big question is, how is it going to be shooting your hunky ex all day?
    Fuck. Bo.
    I hadn’t even thought about that. Bo Briggs and I had dated for part of high school and a good chunk of college. He was the quarterback and I was a cheerleader—so freaking cliché, it could make a Care Bear puke from its cuteness. But, when I’d decided to get more serious about photography and a real career, Bo and I just saw different life paths. I had dreams of traveling the world photographing ancient ruins, and he was definitely going to be drafted when he was done with college. He was my fucking great white buffalo and I was going to be working for his team.
    The rookie quarterback and the sports photographer…not as cliché.
    Me: Ugh. It will have to be fine. We’re both adults and professionals.
    Brittainy: Yeah, professionals that used to bang. He’s hot, you’re hot. This might be a rekindling in the making, sweets.
    Me: He’s engaged