Title: Lion Eyes
Author: Casey Peeler
Genre: Clean Wholesome Romance
Release Date: February 6, 2019
Cover Photo: Casey Peeler
Cover Design: Lori Jackson
Cover Photo: Casey Peeler
Cover Design: Lori Jackson

TYKE
It's all I ever loved,
All I ever wanted.
Football is it for me.
The lights, the turf, the feel of the ball in my hands,
There's nothing that means more to me.
But then, I meet Rilla James.
It's a game changer right from the start.
Now, all I want is her,
Everything about her.
RILLA
It's a love-hate relationship.
I love the excitement, the thrill of the game,
But despise everything it stands for.
The day the game took away someone in my life,
Everything changed,
For the better.
And I couldn't be happier.
But then, I meet Tyke Jamison.
It's a blitz right from the start.
Now, I'm questioning it all.
Maybe I could get used to life under the lights,
With him.


βOhmygosh, RJ! This is beyond good,β Laney says as slaw and chili run down the side of her mouth. I start to laugh then take another bite of my double cheeseburger with extra bacon.
βTold ya. Guess youβve got a perk having a local as a roomie,β I say.
βYeah I do,β she says as the bell chimes on the door swinging open.
I glance over my shoulder because more than likely itβs someone I know, but when I see him I give a huff and an eye roll. I turn around, trying to avoid him like the plague. Why is he everywhere today? Heβs the last person I ever wanted to run into on campus, and on my first day here, I canβt escape him. I canβt believe I agreed to see him again tomorrow. Mental note β leave extra early in the morning.
βDid you see who just walked in?β Laney whispers.
Rolling my eyes yet again, I respond βYeah, so what?β
βSo what? Are you kidding me? Do you have a set of ovaries? Heβs like hot tamale h-o-t!β
βHeβs not my type,β I state flatly. Laney takes her burger, places it on her plate, crosses her arms and stares at me like Iβm completely full of it.
βYeah right! You can say what you want, but that boy is like fine as crystal and what I wouldnβt do to take a sip out of that glass.β
βLaney! Are you kidding me? Just because heβs got a six pack and can throw a ball doesnβt mean heβs Godβs gift, ya know.β
βYouβre not serious are you?β She looks at me, trying to figure me out.
βAs a heart attack. Do you know where you chose to go to school?β She looks confused. βLook, not only do we have a nice little Division I football program on campus, but this county is like high school football dynasty. They donβt lose around here.β
βHuh? You lost me.β
βOkay, take this in for a second. Him coming to play here has nothing on the other talent Iβve seen growing up. Two of our four schools bring home state titles each and every year. Itβs a way of life around here. From August to December everyone eats, breathes, and sleeps this sport. Itβs not just a Saturday game here, itβs Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in this town. It just depends on if youβre a pee wee or a Charlotte Lion. He better be thankful that Coach Porter gave him a shot because word on these country streets is that he didnβt have anywhere else to go, and his time was up at that no-name junior college. He either had to take Blue Ridgeβs offer or kiss the draft goodbye.β
Laney looks at me and suddenly I realize whoβs standing right beside me. Oh well. I call it like I see it.
βSo whatβs the word on the streets, RJ?β he questions, looking down at me, and I do what I always do. I shoot straight.
βThat you did something really stupid, and Coach Porter is the only one willinβ to give you a shot on the field in three years. You think this football town is nothinβ, but youβre really surrounded by a piece of football heaven. Youβre just too stupid to realize it.β Standing, I look at Laney, βYou ready?β She doesnβt say a word, her mouth is wide open and she looks down at her unfinished burger. βHey Hazel! Iβll bring your baskets back in the morninβ.β She smiles and I walk right past him and out the door. Now letβs see if he shows in the morning. Touchdown, RJ.


Growing up Casey wasn't an avid reader or writer, but after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston during her senior year of high school, and multiple Nicholas Sparks' novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading. That love ignited the passion for writing several years later, and her writing style combines real life scenarios with morals and values teenagers need in their daily lives.
When Casey isn't writing, you can find her near a body of water listening to country music with a cold beverage and a great book.
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