A Different Side (University Park #4) (18 page)

He paused for a minute. “That pretty brunette with clear blue eyes?”

“Delaney is her name.” I shielded my eyes as we stepped onto the field.

“Damn.” Shawn released his arm. “She’s off limits if Luke’s got something going on with her.”

“Best not to get involved with that,” Josh said, leaning in between us.

“I know that’s right,” Shawn huffed. “I want to keep working out with him.”

“She does get around, though,” I admitted, immediately wishing I hadn’t said anything. A few of the guys instantly turned in my direction.

“Who?” Matt and Cage asked.

“Nobody.” I waved them off and walked to the side. Josh and Shawn followed me.

“How do you know that?” Josh asked.

I thought about what Lexi had said and contemplated whether I should share that with them. I never thought twice about spreading rumors about girls, but this was Lexi’s roommate. “Just between us?”

They nodded in unison.

“Lexi told me so, and think about it, how many different guys have you seen her with?”

Shawn’s eyes drifted upward and Josh pressed a finger to his lips. “I don’t know, one or two?” Shawn said.

“I think she hangs out with the baseball team.” Josh crushed the can with his hand and then tossed it in the trash.

“Anyway, Lexi caught Delaney fucking her brother, or so she says, but I think Delaney was with Lexi’s fiancé.”

Shawn’s head jerked back. “Whoa, whoa, dude. Lexi’s engaged?”

“She admitted it?” Josh’s eyes widened and he pulled off his helmet.

“Shh!” I held up a hand, motioning for them to keep it down. “No, she didn’t admit it, but I didn’t ask either.”

“You chicken shit.” Disappointment filled Josh’s face as he crossed his arms over his chest. “How hard can it be?”

“Listen, I was going to ask her today. We were at her dorm in a study room and she ran to her room to get something. When she came back, she was a hot mess. Freakin’ out and mumbling stuff about Delaney. Saying she was screwing someone.”

“Oh.” Josh uncrossed his arms. “So you think it was her boyfriend or fiancé…or whatever?”

“Yeah.” My face screwed in confusion. “What girl would go into a hissy about her roommate screwing her brother?”

“True.” Shawn knelt to one knee and I followed.

“Yeah, I think you’re right.” Josh knelt next to me. “I guess you got the green light.”

I smiled. “Yeah, I think I did.”

***

After a quick trip to the mall to get Shawn something new to wear to the Kappa Sig party, we headed back to campus and caught the team bus to the hotel. The bus dropped us off and we settled in our rooms. Josh and I shared a room and Shawn teamed up with Marcel Johnson, PHU’s main fullback. It was our typical set up and it was good to get away from the
distractions
on campus. But I had a bigger problem this time. And her name was Lexi Thompson. I set aside the events from the day with her and concentrated on winning the game.

After our pre-game strategy meeting, we watch some footage from last year’s game against our opponent and then their two last games, which they had won. It was going to be tough to beat them, but not impossible. I was more determined than ever to win this game. After our meetings, we returned to our rooms.

“Hey, man, did you ask your dad?” I tossed my bag on the bed and took out some clean boxers. I was ready for a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.

Josh kept his gaze glued to his phone. “Ask my dad what?” He smiled and continued texting.

A surge of adrenaline hit my blood. “Dude, I need a ticket for Lexi.”

He looked at me. “Oh, yeah! I totally forgot. Sorry, man.” He quickly pressed some keys on his phone. “I’ll call him now.”

I continued removing my personal items from my overnight bag and took them to the bathroom.

“Hey, Dad.” I overheard Josh on the phone. “Yeah, I’m at the hotel.”

My reflection in the mirror seemed a little different this time, but I couldn’t figure out why. How could a girl have that kind of effect on me? What was it about her that had my stomach in bubbles? It was a different feeling — nothing like I felt before a game. Surprisingly, I was totally calm about tomorrow night. Something had changed inside me: my heart beat faster, my smile to widened, and my mind turned into a pit of zombie brains.

Shit. I sounded just like Josh.

I wasn’t good for her and a nagging voice in the back of my mind kept reminding me of that, but I didn’t care. She might have been the complete opposite of me — sweet, innocent, and perfect — but it only made me want her more.

“Sorry, man.” Josh stood in the doorway of the bathroom. “My dad said he already invited some people from work so he doesn’t have an extra ticket.”

“Damn.” I pounded my fist on the marble counter top.

“Give her one of yours.” Josh slipped his phone in the back pocket of his jeans.

“I already told my mom, aunt, and brother’s they could use mine.” It wouldn’t be fair to ask one of them not to go just so I could invite her. Besides, they didn’t know her and it might be a little awkward for her to sit with them.

“Buy her one.” Josh stepped inside the bathroom with me and checked his hair. He ran his fingers through the sides a couple of times. He grabbed the mouthwash on the counter and took a swig, swishing it around in his mouth.

I stepped to the side, allowing him some space. “Yeah, I guess I could do that.” That was a better option than pairing her with my family.

Josh spit in the sink and then held up his hand, blowing his breath against it. His phone chimed and he quickly pulled it from his pocket. A large smile spread across his face as he read the message. “I’ll be back.”

“Where you going?” I looked at my watch. “Curfew’s in an hour.”

He shoved his phone back in his pocket and then adjusted himself. “To meet Shelby. She’s outside waiting for me.” He stepped out of the bathroom and I followed him.

Shaking my head, I said. “Damn, you two can’t get enough of each other.”

“What can I say?” He shrugged, holding his hand up.

“I guess you should get it while you can.” I smirked. He turned around to open the door and I stopped it with my hand. “Hey, why don’t you tell her to come up? I’ll go downstairs and wait.”

“That’s alright,” he said, looking over his shoulder. “We’ll just use her backseat.”

“Josh,” I laughed, “what if you get caught? That’s like a misdemeanor or something.”

He waved off my warning. “We’re not going to get caught.” Josh was definitely the wiser one when it came to his football career and college education: always taking the time to think things through and make good decisions — unlike me. But as things progressed with Shelby, he seemed to be making some poor decisions and I couldn’t stand by and let anything happen to my friend. He’d do the same for me and had — countless times.

“But what if you do? You’ll get a ticket, and so will Shelby. Coach will find out, you might even get suspended from the game, and who knows what else.”

Josh’s head bent forward and his smile vanished. “I guess you’re right.”

I heard my phone chime and I picked it up from the nightstand. It was Beth. I shook my head and stuffed the phone in my pocket. “Just text me after Shelby leaves.” I shouldered past him. “I’ll be downstairs.”

“Are you sure?” Josh stuck his head out the door, looking left and then right.

“Yeah. I’ll go watch TV downstairs or go hang out with Shawn and Marcel.” I patted him on his back. “Go get your girl and give her what she needs.” I smiled, wishing I had someone special in my life.

“Thanks, man.” Josh shut the door and we headed to the elevators.

The doors opened and Josh went to a side entrance while I headed to the bar area. ESPN was on the TV and they were discussing the game. No matter how many times I’d seen myself on TV, I couldn’t get used to it. I was somewhat popular, but it was still weird. Fame and fortune weren’t my goals. Playing football and being good at it was. I knew popularity and money came with that package, but that didn’t entice me.

Shawn was all wrapped up with the thought of making millions. Not me. I just wanted to buy my mom a nice house and have a decent place to live. My family didn’t have much money and I never wanted to forget where I came from.

“What can I get you?” The bartender wiped the counter with a white towel.

“An ice water with lemon please.” I needed to make sure my blood was alcohol free for tomorrow’s game. Since I already had three beers earlier, it was smart to drink as much water as possible.

“You’ve got it.”

The bartender’s hands worked quickly, filling a clear glass with ice and water. He topped it with a few lemons and set it in front of me.

“Thanks.”  

After the segment on PHU and our opponent was over, I took out my phone and read the message from Beth.

Beth: Hey, Raven. Been thinking about you. Are you ready for the game?

My finger hovered over the letters on the keyboard. Instead of responding to her, I flipped to the last message from Lexi. Just as I began to text, Shawn and Marcel showed up. I set my phone to the side and spoke with them for the next forty-five minutes. A few other guys from the team joined us and we discussed our strategy, agreeing that we were going to kick UT’s ass.

At five till nine, my phone buzzed. I flipped it over and saw it was Josh.

Josh: You can come up. Shelby’s gone.

I got up from the barstool. “It’s almost nine, guys. I’m heading upstairs.”

Shawn glanced at his phone. “Oh, shit.” He hopped off his chair and everyone else got up. We trekked to our rooms, going in different directions. Some took the stairs and other’s caught the elevator.

I inserted my key card into the door and opened it. Shelby’s perfume inundated me. There was no denying she had been there. The shower was running and the TV was on. “Is that you, dude?” Josh hollered through the bathroom door.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I yelled back. I hopped on the bed, waiting for him to get out so I could shower next.

I flipped through the channels, watching nothing in particular. I glanced at my phone, wondering whether I should ask Lexi if she wanted me to get her a ticket to the game. What was she doing right now? Was she thinking about me? Did she really have a good time at the stadium? I let my head hit the back of the headboard. I sounded so pathetic.

Josh walked out of the bathroom wearing a towel wrapped around his waist and using another to dry his hair. “Thanks for going downstairs.” The tattoos across his chest seemed brighter, but maybe that was because he was still wet, or maybe it was the heat from the shower.

“Yeah, no problem.” I grabbed my boxers and headed to the bathroom.

“Shelby didn’t want to leave.” He laughed. “That girl was determined to wear me out.”

I slapped his backside. “With an ass like that, I see why,” I joked.

Josh elbowed me. “Whatever.”

I took a long, hot shower, allowing the water to run down my face and body. It felt good against my tired muscles and sore shoulder, which had started bothering me again when we were at the mall. The only thing that could’ve aggravated it was when I had carried Lexi. It wasn’t anything to get worried about, though — at least, not yet. If it felt like this tomorrow, I’d get some stem therapy and be as good as new.

After my shower, I lay in bed with the lights out and Josh snoring like a baby. Then again, I’d be sleeping like that too if I’d had sex for an hour.
Lucky shit.
I scrolled through my phone and opened the student website for PHU’s athletic tickets. If I was considering buying a ticket for Lexi, I needed to make sure they were still available. To my surprise, the game was nearly sold out.

I glanced at the clock. Ten forty-three flashed on the screen. If I was going to buy her a ticket, I needed to do it tonight. My thumb stalled over the characters before I finally typed her a message.

Me: Had a great time today. Can’t wait to have more fun with you.

Before I hit the send button, I selected a winking smiley face. A little harmless flirting wouldn’t hurt. I sent the message and stared at the screen. The bar flashed in the message box as I waited for her to respond. The seconds turned into minutes, but nothing came through. I gnawed on the edge of my thumb, biting away the skin as I waited for her reply.

Screw it.

I typed another message.

Me: Do you want to come to the game? If so, let me know and I’ll get you a ticket.

I stared at the text for a few seconds and then erased it. If she responded to my text, then I’d ask her about the ticket. I tossed my phone on the bed. My leg shook uncontrollably and my thumb burned as I exposed new, raw skin. If I didn’t stop, I was going to eat away my freakin’ finger. I picked up my phone again and stared at the screen, waiting for Lexi to text me back.

After thirty minutes, I gave up and put on my headphones. I needed to go to sleep and music usually helped me relaxed. I closed my eyes and pulled the covers over my body. Adam Levine didn’t help. His damn lyrics had my thoughts veering right toward Lexi. Her sweet smell, her sexy body, her gorgeous hair I was dying to touch…her luscious lips I wanted on mine. Yes, I definitely needed a little sweetness in my life. Lexi’s sweetness.

∑

Chapter 12

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly

find out how far one can go.

~T.S. Eliot

The next day, we didn’t go to class, which was typical of Friday night games. We slept in and had a big breakfast downstairs in the restaurant. I checked my phone a few times to see if Lexi had responded, but she hadn’t. Just as we were ready to load the bus, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and saw it was Lexi. My heart jumped in my chest, but I managed to keep calm.

Lexi: Me too.

What was she talking about? I scrolled to my previous text. She was referring to what I said about wanting to have more fun with her. I smiled. Things were definitely headed in the right direction. I checked the ticket website one more time and was pissed to see it was sold out. I knew I could probably get a ticket from one of the guys, but it would be a hassle. I’d do it for her if she wanted to go.