Player (What Happens on Campus Book 1) (18 page)

By the time they finally reached the hospital her chest was so tight that she felt like she was about to hyperventilate. She supposed she was in the right place if she did have an asthma attack. Jumping out of the car before Jet had finished parking, she slammed the door shut and left him to straighten-up as she rushed inside. The automatic doors were painfully slow, grating on her anxious nerves, and she slid through as soon as the gap was big enough, almost bumping into a man on the other side.

The waiting room was packed with people, screaming children and moans of pain – one woman sat with her hand lifted, wrapped in a bloody towel and, as Chloe passed, a nurse came over and led her away. At the reception desk, she fidgeted impatiently as she waited for the harried looking receptionist to put down the phone and notice her.

“I’m looking for Parker Mitchell, he was in a car crash,” she blurted as soon as the woman turned her eyes towards her.

“Are you a relative?”

They wouldn’t let her in if she wasn’t family. “I’m… his fiancé?”

The other woman didn’t look convinced, but after a moment’s hesitation she sighed, glanced at the computer screen in front of her and then waved a hand over to the curtained off cubicles at the back. “Over there, last one on the left.”

“Thank you,” Chloe called over her shoulder as she hurried away.

It was impossible for her feet to get her there fast enough. Pulling back the curtain, she breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Parker sitting on the edge of the gurney, his hat, of all things, beside him. There was a bump the size of an ostrich egg on his head and dried blood around his nose, but he smiled when he saw her and jumped down.

“Bloody hell, look at your arm!” she exclaimed, examining his forearm, where a deep, angry red cut had been neatly sewn up from wrist to elbow.

“Doc says I can’t play Saturday,” he frowned, by way of an answer.

“Well yeah, you’d open it up and bleed to death.” She glanced around, realized he was the only patient in the cubical. “Is Dawson okay?”

“He looks worse than me, but apparently it’s mostly cuts and bruises. Broke his arm though, so he’s not gonna be able to play for a while either. Coach ain’t gonna be happy.”

“He should be glad you’re both alive,” she huffed.

“Oh, he will be… once we’re both playing again.”

Half laughing, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leant her head against his shoulder, holding him tight in case he slipped away. “I’m just glad you’re not seriously hurt.”

Awkwardly, his injured arm went around her back and his other one lifted to stroke a hand through her hair. Dropping his head down so that his warm breath was against her ear, he murmured, “Sorry I scared you, sugar.”

“It’s not your fault,” she spoke against his t-shirt, her words muffled by the material. Tipping her head back, she lifted a hand to touch his stubbled jaw. “Actually, it’s kind of made me think… Life is short and precious, and Jack wouldn’t want me to dwell on the past, so I need to stop feeling guilty. I’m not saying it’ll stop overnight, but I’ll try.”

Open pride on his face, he kissed her lips. “We can make this work.”

“Yeah,” she sighed, “we can.”

Just as he’d thought, Coach was
not
happy to have both his first and second string quarterbacks out of action, but he’d found a replacement. Parker was pretty pissed off about missing the game too; there were going to be scouts there and he needed to get noticed if he wanted a shot at the NFL. On the bright side though, while his teammates were hot and sweaty, getting tackled by the beefy Mississippi team, he was getting tackled by someone with an entirely different build.

Stretched out on the grass beside him, Chloe’s soft hair tickled his neck and he stroked the waves over her shoulder, smoothing them down her back. Skin warm from the sun, and slightly sticky from the gallons of sunscreen she insisted on wearing, she lay on her side, with her head resting on his good arm, drawing patterns on this chest through his shirt. He considered taking it off, so that he could feel skin on skin, but was too lazy to move when he was being petted so sweetly.

There had been another nightmare last night, a bad one, but for some reason it didn’t bother him as much as it did before, probably because now he had her word that she was going to work through it. He no longer felt as if he would lose her to the guilt which spurred her nightmares. Now he knew she wouldn’t let it win, he knew she wouldn’t walk away.

He knew she was just as committed to their relationship as he was, she showed him every day in the way that she touched him, but up until the other day he’d always had the strange, unnerving feeling that if things got bad, she would be the one to end it. Not because she didn’t feel the same things he did, but because she was stronger than he was.

“What you doin’ for Thanksgiving?” he asked out of the blue, intending to ask her out for a special meal with him. Not the pizza shack, or Jenkins’, or the burger place, but a proper upscale restaurant. It would probably bankrupt him, but still, he wanted to do something nice for her.

“I’m English, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.”

Pinching her butt in retaliation, he growled, “Well, I’m American and I do. So how about it? Dinner?”

“Actually, Riley’s invited us both to go home with her for the weekend. I meant to say something last night, but you distracted me.” 

Groaning, he thumped his head back on the grass. “A whole weekend with Riley. She’s like the Energized Bunny on Crack.” Though he had always wanted to meet her dad; Troy Murphy was a legend in the footballing world and he was a little excited to meet him – like a kid on Christmas day! However, Chloe’s next words pulled him out of his thoughts and made him sit up and pay attention.

“I’m kinda worried she might be on actual Crack.”

Propping himself up on his elbows, though his arm screamed in protest, he frowned. “Seriously?”

“I don’t know. She’s acting really weird, she’s even more manic than usual and she sleeps even less than I do. I don’t want to accuse her of anything in case I’m wrong, but something’s not right.”

“Just go through her stuff.”

“I can’t do that,” she said, aghast.

“‘Course you can. I go through Jet’s stuff all the time.”

“Why?” she gasped, before quirking one brow and asking seriously, “You’re not a kleptomaniac are you?”

He laughed. “No, it’s just when I need stuff.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” she shook her head, but she was grinning.

“I go through your stuff too,” he informed her bluntly, smirking at the scowl on her face. “Mostly when I need to borrow a hairband.”

“Hey, I wondered where they’d been going! Why can’t you return them when you’re done?”

Shrugging, he lay back down. “I’ll buy you some new ones.”

“Damn right you will,” she grumbled. “You know, when you start needing to borrow your girlfriends’ hairbands, it’s probably a sign that you need to get your haircut.”

“I will.”

“You better,” she said sternly, levelling a glare at him, “and before Thanksgiving too, I don’t want Riley’s parents thinking I’m dating the Mountain Man. Also, it wouldn’t kill you to shave a bit more often, whisker burn is not a good look on me.”

“Yes, dear,” he teased, received a punch to the stomach in return, before she lay back down beside him.

After spending the day relaxing in the sun together, his skin had darkened several shades, whereas hers had turned bright red, something she complained wholeheartedly about as she examined the strap marks that her dress left revealed. 

“I don’t want to go out looking like a lobster,” she groaned, slumping back onto the bed, one arm flung over her eyes.

“Sugar, this was your idea,” he reminded her patiently, buttoning up his shirt, “I’m all for stayin’ here and keepin’ you all to myself.”

“But I want to dance.”

Sprawling out beside her, he traced a finger over the white lines her tank top had left on her shoulders, her skin slippery from all the moisturizer she’d slathered on herself in an attempt to stop her skin from glowing. “I’ll put some music on and we’ll have a private party.” Unable to help himself, he leant down to follow the path of his finger with his lips.

Sighing softly, she relaxed beneath him for a moment, before her fingers curled into his long hair and pulled his head back. “Don’t try to distract me,” she scowled.

Laughing, he shook his head to free himself, before standing up and pulling her to her feet. “Come on, let’s go. It’s already dark so no one will be able to see.”

At the door, he waited as she slipped her feet into a pair of heels, before taking her hand in his and heading for another Beta party. Parker swore it was all the fraternity ever did; when they graduated the only thing they’d be qualified to become were party planners.

When they got there he left Chloe chatting to some people from one of her classes and went to get their usual drinks. As he was pouring OJ into a cup for her, he felt a hand slide across his shoulders and smiled. “That was quick, sugar.”

Nails scratched lightly against the back of his neck, making a shiver roll down his spine and not the good kind. Definitely not Chloe.

Jerking around, juice sloshed over his hands and across the counter. “What the fuck, Karla?” he snapped. Standing behind him, she pursed her glossy lips in what was supposed to be a seductive smile. He just found it annoying.

“Come on, Parker,” she purred, “don’t be like that. We used to be friends, didn’t we? I heard about the crash and just wanted to make sure my friend was okay.”

“We were never friends,” he growled, batting away the hand that tried to trail down his chest towards the front of his jeans, “and I’m fine.” Grudgingly he added, “Thanks for asking,” as he turned away, swearing at the mess in front of him.

A wet sniff made him glance back around. No fucking way was Karla crying, the girl had a heart of ice. “What are you doin’?”

“There’s no reason to be so mean,” she sniffed, wiping a
tear
from the corner of her eye with one finger, before it had a chance to ruin her makeup. “I was just trying to be nice.”

“Hey, stop that,” he snapped as she lifted her hands to hide her face and began sobbing in earnest. People were turning to look at them. He didn’t embarrass easily, but he could feel the back of his neck beginning to burn. He felt like a dick for making her cry, evil or not she was still a girl.

Grabbing her elbow, he steered her out of the room and onto the back patio, which was thankfully quiet for the moment. Leaving the door open, he tried to step back but Karla wrapped her arms around his waist like an octopus and hung on.

Awkwardly, he patted one of her shaking shoulders, “Come on, Karla, there was never anythin’ between us, you know that. It was just sex.”

“Great sex,” she put in, face still pressed against his chest. “It was great sex admit it.”

Sighing, he gripped her bare shoulders and pried her away, but suddenly she pushed upwards and her mouth collided with his, slim arms wrapping around his neck.

It only took him a second to react, pushing her away as his other hand lifted to wipe his mouth, but even that was too long.

“Fuckin’ hell, Karla!” he yelled, but she wasn’t paying attention to him. Miraculously dry eyed and with a smug smile on her lips, she was looking at someone in the doorway. Turning to see who it was, his heart dropped into his stomach when he saw Chloe standing there, a mask over her features as she surveyed the scene.

“Chlo… I…”

She must be able to see he hadn’t wanted that? Surely she knew he hadn’t kissed Karla back? The bitch had set him up! But then he considered what he’d do if he found her kissing someone else. He’d explode, he couldn’t deny it, and logic wouldn’t stand a chance.

Luckily for him, Chloe wasn’t as hotheaded as he was. Stepping forward in slow, measured steps, the sound of her heels clicking on the floor making him flinch, she stopped in front of Karla. A second later, a sharp, resounding crack echoed around the patio, drawing the eyes of the few people relaxing at the other end.

Cupping her red cheek, shocked that Chloe had actually slapped her, Karla turned to him with big, wounded eyes, “Are you just going to stand there?”

Chloe looked at him expectantly too, one eyebrow raised. Though he was just as surprised as Karla, he couldn’t say he minded. “Don’t look at me, you deserved it.”

Once more tears filled her eyes and her bottom lip quivered, “But I still love you, Parker.”

With a loud, unladylike snort, Chloe shook her head. “Oh, give it up already and quit playing mind games. We all know you were never in love with him, you just don’t like to lose.”

Instantly, her eyes dried and her face twisted in anger, her entire body shaking with rage. “I haven’t lost.”

“Newsflash, love, Parker’s my boyfriend now and we’re very happy together, so bugger off and find some other poor sod to prey on.”

For a moment the two women stood glaring at each other and he thought they’d start trying to scratch each others eyes out, but then Karla tossed her head dismissively and walked off, pushing past Chloe to get to the door, where Parker was amused to see a crowd had gathered. Without a word, they all parted to let Karla though, but there was no hiding the grins on all of their faces at having witnessed the smack-down.

Once everyone had started to disperse, more than one casting Chloe an appreciative glance, he stepped forward and reached out to hug her, realizing how fucking lucky he was to have her, but she ducked away from him, scowling.

“Don’t even think about it.”

For the second time in less than five minutes his heart took a freefall. God, don’t let her leave him!

Swallowing tightly, he said, “Chloe, you know I didn’t want that, she ambushed me.” The words sounded pathetic and childish even to his own ears and he grimaced as they passed his lips.

“I know you wouldn’t kiss her on purpose,” she shrugged, “but I’m still mad at you, what were you doing out here with her anyway?”

“She was crying,” he shrugged, “I was trying to get her to shut up. I hugged her… kinda… but that was all, I swear, then she just… lunged.”

Silently, she stared at him for a moment and then her lips started to twitch. Before he knew what the hell was going on she was laughing, clutching her stomach with the force of it.

“What’s so funny?” he huffed, totally clueless.

“She’s the big bad wolf and you’re the defenseless little lamb,” she managed to say between bouts of giggles, one hand going up to cover her mouth. He tried to remain straight-faced and unamused, but it wasn’t long before he was laughing too, wrapping one arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his body.

Once they’d both sobered, she pushed half-heartedly at his chest until he looked down to see her grinning up at him, “Let’s go rub it in by making out on the dance floor.”

“I’m lovin’ the way your mind works.”

Heading inside, they did just that and Parker once more realized how lucky he was as her body moved against his. Honestly, Chloe didn’t have to do much to get him hard, but dancing with her back to his chest was guaranteed to do it every time and he didn’t really care who knew; all the other guys there with a gorgeous girl were in exactly the same boat.

At one point during the night, he happened to glance around the room and saw Karla strutting over to Dawson. She caught him looking and cast him a tight, mean smile before leaning into whisper something in his friend’s ear. Parker wasn’t worried; Dawson was a big boy, he could look after himself.

Clearly amused by whatever she’d said, Dawson laughed and she scowled. Having surreptitiously moved close enough so that he could hear, he hid his smile in Chloe’s hair when Dawson shook his head and said, “Sorry, babe, changed my mind. You’re just not worth the drama.”

As she flounced away, red cheeked with anger and embarrassment, Parker couldn’t help feeling bad for her. The emotion was fleeting though, when he remembered how she’d tried to hurt Chloe.

Looking down at the girl in his arms, he pressed a kiss into her mane of brown hair, before spinning her around to face him. With his mouth against her ear, he asked over the music, “Did you doubt me, when you saw us together?”

Pulling back so that she could look him square in the eyes, Chloe lifted her hands to frame his face. “Not even for a second.”