I Bet You

by Madden-Mills, Ilsa

  I frown. “Was it on the field?”

  “Yes.” His lips tighten and he rubs his jaw. “Blaze told me about him showing up when your tire was flat. But that wasn’t the main reason we got into it. There’s…a history there.” He gets a weird expression on his face, one I can’t read. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something that happened at practice…” His voice trails off as I lean in and brush a kiss across his cheek. I’m not quite sure how to maneuver this new…thing we have.

  “Is it that you missed me?” I smile.

  He stares at me and opens his mouth but then closes it, a shuttered expression on his face.

  “Ryker? What’s wrong?’

  He swallows and looks down. “Nothing. It can wait.”

  “I see.” But, I don’t. He’s being very tightlipped, which means he isn’t ready to talk about what’s on his mind. “Is everything with Archer okay now?” From covering the games, I know tensions run high among players. Sometimes a good old-fashioned fight can settle things down.

  A muscle flexes in his jaw. “No.” He tilts my chin up. “I’ve missed you, Red.”

  A blush steals up my cheeks.

  “And there’s somewhere I want to take you tonight. A surprise.”

  “Are you asking me or telling me?”

  He arches a brow, and I’m glad to see his mood seems to be improving. “You’ll want to go. You’ve wanted to see me all day—”

  My eyes flare.

  He continues. “And I know that because you wore that shirt to get my attention. You can’t tell me no—”

  I cock my hip. “I can tell you no, and—”

  “Because I suspect you’ve missed seeing my handsome face—”

  “I wear what I want to—”

  “Maybe I can’t tell you no, Red.”

  I stop what was about to come out of my mouth. God. He sure knows how to shut me up. “Good,” I say softly.

  He takes my backpack from me and hitches it over his shoulder then tosses an arm around me. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “I hate surprises,” I tell him as we walk down the aisle.

  “Is that so? Even the good ones?”

  “Mmhmm. On my tenth birthday, my mom surprised me with a clown, which terrified me. Not to mention I was too old for clowns by then and didn’t give a flip about balloon animals. I really wanted a Justin Bieber birthday, but alas, he was on tour.”

  He smirks. “Most people are scared of clowns.”

  I nod in agreement. “I barfed on his big yellow shoes. Pretty soon the other kids started puking. Of course, it didn’t help that I’d been reading It—when I was clearly too young for it.”

  He chuckles. “I bet you were a handful.”

  “I was an angel.” I throw a glance over at him. “What’s the big quarterback afraid of? Spiders? Snakes? Big linebackers?”

  He tosses his head back and laughs as we head down the stairs, and I’m glad he’s in a better mood. “You’d never believe it if I told you. And I’d have to swear you to secrecy.”

  “Is it creepy?”

  “Hmmm, you’ll probably laugh.” He pauses. “I really shouldn’t tell you.”

  “You can’t do the old bait and switch with me. Tell me!”

  He laughs. “Fine. It’s alektorophobia.” He gives me a questioning look. “Know what that is?”

  My mouth curls up. “Come on, you’re asking the girl who’s had a word of the day since she was five. Of course I know what it is. You’re afraid of chickens—but not birds, I suppose, since Vampire Bill didn’t freak you out.”

  He smirks. “And it’s not really a phobia. I just wanted to impress you with my vocabulary. It’s more of an irrational fear of roosters.”

  I smirk. “Childhood trauma?”

  He nods. “At the petting zoo.”

  “I’m picturing you running amuck and a mean old rooster chasing you across a field.”

  “You must be psychic. Pretty much nailed it. FYI, they run fast.”

  We laugh and all at once, I feel…giddy. My heart stutters in my chest, and I stare at him.

  “We should get going,” he says, and only then do I realize we’ve been looking at each other for several seconds.

  We walk out the door and into the cool October air. The sun is low on the horizon, a few hours from setting, and the smell of fall is in the air, crisp and sharp. Ryker stops and sets my backpack down to take off his blue and orange varsity jacket. With a small smirk on his face, he arranges it around my shoulders.

  “I didn’t say I was cold,” I murmur, but I’ve already stuck my hands in the pockets. It falls past my waist and two of me could fit inside it, but I’m in no hurry to take it off.

  A smile works his face, and he pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “Let’s go.”

  It feels like a date.

  He opens the passenger side door of his truck for me, and once I’m tucked in, he gets in and pulls out of the parking lot next to the student center. I sit on my side, but it doesn’t stop my eyes from watching the roped muscles in his forearms. I begged him to tell me where we’re going, but he’s not budging.

  “Are you hungry?” he asks as we turn onto the main drag that will take you through Magnolia. We pass a few restaurants, even Sugar’s, but I had a late lunch with Charisma before I went to the study group, so I tell him I’m not hungry. He nods his head toward the back seat. “I grabbed some wine from the store before I came to see you. There’s chocolate back there too. I had an early dinner in the cafeteria, but I didn’t know if you’d eaten anything.”

  Chocolate? Wine? Oh, this is so a date.

  “I’m fine,” I say. “Are we celebrating?”

  He sends me a heated look. “Yes.”

  Hmmmm.

  “What kind of wine did you get?”

  “The girly kind with bubbles. I know you like it. But, don’t think I’m too fancy. Where we’re going, we won’t really use glasses, so it’s just a little six-pack with twist-offs.” A gruff laugh comes from him and I almost think he’s embarrassed. “Classy, right?”

  I imagine him waltzing into the liquor store and purchasing girly wine. I smile. “Twist-off wine is totally redneck, but I’m not complaining.”

  He nods and looks back at the road. “Great.”

  Leaving the lights of town, he turns down a secondary road that’s mostly deserted with the exception of a few houses every mile or so.

  “Are we going to the boonies?”

  “Almost there.”

  “Should I be scared that you’re taking me out here to ravish me?” I ask.

  “Mmmm.” He throws me a look, and I see his gaze sweep over my body, lingering with heat.

  Damn him. He’s so vague. I slide over to his side, curl my hand around his thigh, and whisper in his ear. “Where are we going, Ryker?”

  He gives me a grin and turns sharply onto a gravel road.

  We drive up a hill, bouncing around in the cab over the bumps and holes in the road.

  He grabs a couple of blankets from the back seat and then hands me a small wicker basket that looks new. I peek inside and see the six-pack of wine with the chocolate.

  “Where did you get this basket?”

  “The store.”

  “You bought all this just for us?” I pick up a small jar of fancy olives and look at him. I’m picturing him at Target or Walmart, wandering the aisles. “What else is in here?”

  He grins sheepishly. “Some strawberries are on the bottom. Hopefully they didn’t get squashed by the wine.”

  “Wow.” My eyes blink. I’m speechless.

  “It’s been a while since I had a real date, Red. I was just trying to cover all the bases.”

  “You did well, grasshopper.”

  He chuckles as we walk down a stone path toward a large ranch-style log cabin. A red barn sits off to the right. The sound of cicadas buzzing surrounds us, the sun low and orange, close to the horizon. The smell of fresh hay bales reaches my nose, and
I inhale a deep breath. “I love being out in the middle of nowhere.” I look back at him and see he’s watching me. “Have I been to a toga party here?”

  “Probably. It’s an old farm one of the former players owns. He donated it to the team, and we help maintain it. It keeps us in shape during the offseason.” He points at the log cabin. “The team has retreats out here every spring, and every fall we have a big bonfire party.”

  “What are we doing here? Are we going into the cabin?”

  He shakes his head. “No. Come on, I want to show you something.” He grabs my hand, and we take off up the hill to the left on a small trail. He adjusts his steps so we’re walking in sync.

  We meander along the path for a while, passing tall trees and utter silence.

  “What is this secret place?” I ask. “You’re not a serial killer, are you?”

  He grins. “There’s a waterfall a few hundred feet down the trail, and a meadow that’s full of sunflowers in the fall. It’s pretty amazing. I found it when I was running out here with Maverick last year.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is this stupid?” he asks suddenly, looking more discombobulated than I’ve ever seen him. “This is so stupid. Maybe we should head back to town and just get a beer at Cadillac’s.”

  I reach out and take his hand in mine.

  “It’s a meadow?”

  He nods.

  “With pretty flowers and trees around it?”

  He shrugs nonchalantly.

  And I watch him. Seeing him. He has such a soft side. My heart flutters. Does he even remember that Edward and Bella found a meadow in Twilight?

  I exhale slowly.

  “I love it, Ryker. It’s the perfect date. Let’s stay.”

  We make our way down the path and stand in the middle of a small clearing that’s banked on either side by bright yellow sunflowers. We lie down on the blanket and talk. I tell him my favorite movies and songs and books; he tells me his. He describes a sailboat he wants to buy some day, and I describe in intricate detail my pirate fantasy. I end up drinking most of the wine because he can’t stomach the taste of it. When the stars come out, we hold each other, our breaths mingling as we kiss. He undresses me under the dark sky with a tenderness that burns into an uncontrollable fire. Eventually, he takes me from behind, his hand on my hips, my name on his lips. His hand curls around my shoulder and runs through my hair as he tells me I’m his.

  Afterward, we hold each other, and I don’t speak at the wonder that is us. I want to tell him how I feel…but instead, I send a silent prayer up to the heavens, begging them to watch over us.

  Penelope

  “Is the DJ booked?” Charisma asks as we sit next to each other in the library. “I hope he’s bringing some kickass lights and maybe a karaoke machine. I want this 80s theme to be OTC.”

  I grin. “Over the top cool?”

  She smirks. “Off the chain.”

  I pull out the to-do list I’ve been working on. “Yes, I confirmed with him and also with the catering company. The pledges are decorating tonight.”

  It’s a few days before our homecoming party, and I’m scrambling to get everything done. I’ve been waiting here for a few girls from the planning committee to meet. Normally, we gather at the Chi Omega house, but the pledges are having a sleepover, so Margo decided we would forgo the craziness of the house to finalize the details at the library. I check my watch, and she’s late. Everyone is. I send her a quick text to see where she is.

  “Is that Ryker?” Charisma murmurs as she waggles her eyebrows at me.

  “No.”

  “Got any juicy bits for me? Is the package in proportion to the frame?” Her eyes gleam with curiosity. Yes, I told her about Ryker.

  “All you need to know is the deed is done.”

  “Dammit. Why are you so tightlipped? I need to know!” She flops down in her seat and glares at me.

  “What about Blaze? What’s the scoop on him?”

  She shrugs, her face flaming, which is unusual for her. “Meh. Nothing to tell.”

  “Aha. See. You’re not telling me everything.”

  I tap my pen against my pad and think about Ryker. We spent the last two nights together, and each day, he meets me at the student center in the morning to walk me to my first class.

  “You’re beet red,” she exclaims as she pulls out a bag of chips and starts munching. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

  I look pointedly at her snack. “You’re not supposed to eat in here.”

  “I’m a rule-breaker.” Her eyes go past my shoulder and flare. With hurried movements, she straightens her hair over her shoulder and checks her lipstick in the reflection of her phone.

  I follow the direction of her gaze and see Blaze coming in the entrance of the library.

  “Oooo, here he comes,” I tease her.

  She grunts. “He’s just so…rambunctious. And who names their kid Blaze? I mean, it’s bound to give him some kind of ego…” Her voice tapers off at his arrival on the staircase from the lower floor.

  I watch as the brown-haired hottie takes the steps two at a time, a gleam in his eyes as he reaches our table. He gives me a nod then focuses on Charisma. “Hey babe. Whatcha doin?”

  She tucks a chip in her mouth, chewing loudly. “NOT A BABE.” Her voice carries over to several tables.

  “Shhh.”

  She ignores me and looks at Blaze, who’s sat down next to her. “I told you last night—”

  I interrupt. “You said you were helping the pledges.”

  She blinks at me. “Uh, I was going to do that, but when I drove past the athletic dorm, Blaze was—”

  Blaze’s eyes widen. “She texted me and asked to see me under the pretext of studying. Then she took advantage of me.” He sighs. “It wasn’t the first time.”

  She throws her hands up. “You both need to back off—”

  “Hello, cher,” a low voice says from behind me.

  Our table goes silent, and we turn to see Archer with Sasha on his arm. Her blonde hair is swept up on either side with sparkly lion clips, the mascot for the Thetas, and her pink-tipped nails are curled around Archer’s bicep. A couple of the defensive players I don’t know linger around them, and I suppose it’s Archer’s posse.

  I’m relieved Margo isn’t here yet to see Sasha.

  “Hello,” I say with a brief dismissive nod, only because Southern social etiquette demands a response.

  “You guys studying?” Sasha asks.

  Charisma glares at her as if she’s an idiot. “We’re planning our massive homecoming party—which is going to be way better than yours.”

  Sasha’s eyes harden. “Is that so?”

  “I’ll be at the Theta house,” Archer says, giving me a smile, his teeth sharp, the light from the overhead florescent bulbs glinting off the diamond studs in his ears. I grimace. If he were a vampire, he’d be one of the creepy, unsexy Stephen King ones.

  “Perfect,” I say sweetly. “Please carry on then. There are plenty of open tables tonight.” I wave my hand at the entire empty section in the area to our right. I don’t have time to deal with Archer and his machinations.

  But the duo lingers. “Haven’t seen you around in a while,” he says to me, and I look up from my to-do list.

  “Good,” I say.

  He snaps his fingers. “Oh, yeah, that’s because you’re doing Ryker on the regular now. How’s that going?” He smirks at me. “You finally caved and gave it up. I really thought you hated him. Turns out, you’re just like all the rest.” His lip curls. “Come see me when he’s done with you. I’ll hook you up with something better.” He grabs his crotch.

  My first reaction is horror. Awful, mind-numbing horror. Then rage makes me go white-faced. My fists curl, and before I know it, I’m standing. “Go to hell, asshole.”

  Archer laughs and Sasha’s eyes widen.

  Blaze jumps to his feet and stalks over to where Archer stands. “Hey now, watch yourself. Nobody wan
ts to hear your bullshit. Leave.”

  “I don’t want to leave,” Archer says.

  “Come on, girls, let’s move downstairs.” Blaze’s hand is on my shoulder, but I shake him off.

  “No.” Out of my peripheral vision I see indecision on his face as he gives me space. With one step, I’m in Archer’s personal space. I take in the bruise under his eye, the split lip. “Looks like someone beat the shit out of you,” I say.

  His hands clench. “Your boyfriend got in a sucker punch.”

  “You better run along before Ryker shows up,” Blaze says from behind me.

  “I don’t give a shit about Ryker,” he mutters, narrowing his beady eyes. “But maybe she needs to know the truth.”

  “Stop fucking with our team,” Blaze tells him quietly. “You’re the problem. Not Ryker.”

  Archer smirks. “You’re just his little lapdog.”

  Blaze takes a menacing step forward. “I said leave.”

  My chest is rising rapidly. How does he know about me and Ryker? It’s possible he’s just throwing out guesses. “Wait a minute,” I say. “I want him to explain himself.”

  An expression of glee flits across Archer’s face.

  And I feel trapped, as if I’ve reacted exactly the way he wanted me to. I straighten my glasses. Charisma is next to me, bristling like a mother hen. “Yeah. Speak, jerk face,” she says.

  Archer sighs, a pleased smirk on his face. “By the look on your face, I guess it’s true then.”

  “What?” I bite out.

  “Ah, cher, did you think Ryker was into you?”

  Blaze lets out a groan. “Fuck.”

  I don’t say a word. But my face is on fire. My hand clings to the back of my chair. Whatever he’s going to say…I think my heart already knows.

  He tsks. “See, you’d think you would have figured it out after the bet at Sugar’s. I was counting on you holding a grudge, but you went and gave it up anyway.”

  My lips are numb. “Stop beating around the bush and say what you came to say, Archer.” My words are controlled, tight, and surprising cool, considering I’m flopping around like a dying fish on the inside.

  “Well, it wasn’t a bet we put on the board, but every player knew the stakes. Offense against defense.”