Once the game starts back up, no one notices me anymore. All eyes are on the field—as they should be. Thank God.
“I’m sure I’ll be okay.” I press my fingers to my cheek and cry out in pain. It hurts like a bitch. “See, it’s just a bruise. I’m sure it will heal on its own. I don’t have a concussion.”
Sitting behind me on the bench, Jessica squeezes my shoulder to let me know she’s still there. She doesn’t say a word as the doctor goes about his business.
“Do you know your name?”
I nod, making eyes at the doctor as if he’s crazy. “Yes. It’s Victoria Reynolds.”
He shines a tiny flashlight in my eyes and does the obligatory check to make sure I’m okay. My double vision of the field is probably temporary, which is why I don’t bother to mention it. I’ve broken bones before. This is nothing.
“Good. Do you know what today is?”
“Saturday,” I say, hoping this doesn’t go on much longer. I hate unwanted attention. The last thing I need is for people to label me as Bash’s ex-girlfriend who made a scene at the season opener. The rumor mill will churn, same as always. If Bash so much as sneezes, the campus knows about it. And anyone seen with him is always a target.
“Other than the bruised cheek, I’m fine,” I tell Dr. Holland, attempting to make my words sound believable.
Ten minutes pass before Dr. Holland is satisfied with the outcome of his tests. Apparently, I don’t have any major signs of a concussion. I figured as much by the way my body responded to Bash alone. Or maybe I’m losing my shit. Because why on earth would I think of Bash in that way ever again? He still disgusts me. He should repulse me. Except he doesn’t. And I kind of hate myself for it.
Helping me to my seat next to Jessica, Dr. Holland hovers over me with a concerned look in his eyes. “You don’t have any major warning signs, but that doesn’t mean your situation can’t change. I want you to be careful for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. No drinking, drugs, or any strenuous activity.”
Jessica laughs but keeps her mouth shut. The last thing she needs to mention is the after party in front of the doctor.
“No problem.” I give him a forced grin, even though my face and head hurt like hell, causing the lines on the field to blur. “Thank you.”
“Take it easy, Victoria.” He smiles, then shoves his medical instruments into the leather bag. “You can have a delayed reaction. It happens to my players all the time. Don’t take anything I’ve told you for granted.”
I feign a smile. “Of course.”
“I’ll take excellent care of her, Doc,” Jessica chimes. She hooks her arm through mine, putting my biceps in a vise. “I won’t let anything bad happen to my bestie.”
Dr. Holland hands me his business card. “Call me if anything changes. My cell phone number is on the back.”
“I will. Thank you.” I stuff the card into my pocket as he walks away.
“Is he serious about not being able to drink tonight? That ruins my plans.” Jessica sounds like a child complaining about not getting her way.
I do an internal happy dance because I take this incident as a valid excuse to bail on the dreaded party. But Jessica doesn’t see it that way.
“You have to come with me,” she says, her eyes pointed at the field. She salivates over Clay. “You are not getting out of this that easily. We are a team.”
I hold my hand up to my forehead, pretending to faint. “I think I feel something coming on.” Trying to hold back my laughter, I fail.
“You’re not funny, Tori. I have been looking forward to this for weeks. We have it all planned out.”
“No,” I correct her, “you have it all planned out. I just listen to you ramble on about how you’re having sex with Clay.”
She presses her index finger to her lips and looks over her shoulder at the people behind us on the bleachers. “Shh! He would have a stroke if anyone heard you say that.”
How Clay has waited this long to have sex with Jessica shocks the hell out of me. A guy like Clay—the starting quarterback of our team, good-looking, and rich—has girls throwing themselves at him all day long. Just like Bash. They’re practically twins. Jessica is beautiful beyond words, but I’m still surprised he hasn’t bailed, like his jerk of a friend did to me.
“Calm down, Jess.” I stroke her forearm with my fingers. “I’ll make an appearance, but I can’t promise I will stay all night. I don’t feel good after getting smacked in the face and knocked down by Bash. He’s not a small guy, and the tip of the football hit me like a dart.”
She lets out a relieved sigh. “I’m calm. Just glad that you’re not ditching me.”
I force a closed mouth smile. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“But I understand if you need to leave,” she adds, with a hopeful expression on her face.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. I’ll be okay. Don’t worry about me. This night is about Clay popping your cherry.” I chuckle at the last part. “I won’t let this ruin your celebration.”
“You’re so vulgar.” She smacks me on the leg. “Why do you have to say things like that?”
“You’re such a prude,” I counter. “And for someone so pure, I can’t believe you want to give up your V card at a football party.”
She shrugs, her eyes focused on the game in front of us. “It’s an important night for Clay, and this is an important night for me. I don’t know. I just thought it would make it special for us.”
“I don’t know how special it will be with music thumping through the house and drunk people humping each other’s legs in the living room.”
Jessica rolls her eyes at me. “Easy for you to say. Bash made your first time something from a fairy tale.”
I can’t deny it. Bash went all out, made me believe he was my Prince Charming. It turns out he was more like a toad.
“But look what he did after. That’s all that matters anymore.”
She doesn’t respond this time. Jessica knows the story better than anyone. It’s a shame Bash has his version. That’s the story everyone on campus knows. It’s also the story that turned him into a legendary ladies man and made me an outcast.
As much as I’d love to use the pulse throbbing in my head as an excuse to go back to the dorm, eat junk food, and binge watch Netflix, I have to support my friend. So, I have no choice but to suck it up and deal with Bash and his stupid friends. It’s only a few hours.
How much damage can he do?
Roughing is available from Amazon and free with Kindle Unlimited.
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Also by Jillian Quinn
LOVE IN THE END ZONE SERIES
Roughing
Holding
MORE THAN SERIES
More Than Friends
More Than Roommates
FACE-OFF SERIES
Parker
Kane
Donovan
Jameson
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About the Author
Jillian Quinn is an international bestselling romance author who likes her females just as alpha as their swoon-worthy counterparts. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jillian sets all of her books in the City of Brotherly Love, cheers for her local sports teams, and enjoys a good cheesesteak. When she’s not writing, reading, or blogging, she’s fangirling over hockey and can be found wherever she can watch the next game.
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