Overprotected

by Lulu Pratt

  I went back to the apartment and walked into silence. I assumed Jackson was in his room as I saw his car parked out front. I grabbed my dirty clothes and balanced the basket on my hip as I maneuvered my way through the small hallway.

  Why wasn’t this place bigger? Didn’t athletes make insane amounts of money?

  I surveyed the stackable washer and dryer and then searched the little closet for the detergent, knowing that he washed the sheets just a few days ago. Where was it?

  I looked around, wondering where else it might be. I rolled my head back and considered the situation.

  I walked down the hall to tap on his bedroom door. I couldn’t hear anything, so I knocked again before I heard a sound inside. I twisted the doorknob slowly as I pushed open the door.

  “Jackson?”

  I gasped as I caught sight of his bare chest. His hard abs and his thick arms were ripped. His eyes were closed so I stood there just drinking in his body. He was doing a slow and steady pull up on a contraption in the corner of the room. He was wearing earbuds, so he didn’t notice me at first.

  By the time his eyes opened, I’d forgotten why I was even in his room. I didn’t even know that he was looking at me at first since I was so fixated on his body. I was starting to get aroused over this off limits man.

  “See something you like?” His voice broke into my racing fantasies as I looked on helplessly, finally meeting his eyes.

  I blinked.

  “Oh. Oh. I… I was looking for the laundry soap and couldn’t find any. I didn’t mean to barge like this, but… my clothes are piling up,” I sounded like a stammering idiot and I closed my eyes.

  I heard him hit the floor and opened my eyes to watch him wipe his face with a dark blue towel. Jackson looked amused as he walked up to me.

  We locked gazes as I stepped backward into the hall.

  “I used the rest of it this week and forgot to put the new bottle in the closet,” Jackson said, making his way towards the kitchen, his shorts dangerously low on his hips. His back was chiseled, and he was dewy with sweat as he reached under the sink. I would have never thought to look there. He presented me with the big bottle and grinned as I blushed a deep pink.

  “Here you go.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I wrapped my hand tightly around the handle. This apartment was shrinking and getting very hot. I turned to walk to the washing machine, wishing that I could escape.

  I felt the way Jackson was looking at me as I started the washing machine, trying to keep myself calm. It was a huge bottle, and as my hand twisted painfully I bit my lip, not wanting to look like an idiot. He walked up behind me, leaning in as he reached around to help me. Jackson got the lid filled and dumped it in before rinsing it off. I swore that he moved painfully slow as he tightened the lid on the bottle and stepped back, brushing his hands.

  “Thanks,” I said as I grabbed clothes to drop into the water. I was careful to not drop any bras or underwear as I loaded the machine.

  Jackson looked amused with himself, but a dark look passed his face.

  “You’re welcome,” he said as he got some water from the fridge. “It’s no problem about coming in. I work out often. You know that I’m a hotshot football star and all.”

  He wasn’t looking at me, and I forced a laugh as I felt the heat continue to wash over my body.

  Jackson smirked and headed back to his room. I finally let out my breath. I was stunned at the sight of him. His muscles flexed with the movement of him easily pulling himself up on the bar which I knew was not easy.

  I got my own water and dropped onto the couch, needing the breeze coming through the window. I was flushed, and my mind felt blank as I stared at the TV that I hadn’t even turned on. Jackson was beautiful, and lust was cascading through me that I needed to contain. He was Greg’s best friend, my roommate. I couldn’t think about him like this.

  My first time having sex was clumsy at best. It brought me no satisfaction and left me wondering what was so great about it. I even tried again a couple more times with the same guy and found it just as lackluster. When we decided to split, I was relieved.

  Somehow, I knew that Jackson would be amazing in bed.

  I heard the shower turn on. I pulled my legs up as I looked for the remote, turning on the TV to see a gorgeous blond. I realized that he couldn’t hold a candle to Jackson.

  I was in so much trouble. I felt the aching between my legs and considered going back to my room to get myself off. I was dying but feeding the fire wasn’t going to help the situation. I needed to diffuse this, so I watched the show for a while.

  When I heard the shower turn off, I switched to a sitcom, pretending to be interested in it. A few minutes later Jackson opened his door. He headed to the kitchen again and grabbed another water before dropping down on the couch a few feet away from me. “You like this show? I don’t remember you being a fan of sitcoms.”

  “I haven’t seen that many episodes. Willow watched it. I was just killing time before I threw the stuff into the dryer,” I shrugged casually and felt his eyes on me.

  “Want to order some pizza for dinner?” Jackson asked.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat.

  “Yeah. Sounds good to me.”

  CHAPTER 6

  JACKSON

  I was heavy lifting as Nick spotted me at the gym. He was my closest friend on the team and a great guy, but he couldn’t stop talking about his new girlfriend. She was a local model who was getting known in the industry and he thought that he was hot shit because she was sleeping with him.

  I kind of hoped that she’d drop him on his ass since he was seemingly getting serious. He was a bigger player than I was, at least before he met this girl at a bar. She was hot with pale blonde hair and dark blue eyes, but I thought Emma was better.

  Shit. I had to stop thinking things like that. It was getting harder to separate the fact that she was Greg’s sister and not the gorgeous woman living with me and starting to haunt my thoughts when she wasn’t around. When we got pizza the other night after I caught her staring, it took forever for her to get comfortable again. Even then, I could still see that she was uneasy, and I hated it.

  There was a part of me wanting to rejoice that she wanted me — I was sure of it — but the bigger part of me didn’t want things to be weird. We’d known one another for too long and were living together for the time being.

  “Jackson?”

  I blinked and saw Nick staring at me. “Where the hell were you?”

  “Just thinking.”

  He shook his head. “It’s my turn, asshole. Get up.”

  I slowly sat up and tried to focus on my burning muscles over the lust that was racing through my body again. I wiped down the bench and stood to spot Nick for a while.

  “I was saying, Jackson, that I could fix you up with one of her friends. We could all go out together some night. It would be a sure thing.”

  “Nah, I need to stay pure for the game,” I replied and we both laughed. I knew Nick was aware of my reputation and was joking, but I hadn’t once thought of another woman since Emma moved in.

  Nick started to lift after adding some weight to the bar with a smirk, and I waited to assist him. I normally loved my time in the gym, but I’d been so distracted lately everywhere I was. Everyone noticed, and Coach was even on my ass right now.

  I looked across the large room as Nick breathed heavily. I knew that he was showing off and thinking that a new girlfriend changed his life, but there was so much more to it than that.

  “Need me to take some of that weight off for you?” I teased.

  “Fuck off. This is nothing,” he shot back. “What’s wrong with you?” Nick asked. “You’ve been off for a few days. What the hell is going on?”

  How to respond? I’d never been into a woman for more than a few dates before. Hell, I’d never had a girlfriend who lasted longer than two months. They were always more into me than I was into them.

  “I’m just thinkin
g about the season. I want it to be a good one,” I deflected and helped him with the weights as he winced, holding on until he had a good hold again.

  “Bullshit. You don’t get nervous, you cocky asshole. If there’s one thing that you don’t worry about, it’s football.” Nick said. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Even as second string, you know that you’re good out there. You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

  Nick finished with the weights and sat up, looking at the clock. I leaned against the wall and looked down at the floor.

  “Let’s get out of here. Get some food and hang for a while. We don’t have to eat perfect yet, right?” Nick said.

  We grabbed our stuff and headed out to Nick’s truck since he offered to drive. We drove to a small diner on the edge of town that we loved for the food and low-key atmosphere. I led the way to a back booth. We each took a side, and I leaned my head back as he observed me.

  The usual afternoon waitress walked over, greeting us with a warm smile.

  “Hey, boys. The usual?”

  “Always, Vi,” Nick gave her a big smile, and she giggled as she walked away. Violet was a good ten years older than us but there was some harmless flirting. I knew that nothing would happen in reality.

  “So, spill.”

  “I can’t stop thinking about this girl.” I watched Nick raise an eyebrow and smile knowingly. “I’m going to start sounding like you, Nick.”

  “The right girl isn’t a bad thing, Jackson.”

  Nick looked at me quizzically as Violet brought us two big glasses of water.

  “This one is. I can’t even think about her without getting my ass kicked,” I reached for the glass and took a long drink as he did the same.

  “Is she the one who’s living with you?” Nick pressed.

  I nodded slightly, and he laughed.

  “My friend Greg will kick my ass for even thinking about her,” I muttered.

  “She’s in college. A big girl. Does she want you, too?” Nick asked.

  I ran a hand through my hair. I had seen the glances Emma gave me when she thought I wasn’t looking. Ever since she walked into my room to see me working out, things had intensified between us although nothing had been said.

  “Look, Jackson, I doubt that she’s a virgin. She’s old enough to be out the house.”

  “She’s nineteen, yes. I can’t think about her that way, Nick. I’ve known her since she was a kid. I’m best friends with her brother. I can’t do it.” I knew that I was trying to convince myself as much as Nick.

  “I’m sure that she doesn’t look like that kid anymore. Right?” he challenged.

  I glared at him.

  “No. She’s fucking gorgeous now. More than that, she’s sarcastic, smart and funny as hell when she lets herself go. She’s perfect and I can’t touch her,” I insisted as Nick watched Violet come over with our burgers.

  “I have never seen you with an issue on getting a girl,” he mocked as I smiled at Violet.

  “Thanks,” I said as I pulled my plate to me. “It’s not an issue of getting the girl. The issue is her brother. He’s overprotective, Nick. I was told to keep her away from any guys here. Greg didn’t bother to tell me to stay away since he knows I’m too smart for it,” I explained, trying to express the seriousness of the situation.

  “I don’t see the problem. You are both grown up now and anything would be consensual.”

  “I wish it were that easy,” I picked up the burger and took a bite. I savored the greasy meat. I was going to hate going back to my game diet, but I’d still find a way to cheat. I always did and worked out that much more because of it.

  “It is. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. If you want her and she wants you, make a move. It might pay off.” Nick grabbed his own sandwich and bit into it.

  I longed for it to be so easy. Someone would be visiting before too long and if I was involved with Emma, it would be obvious.

  We finished, and I pushed away my plate, feeling restless. “Want to come by and play a game?” I asked.

  He glanced at the clock and nodded.

  “I’ll take you back to your car later? Maybe your roomie can give me a lift?” He joked, and I shot him a dark look.

  “Consider the warning I mentioned as a personal one. Keep your hands off her.”

  Nick held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, remember, I’ve got someone now.”

  I wasn’t even sure if Emma would be home. I knew that school didn’t start for another week or so, but she had been out exploring. I got the impression she was avoiding me sometimes since she didn’t seem to have any new friends in Nashville. I hoped that she wasn’t meeting any guys, and I pushed the thought away as we walked out to Nick’s car.

  We drove to the apartment and I looked around the lot for Emma’s car. I saw it and wanted to groan. I grabbed my bag and carried it to the apartment as Nick looked around the complex. “You know, you might win the girl if you get a better place. You’ve been signed. Get a condo at least.”

  “I know. I just moved here first thing and didn’t think too much about it. When she came here, I thought about it,” I glanced around to make sure that nobody was in earshot. “Besides, she’s not staying with me forever. It’s just until she’s settled,” I kept my voice low as I walked up to the door to unlock it, peering inside to make sure Emma was up and dressed.

  Hell, I longed to come home and find her waiting for me naked. Fuck.

  I didn’t see her. Nick got a bottle of water. He was right about getting another place, but I just let it slide. I was so busy during the season and time just passed, at least until I had Emma coming here. He sat down and looked around slowly.

  I heard a door and leaned over to see her coming down the hall.

  “Hey, Emma, I brought Nick back with me. He’s my best friend on the team.”

  Nick offered her his hand.

  “It’s good to meet you,” he said with his charming smile as I resisted rolling my eyes.

  “Nice to meet you too,” Emma smiled sweetly before turning away and walking to the kitchen.

  Emma got some water from the fridge. She looked at me and she grabbed another one, handing it to me when she came back over.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “Sit and watch the pros at work,” Nick suggested. “We’re playing Madden.”

  Emma took a seat in the recliner and opened her bottle, sipping it slowly. I watched as Nick looked her over, thinking to myself that she looked hot today.

  “So, this is a video game?” Emma asked and we nodded. I got the game going, and she watched in amusement as we picked teams and started to play. She was quiet as we played, laughing as we started to bicker about the plays and the rules.

  “Don’t you two play this for a living?”

  CHAPTER 7

  EMMA

  I looked around the campus as the others wandered off in groups. I’d just finished my tour and it was beautiful and intimidating all at once. I was looking forward to starting classes.

  I played back the casual tour as I started to walk to a group of buildings. I smiled as I looked around at all the grass and trees in this part of the campus. It was huge here compared to the small community college that I attended in Chattanooga.

  I pulled out my phone to take some pictures for Willow.

  “Hi. Emma, right?”

  A girl from the tour was walking up to me with a smile. She reached out her hand and I shook it.

  “I’m Bella. Want to grab some lunch in the cafeteria? It’s not too bad, believe it or not.”

  “Yeah. Sure. Thanks,” I turned off my phone and followed her. Bella was chatty and talked about her upcoming classes, adding that she was majoring in literature.

  We got in line and I ordered a turkey sandwich and she got a grilled cheese. We both grabbed iced tea, and I fought the urge to giggle as she bounced over to a table. Bella was bubbly, and I liked it. She was the first person I’d met on my own since arriving here.

  A fr
iend could get me out the apartment and away from the sexiness that was Jackson. At least I could keep away from him physically, if not mentally. I was finding myself thinking of him all the time.

  Bella was wearing a Trojans cheerleader shirt that clung to her curves and I smiled a little as I looked down at my tray.

  “Are you a fan?” Bella asked.

  I laughed.

  “I share an apartment with one of them. Second string, but part of the team. An old friend of the family.”

  Bella raised an eyebrow. “The hottest backup I know is Jackson Cooper.”

  I nodded and she gasped.

  “You lucky girl. I went out with one of the other players for a brief minute. It was fun but with those guys, the team comes first. You will always be an afterthought. I mean, I wasn’t that involved to where I went through all that pain, but I’ve seen other girls do it.” She shrugged. “I’d rather just have fun. Are you dating Jackson?”

  “No, not at all. He offered me a place to stay,” I replied as I thought about the reality of dating him. It would be great when he was home, and we were together, but there were so many away games and practices. There were the girls who would do anything to sleep with the players. I remembered Jackson as a teenager. I think that would be much worse being young and a pro player. I didn’t even know why I was wasting my time with this. It wasn’t as if he was interested in me. We were just friends.

  I came back to reality as Bella was beaming at me.

  “Are you in?” she asked.

  I blinked, not knowing what she was talking about. How long had I been daydreaming? If it was about Jackson, probably since I was a young girl.

  “Sure,” I said cautiously, wondering what I was agreeing to.

  “It’s going to be so much fun. We’ll get to see all the games and travel with the team. Don’t get another job because you won’t have time for that. Are your parents paying for school?”

  “Yeah. They aren’t rich or anything but staying with Jackson for a while is saving a lot of money.”