Daddy's College Roommate: Bad Boy and Virgin Forbidden Romance

by Vanessa Kinney

  The camera zooms in on the number “01” on his jersey, slowly falling down to his backside, giving me and every girl in the crowd a look at his chiseled ass. I wouldn’t be surprised if every girl is taking a picture of it. I’m also tempted to the same if Melissa weren’t right next to me.

  “He knows how to give them what they want.” Melissa laughs and pats the side of the table. “See you tomorrow, Grant.” Grant waves his hand in acknowledgment, but doesn’t take his eyes off the screen.

  I follow Melissa through the revolving door and I’m hit with the cold autumn air. She stops at the steps leading up to the library. “That’s your next project.” Melissa rubs her hands together and pulls a pair of mittens from her pocket.

  “Grant?” I look back at the security guard, who’s now leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on the table.

  “Not Grant.” She dances from foot to foot as she puts on her gloves. “David Cooper.”

  The moment his name leaves her lips, his chiseled jaw and green eyes pop into my head. I can feel the rush of heat to my cheeks. It’s so intense that it almost gets rid of the frigid bite on my cheeks. Almost.

  My grip tightens on the folder as I remember all the work that I have to do. I make a mental note never to be alone with Melissa again. “Melissa, he’s failing all his classes. How am I supposed to work with all of this?” I hold out the folder in one hand, almost dropping it.

  “Casey, you’re the best tutor that we have. If you can’t get his grades under control then there isn’t anyone who can.” She puts a hand on my shoulder and grips it a little tightly. “If it were up to me, he would be off the field but the University head won’t allow it. Not without giving him a fair chance at bringing his grades up. And not with Coach Vaughn breathing down his back.” Her grip tightens on my shoulder and I wince.

  Melissa Dunn is the Head of the University Board of Professors. She is a stickler for students getting their education while attending and not coasting along. That includes all the collegiate athletes that dominate on the field. She doesn’t care who they are. If they’re failing, then Melissa is known for taking them off the field. It’s one of the reasons that she was recently hired for this job. And probably why everyone thinks she’s such a hard ass.

  “Do you think you can do it?”

  I bite down on my lip and stare out at the quad. Usually at this time, it would be packed with students and teachers, but now it’s a ghost town.

  “I can try. If it doesn’t work out at least, I can say I tried,” I reply. I bring the folder to my side and hold it still. I don’t like giving up that easily. Not without giving it a try.

  “That’s what I like to hear. I wouldn’t have chosen you if I didn’t think you could do it.” She gives me a quick hug before she rushes down the steps. “If you want to come watch the game just let me know,” she shouts. I know that she wants to catch the last quarter of the game. She might be tough and a hard ass, but Melissa loves to watch football. School spirit is something that she isn’t lacking.

  She and the other tutors are catching the game at Pete’s Bar. It’s the kind of bar that every college campus seems to have. The one that hardly checks IDs, smells of burnt burgers, has the cheapest beer, and is always playing loud obnoxious music that is accompanied by strobes and flashing lights. The thought of all that sends a shiver down my back. It reminds me of that one night. The night that I don’t ever want to relive.

  When I came to college, I promised myself that I would leave that behind. That I would concentrate on doing my best and leaving all of my past life behind. The thought of going back to what I used to be only send shivers up my spine.

  I make my way across campus trying to come up with a plan of attack. Someway that I can get David Cooper to get his grades up. The lack of work in his folder shows me that I have a tough semester ahead of me. He might be the hardest student that I’ve had to tutor. And that’s not all.

  I’ve heard enough rumors on campus to know everything I need to know about David Cooper. He’s the typical jock that’s on every college campus. He loves to sleep around and break the hearts of as many girls as he can. But, there’s one extra rumor that’s been circling the campus. A whisper that I hear here and there. The nickname that some of the girls have given him on campus.

  David “Big Jock” Cooper.

  It’s a play on words. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what they’re alluding to. And I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a couple nights were I hadn’t thought of him in that way. The nights where I couldn’t get myself to sleep because of the stress that comes from caring about my grades. The kind of nights that I doubt David Cooper has ever experienced before.

  I turn the key to my dorm room and burst inside. I drop the folder on my desk, sending several pages flying to the ground. I grab the remote and turn on the game. It’ll be a good noise filter while I concentrate on the work that I need to get done.

  I open my history book and a packet of notecards. I grab my favorite green marker and get to work. I need to get every vocabulary word done tonight from the last three chapters. I can’t fall behind.

  Behind me, the roar of the crowd breaks through my concentration. I watch the game for a bit and give in. I grab all of my work and sit down on the bed, angling myself toward the TV. Every time the crowd cheers or jeers, it manages to pull me away from my work.

  Football is such a dumb game. A bunch of sweaty, muscular guys slamming into each other as hard as they can. All the while chasing after that stupid pigskin-covered ball. I can never understand the appeal of it. That is until the two minute warning hits.

  The notecards drop from my hand and I find myself biting down on the end of my pencil. The taste of a half-used eraser filling my mouth. I lean forward and get captivated by the game.

  It’s 24 to 20. We’re down four points and in desperate need of a touchdown. And there’s less than two minutes on the clock. It’s going to take a miracle for us to take it down the field in that time, even I know that.

  I watch as David breaks the huddle and his team lines up in front of him. He hunches over and yells out a string of numbers, but I get lost in the concentration in his eyes. They’re only 20 yards away from the end zone. All he needs is one good throw.

  I hold my breath as the ball is hiked into David’s hands. He runs backward and holds it out to his side, his eyes scanning down field. I let out a scream as a player from the opposing team rushes toward him and tries to tackle him.

  David stops in his tracks and easily sidesteps the attacker. He doesn’t even take his eyes off the field. He takes another step back and I can see his smile come out.

  His arm cocks back and he lets the ball loose just as someone tackles him to the ground. The camera follows the ball as it whizzes through the air. The entire stadium is dead silent. Everyone’s eyes are locked on the ball, which is still soaring through the air. And for a moment I wish that I was there taking it in live. The ball dips to the ground and into the hands of number #2.

  Dwayne Benson.

  He runs down the field and jumps into the end zone. There’s another moment of silence until the referee runs down the field and throws his hands into the air. The crowd erupts in a cheer and I can almost hear it from outside my window.

  The band starts playing the school’s battle song as a sea of students rushes the field. I fall back against the wall and let out a sigh of relief. My hand shakes as I manage to turn the TV off.

  I couldn’t care less about the game. The whole time I couldn’t get my eyes off of him. I’m going to be tutoring David “Big Jock” Cooper. There’s a weird sensation between my legs as I close my textbook and pull on my covers.

  The last thought that crosses my mind as I fall asleep is those deep green eyes of his looking down at me.

  2

  David

  I push through the crowd of people and make my way into the tunnel. Countless people and faces cheer me on. They lean over the stadi
um railings with their hands out, waiting for me to give them a high five. I do my best to hit every hand and feel the rush of adrenaline course through me.

  That game was a close call. One mistake by me and we could have been done. Lucky for me that Dwayne managed to catch my pass and score that touchdown.

  “Good game out there.” Hannah ruffles the pom-poms in her hand and they fall to the ground. She launches herself at me and throws her hands around me. She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t ever let it get that close again,” she whispers into my ear.

  “It’s not like I tried,” I answer and pry her off of me. Her eyes glisten as she looks at me, and she pops a pink bubblegum bubble in my face.

  “What the hell has gotten into you?” She grabs the pom-poms off the ground. Her hand shoots to her hips and her mouth moves, but I don’t listen.

  Hannah Thomas is the head cheerleader. She also happens to be my on and off girlfriend for the last couple months. More for the convenience of having an easy fuck whenever I want it. And she gets to ride around campus glued to my arm and showing me off. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

  That is until she broke up with me last week. Rumor around campus is that she’s hooking up with a soccer player. And normally, I don’t give a shit, but there’s only so many times I can deal with her stupid breakups before I lose interest. I can have any girl that I want. I don’t have time for her petty drama.

  I don’t need her shit tonight.

  “Nothing. I just don’t have time for this.” I try to move past her, but she spreads her arms and legs out wide, blocking the entrance to the locker room. Her blonde ponytails bob side to side, the smell of sweat and pink bubblegum filling my nostrils.

  “You know you want me, David. You won’t be able to resist me for long,” she sings and peels off the side of the wall. She leans against the other side of the entrance and watches me go inside.

  I hate how she thinks that I’ll just go back to her and all her drama. I don’t have time for the bickering and jealousy that comes with Hannah Thomas. And not to mention all the expectations of her riding my success.

  “We’ll see,” I say and flick her off as the door to the locker room closes behind me. The last thing I see is her scrunched up face and her mouth opening into a large O. I don’t get to hear the next part, but I’m sure a string of curse words leave her mouth. Hannah doesn’t react well to getting turned down. She’s used to getting her way.

  Thumping, loud music reverberates off the gold and blue walls inside the locker room. Everyone is getting ready for the post game parties. There’s no doubt that there will be a party at each and every fraternity on and off campus. Beating the cross -town rivals always puts everyone in a good mood. That is until the next day hangover hits.

  “To David,” Dwayne shouts as I make my way to my locker. The music stops and everyone starts to huddle around me. The team starts to hoot and holler, throwing their hands into the air like a Viking tribe ready to welcome their leader.

  I put my hand in the air and everyone reaches out. There isn’t a murmur in the room as everyone huddles closer and closer. “I’m really proud of how everyone played out there. They didn’t stand a fucking chance.”

  “Damn straight.” Dwayne laughs. “They ain’t got shit on us.”

  There’s a couple laughs around the room before it gets quiet. “If we keep playing like that, there isn’t anyone that can stop us. The All-American title will be ours,” I yell and feel the room shake as everyone shouts in agreement. “One. Two. Three. Hawks for life.” I drop my hand as everyone shouts in unison. Some of my teammates spin towels above their heads while others start popping bottles of beer and champagne, already getting the pre-gaming under way.

  The huddle breaks and I see Coach Vaughn leaning against his office door. He looks at the bottles of beer and shakes his head, but he always turns a blind eye to that kind of stuff. As long as it doesn’t affect practice too much, he doesn’t say anything. He knows how hard we worked for tonight’s win.

  He digs his hands into his khakis and walks over to me. “Good job David.” His words linger for a moment and I take them in. That means a lot coming from him.

  Coach Vaughn used to play for the Pro League. He led his team to more wins than any other quarterback in the game. To say that I look up to him would be an understatement. Several of his old school posters were on my wall when I was growing up. He’s the main reason that I chose to come to this university.

  His hand squeezes my shoulder and for some reason, I get a bad feeling in my stomach. “Thanks, Coach.”

  He holds his smile a little longer and his hand pulls on my shoulder. “Come into my office, David.” The door shuts behind me before I can understand what’s going on. The flourescent lights flicker on above and Coach walks over to his desk. “I know that this isn’t the right time for this, but I don’t have much of a choice.” He lowers himself to the last cabinet at the bottom of his desk and opens it, pulling out a thick manila folder.

  “Something tells me I’m not going to like this.” I grab a chair from the side and turn it around, resting my arms on the backside of it. Coach Vaughn drops the thick folder in front of me. A couple pieces of paper fly off his desk and I’m left wondering what the hell could be inside of it. “What is this?”

  “This,” he presses his index finger into the folder, flattening it a good couple inches, “is your school work.” He shakes his head and pulls out the piece of paper on top. He looks it over and shakes his head. “How can you be doing this badly?” He flicks the paper toward me and it flies through the air like an autumn leaf falling from a tired branch. I barely manage to catch it and I can already feel my nerves taking over.

  I turn the paper over and I’m met with a big fat F on the front. It’s a homework assignment that I’d turned in just a week ago. I haven’t seen my grade for it yet, not that it mattered, I always just stuff them at the bottom of my backpack.

  “I’m not happy right now, David.” Coach falls back into his tiny chair, which screeches at his weight. “You’re supposed to be the captain. You’re the one who should be setting an example for the rest of the team to follow. You should be,” He stops and grabs another paper from the pile and shakes his head. “You should be doing better than this.” He slaps the piece of paper in front of him as if it were about to attack him.

  I’ve been playing football all my life and because of that, I’ve been in a number of gut-wrenching situations. I’ve lost heartbreakingly close games and won others that seemed impossible. And during all those times, my nerves never broke. I was always able to persevere and do what needed to be done.

  That’s not how I feel right now.

  The disapproving look from Coach Vaughn makes me squirm in my seat. I can feel my stomach turning and I’m on the brink of hurling. I don’t like letting my mentors down. Especially not my idol.

  This is a new and unfamiliar feeling for me.

  “I can do better.” I grab the folder off his desk before he grabs another assignment from the pile of garbage.

  He hands me the paper in his hand and shakes his head. “You don’t have a choice. As of tonight, you are suspended from the team.”

  My chair slams into his desk as I get up. “That’s not fair.” The folder drops from my hands and onto the floor, pages and pages of paper flying out as if I were playing 52 pick up. “I won this game for us tonight. I shouldn’t be punished for it.”

  “And you’re not being punished for that. Normally, I would be out there celebrating with all of you, but this isn’t the time.” Coach Vaughn makes his way around the table and starts to pick the pages off the ground. “And this is out of my hands. It’s coming down from Ms. Dunn. I managed to convince her to let you attend practice and watch from the sidelines.”

  “Thanks,” I mutter under my breath as I help. I can feel the anger building inside of me.

  This shit isn’t fair. I need to be out there on the field. This is my la
st year and last chance to clinch a division title. If I don’t play then I won’t get scouted for the Pros. My life is riding on this season.

  “I fought for you, but there’s just too much in that folder. You need to get yourself together and fix it. Ms. Dunn has set you up with her best tutor.” Coach Vaughn hands me the folder and I let myself grow familiar with its weight. It feels like I’m holding my future in my hands, and one wrong step could undo everything that I’ve worked for.

  Coach Vaughn pats me on the shoulder. It’s different from before, almost understanding of my situation. “You know how important it is to have a backup plan. It doesn’t hurt to get an education while you’re here on a full ride.” He squeezes my shoulder and I look up into those beady eyes of his. I manage to give him a smile as he shows me out of his office. “We’re counting on you to get this under control and get back on the field. We need you out there.”

  “Yes, sir. What’s the tutor’s name?”

  Coach Vaughn digs into his pocket and pulls out a small slip of paper. He unscrambles it and squints his eyes. “Casey Boone. And you’re supposed to be meeting her bright and early at the library tomorrow.” He gives me a final pat before I’m outside in the locker room.

  Casey Boone.

  The name doesn’t ring a bell but I like the way that it rolls off my tongue. All I know is that I feel bad for her, because she’s not going to know what hits her tomorrow.

  “David? Earth to David?” Dwayne yells into my ear and shoves me to the side, almost spilling the drink in my hand.

  “What?” I yell back and suck the drops of alcohol that are on my wrist. Asshole almost made me waste perfectly good whiskey. It takes a couple blinks for me to concentrate. Loud music and colorful lights bounce off the wall and onto my face, blocking my senses. And that’s not all.