by Alley Ciz
“Sure, babe.”
With her still in my arms, I claim her original seat next to Grayson, settling with her in my lap and letting her stretch her leg out over him again.
“Do you want the ice pack back?” I point to it on the coffee table.
“She’s already at her limit. She can ice again later.”
It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who induces an eye roll from Kay when Grayson answers for her.
“No, sorry, Dant—I was talking to Mase about Kay,” he says, continuing his phone call.
“You’re talking to D?” Kay asks.
“Yup.”
“Tell him I said hi.”
“Kay says hi.” There’s a pause as he listens to the end of the conversation we can’t hear. “No, I’m not gonna tell her that. Fuck, Dant.”
Kay giggles, and I can only assume the younger Grayson was making a pass at her—even if only by proxy.
“No, she banged up her knee, and the stubborn girl hasn’t rested it the way she should.”
“Drama queens,” Kay complains.
A strand of her long blonde hair gets caught in the stubble I never bother to shave when we travel for away games, and I breathe in the familiar peppermint scent. Distantly, I hear Grayson talking to his brother. “Sure man, put him on.”
He holds the phone out to Kay. “JT wants to talk to you.”
Kay’s head, which is resting against my chest, drops down a little as she sighs. “I swear I need new friends.” She takes the phone and, as her greeting, says, “Don’t even start with me.”
All my focus is on her side of the conversation.
“It’s just a bruise.” Pause to listen. “I’m not lying.” Big sigh. “I’ve been hurt worse.” Longer pause. “Well I don’t really have a choice now do I since you went to school seven hundred miles away.” Pause. “James Michael Taylor, don’t make me call Pops.” Pause. “You know I would.” Pause. “Well next time you’re home you can be the one to help me instead.” Pause. “Why don’t you stop worrying about me and go worry about whether D is going to break your flyer’s heart?” Pause. “Yeah, yeah, love you too.”
My inner coach is up pacing the sidelines, and it takes everything in me to curb the jealousy I feel hearing her tell another man she loves him. Intellectually, I know this is her childhood best friend and I witnessed their easy affection earlier this week, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Kay hangs up and hands the phone back to Grayson. “I can’t believe you ratted me out to JT.”
“I didn’t rat you out. He’s watching the game with Dante. When he heard you were hurt, he demanded the phone.”
“Damn overprotective bastard,” she grumbles.
“You would think you’d be used to us by now,” he muses.
The beast inside me settles as Kay snuggles back into my hold.
“I thought your brother’s name was E?” Trav asks.
“It is.”
“Who’s JT?”
“He’s my OG G. My un-biological brother.”
“If you guys are so close, what made him pick Kentucky?” I ask.
I couldn’t imagine going to school without Trav. The only way we both managed being at the U of J is because he redshirted freshman year.
“They gave him a full ride,” Kay explains.
“He’s a ballplayer?”
“Cheerleader.”
“For real?” Trav chuckles.
“Yeah.” Kay cuts a hard look at him. “He’s the best damn partner stunt base in the country—hell, technically the world at one point.”
“Yeah he is,” Quinn agrees.
“You know him?” Trav asks.
“Not personally. I knew of him from all-stars. He and—” Her words cut off and she flicks her gaze to Kay, but it happens so fast I’m not sure. “He and his partner are legends in the all-star cheerleading circles.”
“Oh no.” Em snickers.
“I feel like we should make a drinking game out of this.” Kay’s tiny body bounces against me as she laughs.
“We’d be drunk every day.”
“Could be fun.”
“You guys suck.” Quinn whacks Em with a pillow.
“It’s not our fault you fangirl over him any time he video-chats with Kay.”
Kay giggles then ducks as the pillow comes flying in her direction. She places a soft kiss to my jaw when I catch it easily, keeping her safe.
The ladies school Trav in all things collegiate cheerleading, but I lose track of the conversation when Kay starts to trace the lines of my tattoo. I don’t even think she’s aware she’s doing it, but I sure as hell am.
It’s not a grope or even an invitation into her panties like how the jersey chasers touch me, but the unconscious way she’s doing it has me so hard I need to adjust her position in my lap.
“Selfishly I wish he had accepted the U of J’s offer, but I can’t fault him for taking Kentucky’s,” I hear Kay say when I focus back on the conversation.
Quinn whistles through her teeth. “Don’t let Bailey know. She has a major lady boner for him. She practically tried to stalk him at StuntFest.”
“Not that I’m complaining or anything, but where is your other roommate?” I ask.
“Oh shit—I forgot Bailey lives here too,” Trav says around yet another spoonful of chili. He’s on his second or maybe third bowl.
“My guess is she’s still sleeping off her hangover,” Quinn states.
“Oh yeah, she was partying it up big time at the hotel bar last night,” Em adds.
My first two years, I took advantage of every opportunity my position on the football team and in the fraternity afforded me. I used to hate missing out on the celebration parties the AKs would throw whenever the football team won.
Now though? I couldn’t care less.
What the hell is Kay doing to me?
The next hour or so is spent bullshitting, eating chili, and drinking beer while we watch the end of the one o’clock game. Dallas is driving toward the end zone, completing a beautiful touchdown pass to their running back Miles Dennings. The play causes Kay to let out a whoop of glee, and Grayson groans as he hangs his head in shame.
Kay does a little victory dance in my lap, the movements going straight to my dick, and I need to reposition her again.
“Don’t hate. It’s not my fault you can’t handle the Dennings Family Reunion.”
“Clever play on your name, babe.” I curl a hand over her hip, my thumb slipping beneath the hem of her shirt and tracing a figure eight on her soft skin.
She shifts to look at me, another one of those smiles in place. “It’s also because I have all the Dennings in the league on my team too.”
“Damn your team is stacked.”
“I know.”
Her confidence in her football knowledge is sexy as fuck.
“Can you get me another ice pack?” She nudges G with a foot.
“I’ll get it for you,” I offer.
“No. I’m comfy.” She snuggles deeper into my embrace.
Progress, baby.
#Chapter29
The week passes by surprisingly quickly, and now it is the night of my big date with Mason. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. He represents everything I’ve shied away from for the last few years, but even I have to admit there is something that draws me to him.
Mason told me we weren’t going anywhere too fancy, so I try to keep that in mind as I get dressed. I pull on a pair of light blue skinny jeans that have big rips throughout, but instead of showing skin, the holes reveal silk fabric in leopard print. They are stylish and make my butt look good.
With my jeans being a little edgier, I choose a simple tight black V-neck tee, and I finish off my outfit with a pair of kickass, black leather, over-the-knee high-heeled boots.
I leave my curls to tumble around me and keep my makeup in a simple pinup style. Before I know it, he’s knocking on the door.
I open it and swallow har
d at the sight in front of me.
Mason in a U of J football shirt and backward hat is hot.
But Mason in a black polo shirt, dark wash jeans, and hair styled in spiky disarray? That’s next level.
“Damn, babe,” he says as he does his own scan of me.
“Right back at ya.”
He gives me one of his killer smiles, dimples and all, before pulling me into his body and claiming my mouth in a bone-melting kiss.
Any time he puts his mouth on me, my brain shuts off. I get lost in the press of his lips, in the stroke of his tongue, and the way he cradles my body makes me feel protected instead of tiny.
“Isn’t the kiss supposed to be at the end of the night?” I ask when we finally break apart.
“Yeah, but if I didn’t do that now, it would be all I thought about the whole time.” He runs a thumb along my bottom lip. “Damn, not even smudged a little,” he observes, referencing my red lips.
“It’s a color stain. It’s not meant to come off.”
“I can think of a few ways we could put it to the test.”
He keeps staring at my mouth, that finger still in place, the green of his eyes darkening more the longer he stares, acting like he didn’t just throw down the naughty gauntlet.
“Should we go?” I put a hand on his chest and gently push him back out the door, closing it behind me.
“Nope.” He drops an arm around my shoulders, not letting me put space between us as we walk toward the elevator. “This is a date, and I intend to get the full experience.”
Holding hands and general touching happens in relationships, and I knew going into tonight I wouldn’t be able to keep maintaining my distance. I tried to talk myself into ending things before they really start, but I couldn’t.
“Holy shit.” My steps halt as a steel gray 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 comes into view. “You have an Eleanor?” My feet carry me across the distance and I run a hand along the sleek line of the roof.
Mason reaches around me to open the door, caging me in between him and the car. “You just earned some major points knowing Gone in 60 Seconds.”
I want to tell him you don’t grow up in Blackwell without developing an appreciation for sports cars, but I’m too distracted by his nose skimming up the side of my neck. Plus, it would require me telling him where I grew up, and I don’t want him connecting the dots back to E.
“She’s a beaut.” I climb in the car and shut the door.
“Even if it’s not pink?”
I eye him, watching the way his left hand is almost casually draped over the steering wheel and how he seamlessly shifts with the right as he drives.
Why is that so sexy?
“You couldn’t pull off the pink,” I finally say.
About ten minutes later, we pull into the lot of Mama Italia, a cute mom-and-pop restaurant. It’s a casual and cozy place with amazing food.
I take in our surroundings as the hostess shows us to a small two-top in a back corner. The walls are all dark paneling and modern sconces, leaving the space dimly lit. The white fabric tablecloth gives an elegant feel, but without any candles or flowers, it isn’t too fancy.
“You know…” I lean my elbows on the table and rest my chin in my hands after the server leaves with our drink order. “This is the perfect place for a first date.”
He mirrors my position, those light eyes studying me. “Why do you sound so surprised?”
“Don’t know.” I shrug. “I guess maybe I expected you to pick—”
The sound of his phone ringing interrupts before I can finish, and a sheepish expression crosses his face. “Sorry, I thought I put it on silent.” He pulls his phone out, Trav’s name flashing on the screen as he silences it.
“It’s a little early for the ‘something bad happened’ phone call.” I use air quotes around the phrase.
Almost as soon as the first call ends, I can tell it goes off again, followed by a third time.
“Do you mind if I answer? Trav knows I’m out with you and it’s not like him to call so many times in a row. Something must be up.”
“No, go ahead.”
With my okay, he answers Trav’s fourth call. “Hey man, what’s going on?”
Mason’s brow furrows in concern as he listens to whatever Trav tells him.
“What? Is he okay?” Pause. “Did he say why he’s there?” Another pause and he looks at me. “Tell him I’ll be there in fifteen.” His head falls forward. “Thanks.”
After ending the call, he looks back at me guiltily.
“Everything okay?” I place a hand on his forearm.
“You have no idea how much I don’t want to say this, but we have to go. Apparently my younger brother got into a fight with my stepdad and is at the AK house looking for me.”
“Let’s go.” I unhook my purse from my chair and stand, ready to leave. If anyone understands how important it is to be there for family in their time of need, it’s me. The brief smile he gives me tell me he’s able to read my understanding in my expression.
On the short drive back to Alpha, gone is the playful, fun-loving Mason I’ve come to know, and in his place is someone I almost don’t recognize. He’s super quiet, his strong jaw clenched, and he has a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. Whatever is going on with his brother is obviously weighing on his mind.
It bothers me more than I thought it would to see him upset. I reach over the center console, place my hand on his thigh, and give it a squeeze, the action breaking through the fog of stress he’s feeling. He turns to give me a smile and threads his fingers through mine. We stay like that the rest of the drive, no words needed.
When we get to the AK house, Mason doesn’t bother going around to the lot in the back, instead opting to park right in front. As soon as the car is off, he’s out, only slowing down long enough to take my hand when I join him. I’m practically running to keep up with his long-legged stride up the path.
Opening the front door, he leads us through the house and back to the den, where he finally lets go of my hand. He moves to kneel in front of a slightly smaller figure sitting on the couch.
“Olly, what’s wrong? What happened? Are you okay?” The urgency in his voice grows with each question.
Though he hasn’t said much about his siblings, I can tell he loves them very much. Witnessing the deep concern he has for them stirs something deep inside me.
“Umm…so…”
“Olly.” Mason repositions himself to sit on the coffee table instead of squatting and reaches a hand out to his brother. “Hold on.” He holds up a palm. “Does Mom know you’re here? And how did you get here?”
“Uber,” Olly answers at the same time Trav says, “I made him text Livi,” from behind me.
Mason and Olly both move to look in Trav’s direction, Olly’s eyes going wide at the same time as mine.
Holy shit! Mason’s brother Olly is my Olly?
“Coach?”
#Chapter30
Coach? Did Olly just call Kay Coach? Why would he call her that? I have so many questions and only add more to the list when Kay gives him a small wave and says, “Hey, Olly.”
“You’re dating my coach?” My brother turns back to me, his brown eyes wide with curiosity.
“You coach football, Skittles?” I ask Kay.
She shakes her head, eyes bouncing around the room like she doesn’t want to answer, before finally saying, “Cheerleading.”
“Huh?” Now I’m even more confused. Kay cheers? Olly cheers?
“You’re a pom, Short Stack? Why aren’t you on the Red Squad?” Trav pulls her against his side.
“I was an all-star, not a pom, but that’s not the point right now.” She gestures to Olly sitting in front of me.
She’s right.
“Okay.” I grip the back of my neck, digging into the tight muscles. “How about this—let’s start with a few easy questions.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not playing football?”
He shakes his head no.
“You’re cheering?”
He nods.
“You said you were an all-star?” When I point to Kay, it’s her turn to nod as my mind works to put the things I do know together. “So I take it you joined NJA with Livi?”
Another nod.
“And you didn’t tell Dad.”
This time Olly looks to the ground as he shakes his head. I don’t know why, but I brace myself for his answer when I ask why not.
“Because there’s not a future in cheerleading like there is in football.”
I frown, not liking the implication. Parents can pressure their children to follow all sorts of career paths, but playing a sport—any sport—professionally requires the athlete himself to have a certain inherent internal drive to succeed. I love Brantley. He’s a good guy and an excellent father, but he can have tunnel vision when it comes to what he thinks is best.
I blow out a breath and rub my temples. This is so not how I expected this night to go. Nothing puts a damper on a first date like family drama.
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do.” I flick my gaze first to Kay then over to Trav, who pulls his keys from his pocket in answer to my silent question. “Trav will drive Kay to her apartment so I can go home and talk to Dad with you.”
I have no clue what I will say, but Olly is my brother, so I have to try. If I don’t, Brantley will steamroll right over him.
Because what Brantley Roberts wants, Brantley Roberts gets.
#Chapter31
I’ve imagined countless scenarios where I told Mason I used to be a cheerleader, but none of them included being outed by coming face to face with one of my athletes, least of all one who is a member of his family.
Unlike with Q, the name PF Dennings would have no significant meaning to Mase, but where E paid people to scrub Kayla Dennings from most of the internet, PF Dennings lives on. NJA team videos and ones of my own partner stunting are easily searched on YouTube. It’s the lingering connections there that lead to the secrecy.
The struggle between being there for his brother and continuing on with the date I made him work so hard to get is a palpable thing. Honestly, it’s the only reason I can think of that compels the next words out of my mouth.