by Kaci Rose
✽✽✽
The first day back and I’m called into coach’s office. That’s never good.
“Coach?” I peek my head around his door and see Kyle sitting in front of coach’s desk.
“Bolt! In and close the door.”
I do as he asks and sit in the chair next to Kyle.
“I’m going to get straight to the point. Kyle here says you are messing around with his girl.”
I dig the heels of my palms into my eyes to stop myself from going off.
“Avery is not his girl. Avery is the girl he’s been cheating on all year. The one he grabbed and put a mark on at the party and got benched for. She is also the one he stole from me freshman year. I wasn’t in here bitching about it because Avery can make her own choices.”
“I didn’t steal her!”
“I had to deal with shit with my mom, and you told her I was off talking with my girlfriend then made a move on her. She told me that’s how you two started talking!”
“ENOUGH!” Coach roars. “You are not letting a piece of pussy interfere with this team, Bolt!”
I slam my fist down on the desk. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that. You may be my coach, but you will not disrespect Avery like that. She’s not a side piece, she is my soul mate, the girl I plan to marry. She has been it for me since I started here, but I’ve had to watch this sorry excuse drag her through the mud, yet I said nothing and never once let it affect the team. She is mine now. My everything and the one thing that will cause me to walk away from this team without looking back because there is no walking away from her.”
Kyle opens his mouth to speak but coach holds up his finger silencing him. I know I just put my ass on the line for next season because no one talks to coach that way.
“Were you messing around with her while she was still officially with Kyle?”
“No.”
Coach nods. “End of discussion. Kyle you may leave. If this comes up again, you’ll be benched. Bolt, stay seated.”
Kyle walks out giving me a smirk, thinking I’m in trouble. But he doesn’t realize there is nothing coach can dish out that I won’t take. I don’t regret sticking up for Avery, not even for a minute.
After Kyle closes the door, coach sits back in his chair and stares me down. I meet and hold his gaze and neither of us says a word for a minute.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a player talk to me like that before.”
“I won’t apologize.”
Coach stares me down a bit more like he’s trying to make me uncomfortable, but it doesn’t work. Finally, he sighs.
“I didn’t know what Avery meant to you. You haven’t talked about her before, so I assumed. I apologize for what I said, but if you tell anyone that I will deny it.”
I smirk.
“So how did she end up with Kyle?”
“My mom called seconds after our first kiss was over. Remember when I had to go home and move her because she was having problems at that apartment?”
Coach sits back in his chair “Yeah I do.”
“I tried to find her before I left that night and couldn’t. By the time I got back, she was dating Kyle. I only just found out from her that Kyle swooped in the second I walked away, saying it was my girlfriend on the phone. I kept telling myself that if she was happy, I’d let it be. I’ve watched her from a distance, and she was happy until she came back to school this year after her grandma died. Kyle was sleeping around and coach you know I didn’t let any of it affect me out on the field this year, not once.”
“No can’t say it did.”
“It won’t next season either. The night she and Kyle broke up I was there. I walked her and her roommate home because it was dark, we talked a few times after and texted, but we didn’t have our first date for months. We didn’t become official until over Christmas break when I went to go help with her grandma’s house.”
“My statement stands this better not affect the team.”
“My statement stands as well, it won’t on my end, but I will always pick Avery. If you put me in that spot, I’ll chose her every time, no second thoughts.”
“Her before the team?”
“Coach I don’t ever want to let the guys down, but they are only my team for one more year. This girl is going to be my wife for the rest of my life.”
“You sure about that?”
“Yes. I will go at her pace and I know, thanks to Kyle, she has some trust issues, made worse that I’m a football player too, but I’m not going anywhere and yeah soon as she is ready, I’m ready to take that step. I had a moment with her over break where it hit me hard.”
“Well I’m not going light on you in front of the guys, but I will be respectful of her from here on out. Don’t you ever talk to me like that again. We understood?”
“Yes, coach.”
“Get out of here.”
I get up and head into the locker room where Kyle gives me a smirk before walking out. Derick is by my side instantly.
“Hey, Kyle said you were getting nailed by coach.”
“Everything is fine, Kyle’s just trying to start trouble. I was told not to let Avery interfere with the team. I told him I haven’t all this time and it’s not starting on my end now. We talked, it’s all good.”
“Okay, you need to tell me what happened over the break we haven’t had a chance to talk yet, man.”
“Avery is finally mine.” I can’t help the huge grin that crosses my face.
“Finally!” He is the only other person who knows the whole story of what happened and how I felt about Avery. He’s who I’d go to vent or drink with and there was never any judgment.
“Drinks on me later this week, I want to hear how it finally went down.””
“Deal. I need to go see my girl.”
He pats me on the back before he heads out of the locker room. I finally get to say things like that. It’s small and maybe stupid to others, but I have been waiting all this time to be one of the guys who leaves after practice or a game and says it’s time to go see my girl.
Chapter 21
Avery
It’s the first day of classes since Christmas break and I miss having a class with Denver, but at least this semester Kelsey and I are sharing an elective reading class. Not really needed for her nursing degree, and it’s suggested but not needed for my writing degree, but we just wanted a class together.
The class is fun, we will be reading some classics this semester and we are talking and chatting about the books on the way home from class, so much so we don’t notice Kyle on our front porch steps.
“Avery...”
My eyes snap to his.
“What do you want, Kyle?” My voice is cold. I don’t like to be ambushed at my house.
“Are you and Denver together?”
“What?” Is he really asking me that question? It’s none of his business.
“The guys in the locker room are talking.”
“Why do you care who I date?”
“He’s my teammate!”
“You cheated on her!” Kelsey yells.
“Kelsey, go inside, I got this,” I say, my tone as even as possible.
“I’ll be watching from the window.” She throws a pointed glare at Kyle then heads inside.
“You have no say over who I do or don’t date,” I seethe.
“No, but he should have known better, you don’t date your teammate’s ex!”
“Fuck you, Kyle. I’ll sleep with the whole team if I want. You sure slept with enough of the school, tit for tat, right?”
His eyes go stormy as he looks behind me, the air shifts and I know who I’m going to see before I even turn around.
“What’s he doing here?” He puts himself between Kyle and me.
“He found out that we’re together and is trying to tell me who I’m allowed to be with.”
“You can be with anyone you want, but my teammates aren’t supped to close in on my ex.”
; “So, you leave coach’s office and come right here to cause more problems? Plus, we just had this talk.”
“I didn’t steal her from you,” Kyle spits.
“Actually, Kyle, you kind of did. You lied saying he was stepping away to take a call from his girlfriend, so I dismissed him and focused on you. Now, what do you mean he just left coach’s office?”
“He got me called into coach’s office, trying to get coach to step in on our relationship. Jokes on him. I have coach’s blessing. He found out all this has been going on since freshman year and I’ve not once made a problem for the team. Yet here we are not even a month in, and this is the second issue today from Kyle.” Denver doesn’t take his eyes off Kyle.
“You or coach have no say on who does or does not date me! You cheated on me with half of the campus.” I’m about at the end of my rope and I’m not sure how I’ve kept my tone level this long.
I place my hand on Denver’s arm because I can tell even the thought of me with anyone has him on edge.
“You chose to cheat on me, Kyle. So, you gave up the right to be pissed about anyone I date.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have had to sleep with someone else if you hadn’t been so distant.”
There is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“My grandmother had just died! I was working on dealing with her house and her will and I was in freaking mourning, Kyle. You didn’t lift a single finger to help and didn’t even go with me to her funeral!”
I go to lunge at Kyle, intent on ripping his balls off but Denver’s hand goes around my waist calming me. Kyle’s fists clench and unclench like he is trying to hold himself back.
“But more than that…” I remove Denver’s hand, and lean into Kyle’s ear and whisper. “If you don’t leave Denver and me alone, your little drug and steroid habit will be released to your coach, the NCAA, and the press, along with the pictures I have of you shooting up.”
When I step away his face is pale white.
“I didn’t care what you did then, and I certainly don’t care what you do now. I’m not one to go and spread it, but so help me, Kyle, if you don’t leave us alone, I will spread your dirty laundry, not just in front of the school but for the NFL to find too. This goes on and off the field. Any whisper of you giving Denver trouble and it’ll be game over.”
The rage is still in his eyes, but he looks between us all, then drops his head and walks off defeated.
Denver is still tense and all I can do is turn to unlock my door when he speaks.
“I’m going to go,” he says, but he’s looking past me, not at me.
“What? Why don’t you come in? I have dinner going in the crockpot.”
“No, I’m good.”
I sigh. “He ambushed me, Denver. I did nothing wrong and I don’t like being made to feel like I did.” With that, I head into the house and close the door behind me.
“What dirt do you have on Kyle?” Kelsey asks before I even make it to the wine.
“Something I won’t share. I won’t do that to him because it’ll fuck up his career.”
“Most girls would have spread it far and wide the first chance they got, especially as he cheated on you.”
“I’m not most girls. Now I’m taking a bath.” I grab the bottle of wine, a plate of food and some cookies and head to the bathroom to lock myself in.
I let the hot water soothe the tension in my muscles as I try not to think of Denver walking off. I did nothing wrong and I will stand by that. The water starts to cool off, so I refill the tub with hot water and I’m just settling back when my phone goes off.
Titan: I’m not mad at you.
I am not having this talk via text message. I set my phone down and refill my wine glass. Halfway into that glass, my phone goes off again.
Titan: I just needed to cool off.
That’s nice. Still not having this conversation via text. I must be drunk because tossing my phone in the toilet sounds pretty good right now.
I finish that glass and it goes off again.
Titan: Are you mad at me?
I roll my eyes. What gave it away.
Titan: Talk to me please.
Me: Yes, I’m mad. I come home from class to be ambushed by my ex-boyfriend who I haven’t talked to in months, and instead of making sure I’m okay, my current boyfriend walks off. Thanks, but no thanks.
Titan: Jesus, Avery, I was so mad I didn’t want to take it out on you. I went for a walk. Can I come over and talk, please?
Me: No.
I then decide to make him suffer by placing my legs on either side of the tub and making sure the bubbles cover the surface and snap a picture. It must be the wine I’m not normally this petty.
I send it.
Me: This is what you are missing out on because I wasn’t important enough to check on.
Titan: God, baby, that’s not it. I was so mad I wasn’t thinking straight, and I didn’t want to take it out on you. I went for a walk and ended up at the gym. I went several rounds with the punching bag.
My phone rings and seeing Titan is calling I send it to voice mail.
Titan: Please, baby, pick up.
My phone rings again. Silenced again.
Me: The phone ringing is kind of ruining the mood in here.
I drain the water again and refill, this time with more bubbles. I’m sure my hands and feet are beyond wrinkled but messing with him is turning me on, or maybe it’s the wine. So, I slide my hand down my stomach until I reach my clit and start rubbing.
Titan: Please don’t tell me you are fingering yourself in that tub.
Me: Okay, I won’t tell you.
The doorbell rings but I close my eyes and ignore it. I know Kelsey will get it. Ignore the muffled voices and think of Denver’s muscled body lying on my bed just the other night.
Next thing I know there is pounding on the bathroom door.
“Avery, baby.” Denver’s voice is hoarse.
“Mmm, kind of wishing the door isn’t locked, I could use a real-life image.”
“Fuck, you’re killing me.” He tries the door again.
“Kelsey might have a key.”
“I gave her money to go to the movies and leave us alone.” His footsteps soften before the sound of drawers opening and closing fill the air. He comes back and the doorknob jiggles again before it opens this time.
I look over at Denver and smile. “Live and in person, let me see those abs.”
He hesitates only a minute before he rips his shirt off and falls to his knees by the tub.
“I’m so sorry, Avery, I wasn’t thinking. Well, I was. All I was thinking is how much I wanted to smash Kyle’s face in and how quickly it would end any chance at I had the NFL. I saw you there and I didn’t want to take it out on you, so I went for a walk and ended up at the gym.”
I glance at his abs and bite my lip.
“Fuck, are you still touching yourself?”
I nod and watch his Adam’s apple bob. He runs his hand over my leg that is on the side of the tub and traces it all the way down under the water to where my hand is.
When his hand meets mine, his breath hitches and his eyes snap to mine. He pushes my hand out of the way and replaces it with his.
“Lie back and let me take care of you,” he whispers.
I lean my head on the back of the tub and close my eyes as his thumb works my clit as he thrusts two fingers into me. I groan and roll my head to the side to look at him. His eyes are on me and they are intense as he picks up the pace. I moan, rolling my head back. He increases his thrusts and my hips jerk as he curls his fingers enough to send me over the edge. I’m drunk enough that I don’t care, and I come, screaming out his name. He doesn’t stop even as I start to come down from my orgasm. Another is building right behind it and it takes me quickly over the edge again before I have time to catch my breath.
This time he pulls out and grabs a washcloth and my soap and washes every part of me without a word. Then he drains
the tub and grabs a towel, helping me up. He dries every part of me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, then wraps me in the towel, picks me up and carries me to my room, laying me on the bed.
He covers me up and kisses my forehead. “I really am sorry, Avery, call me when you get up in the morning.” he whispers.
“No,” I say, and he stops in his tracks.
“Avery...”
“Why would I call you when you will be right here in bed with me.” I pat the bed beside me, but he hesitates.
“Get your ass in bed, Denver.” I give him my stern voice, and I close my eyes and snuggle into the pillow.
“Okay but let me go clean up the bathroom and make sure the door is locked.”
I nod and bask in the warmth from the wine. He climbs into bed with me. His warm skin against my back as he wraps an arm around my waist and kisses my shoulder.
“We will be fine, Denver,” I whisper.
“I hope so, because the thought of losing you kills me.”
“You won’t lose me. Couples fight. We’ll be fine.”
“Get some sleep, baby.” He pulls me even closer and wraps me in his warm, strong arms.
Chapter 22
Denver
I am waiting outside of Avery’s last class of the day with her favorite coffee. This last week, since Kyle showed up, she has been distant. We are together every day and talking like normal. She insists I stay in her bed every night, but we haven’t made love and she hasn’t let me make her come since that night in the bathtub.
I know I handled things wrong, it’s an adjustment being in a relationship after having no one to answer to but yourself for three years. I knew as soon as threw that first punch at the punch bag that I shouldn’t have walked away from her. I won’t make that mistake again. I just need to get her to forgive me.