Instead she studied him, her brown eyes serious, her face impassive. Finally, she nodded once, whether in acknowledgment or agreement, he wasn't sure. “Are you still planning on graduating in May?”
“Yeah.” Leave it to Megan to care more about school.
“Then go get your books. You've got homework.” She shoved at his shoulder, and he chuckled at her feeble attempt to move him. But he stood, took the computer back to the bedroom, and got his textbooks for tomorrow’s classes. He was doing better than he'd ever expected in his classes, especially since he'd kind of given up before the semester had even started. Megan had gotten him to focus and actually put in the work. Since she wouldn't budge on her own study time, it was easier to study with her and get it over with. Then once their work was done, they could move on to more enjoyable activities.
Smiling, he returned to the couch and got to work.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
A collective groan went up from the crowd as the Marycliff University football team had the ball stripped with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The constant downpour had turned the field into a mud pit, making everything slippery and easy for the other team to force the running back to fumble. They were down by three, and this latest turnover meant the only chance to score would be if they managed a last minute interception and touchdown. A disappointing way to end the season, especially with it being their final game.
Next to Megan, Abby sat down to pack up her things. Lance still stood, bouncing on his toes, as though he could change the outcome of the game through the force of his will. Megan smiled at the thought, and turned her attention back to the game. The other team was only making running plays, not allowing any interceptions. The MU defense did a good job of holding them, not letting them gain much yardage, but they couldn't force a turnover. The clock ran down, and MU lost, the sense of defeat as oppressive as the heavy clouds overhead.
The MU players shook hands with the other team before they headed back to the locker room, leaving the winning players to celebrate on the field until their coaches herded them off.
“Well, that’s a bummer.” Abby stood back up, folded her stadium blanket, and shoved it into her bag.
Megan nodded. “Yeah. The guys'll be disappointed.” She was already mentally preparing herself for what that kind of disappointment entailed. It wasn’t the first loss of the season, and she’d gotten used to their typical way of handling it—drinking, more drinking, maudlin rehashing of what went wrong, and sex. Lots of sex.
“You think they'll still want to go to a party tonight?” Abby asked, sounding almost hopeful.
Lance snorted. “More than ever, probably. That's a sucky way to end their last season. They'll both want to drink.” He shifted his gaze to Megan, who nodded in agreement. “Did you drive tonight?” he asked her. “You should plan on being DD for them unless you guys all want to cram in with us.”
Megan chuckled, envisioning Matt and Chris folding themselves into the back seat of Abby’s car. “No, thanks. Neither of them like riding in the back of either of your cars. I was planning on driving anyway. I figured if they won, they'd want to celebrate, and if they lost, they'd want to drown their sorrows. Either way, they deserve not to drive tonight.”
With a nod, Lance took the bag from Abby and led the way down the stadium stairs.
Megan tugged at Abby's sleeve to get her attention. “I’m going to stop at the concessions and get a hot chocolate. I'm freezing after standing out here in the rain.”
“Good idea.” Abby shivered. “I’ll come with you.”
Abby told Lance, who nodded and kissed her. “I’ll meet you guys at the usual place.”
They split off from Lance once they were inside and headed to the coffee stand. Abby pulled Megan into the bathroom on the way there. “Better pee now while we have the chance!”
“No kidding,” Megan said, following her in. House parties always had the longest lines for the bathroom.
Megan tried to ignore the way Abby watched her in the mirror while they washed their hands, clearly waiting for the restroom to empty before she spoke. “So, how are things going? I haven't heard from you much lately, and you seem to avoid answering questions.”
Groaning, Megan shut off the water and shook her hands. “Now, Abby? You want to talk about this now?”
Abby shrugged. “Like I said, you dodge my questions on the phone and over text. I have you trapped now, and we still have to wait for Chris and Matt to come out. As covered in mud as they were, I’m sure they'll take longer than normal.” She reached for a paper towel and leaned her hip against the sink while she dried her hands. “Out with it. I know something's going on with you. What's up?”
Reaching for a paper towel of her own, Megan avoided Abby's probing gaze, deciding what and how much to tell her. Finally she blurted out, “I’m falling for Chris, and I don't think he feels the same way about me.”
Abby froze, her mouth hanging open. After what felt like a hundred years, but was probably more like a few seconds, she closed her mouth with a snap. “Wow. That's not what I thought you were going to say at all. I'm happy for you, but concerned about the fact that you don't think Chris feels the same way. Any particular reason why?”
With a dismissive shrug, Megan turned away to toss her paper towel in the trashcan, trying to sound nonchalant. “At the Halloween party I saw some chick trying to make a move on him. I'm pretty sure he turned her down.”
“The slutty devil girl?” At Megan's nod, Abby continued. “Yeah, I saw that too. He definitely turned her down. I think he tried to be nice, but she was pretty persistent, and not at all happy to get rejected if the look on her face was anything to go by.”
Megan nodded again, somewhat relieved to have confirmation. She hadn’t thought he’d do that to her, but … wanting to believe something didn’t make it true. “Thanks. That's good to know.”
“Was that it?” Abby asked. “Feel better now?”
Sighing, Megan shook her head. “No. While I was watching them—and I do appreciate you clearing that up, because I didn't see all of that from where I was standing. Anyway, some other chick dressed as a Playboy bunny—” Abby snorted at that, and Megan broke off, a grin on her face. “I know, right?” The grin faded, and she went on, unable to keep up the nonchalant tone as she filled Abby in on what happened. “Anyway, she came up and started telling me how Chris doesn't do relationships, and he was only with me because we live in the same house, and it was just a matter of time before he got bored and moved on, especially once the season ended.” Abby took a breath to say something, but Megan kept going without letting her talk, needing to get it all out so Abby had the whole picture before she leapt to Chris’s defense. “And then my brother Charlie called me, trying to convince me to go home for Thanksgiving, and I was hoping that Chris might ask me to go home with him, but that night when he and Matt were talking, it seemed like the thought of asking me never even crossed his mind.” Megan let out a breath and shook her head. “It's just a big mess, and I don't know what to think or who to believe.”
Abby leveled a look at her. “Okay, first things first. Have you talked to him about any of this?”
Megan looked down at her hands, fiddling with the ring she wore on her thumb, and shook her head. “No.” Of course Abby would suggest that. It did seem like the most obvious solution but … Chris didn’t do relationships. Having The Talk™ would only drive him away.
“Okay, well, you can't expect the guy to know what's going on with you if you don't talk to him. You said yourself that you know he hasn't ever had a girlfriend, at least not in college.” Abby said reasonably.
“So?” Megan knew she sounded like a petulant child, but she couldn’t help herself.
Abby raised her eyebrows. “So? Chris is a nice guy when he wants to be, but he's clueless about members of the opposite sex.”
Megan snorted, not buying that. “Are you kidding? Have you seen him flirt?”
A gri
n split Abby's face. “Yes, and that's not what I'm talking about. Sure, he knows how to flirt, but he doesn't know anything about sustained relationships. I seriously doubt that he left you out of his Thanksgiving plans on purpose.” Abby paused for a moment, playing with her lower lip for a second. “He's different with you. I know I haven't known him for much longer than you have, but you've only known him since you moved in, really. He doesn't act the same since you guys got together.”
Megan took that in without saying anything.
Taking a step closer, Abby rubbed Megan's back. “Just don't read too much into anything without talking to him, okay? And don't believe what some skank dressed like a Playboy bunny says to you at a party. Those jersey chasers are jealous and catty. You should've figured that out by now.”
“Yeah, okay.” Megan blew out a breath and forced herself to smile. “Can we get out of here and get our hot chocolate now? And talk about this later when we’re not in a stadium bathroom?”
Abby laughed. “Fine. If you decide you can't handle going home for Thanksgiving, you can come hang out with Lance and me. Either way, you should come over during the break since you'll be alone. We can watch movies and hang out like we used to.”
Megan hooked her arm with Abby’s, feeling marginally better as they walked to the coffee cart. At least Abby cared enough to invite her for Thanksgiving. “Sounds good. Thanks, Abs.”
Abby squeezed Megan's arm. “Anytime.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Walking out of the locker room to find Megan, Lance, and Abby waiting for him and Matt at their usual meeting spot eased the knot of tension that still twisted in Chris’s gut. Wrapping his arms around Megan and having her meet him partway for a kiss soothed the frustration and disappointment still zinging through his veins. She tasted like chocolate, and he didn't want to end the kiss, but the others were waiting, so he forced himself to pull back. He couldn't help dropping one more little kiss on her mouth, though, and nuzzling her hair, breathing her in.
His last game, and they fucking lost. He swung between bitter disappointment at ending his football career this way, and wild hope that maybe it wasn't all over. Maybe he'd do well at the Regional Combines and make it all the way to the NFL draft. He didn't care if he didn't get picked up until the last round. Of course, earlier would be nice, but since he wasn't being courted by scouts, realistically, his chances were pretty low for getting that far at all.
Megan's presence steadied out those emotions and brought him back down. A few drinks at a party to commiserate with his teammates, then getting home to bury himself inside her would make him feel much better. He was tempted to skip the party altogether. They could have a few beers at home, and he could get her naked that much sooner. But he'd already promised his teammates he'd come out. This was their last post-game party. Their last night as a team. He couldn't bring himself to bail completely.
When Chris looked up, Lance lifted his chin at him. “Ready?”
Chris glanced at Matt, who raised his eyebrows, then down at Megan.
She grinned. “I’m driving. You guys can safely drown your sorrows, and I'll take you both home and put you to bed.”
Squeezing her ass, Chris laughed. “Babe, I better be the only one you're taking to bed.”
Megan smacked his chest and stuck her tongue out at him. “I’m not going to leave Matt on the floor or stumbling his way to bed and breaking something. But I'm not going to climb in with him, either.”
“Fine, whatever,” he grumbled. “Just so long as you end up in bed with me, I don't really care.” He punctuated that sentiment with a searing kiss that left Megan panting in a way that made him smug with satisfaction.
The rain had finally let up during the fourth quarter, turning to a drizzle before finally stopping altogether just as time ran out. Thankfully it hadn’t started up again by the time they headed into the parking lot, though the clouds remained, a gloomy ceiling making it prematurely dark outside. They dodged puddles on their way to their cars, keeping their heads down against the wind.
Chris climbed into Megan’s car, feeling awkward in the passenger seat. He preferred to drive, and normally did when they went somewhere together, but tonight he was grateful she'd volunteered to be DD. He hadn’t decided if he’d have more than a few drinks yet, since he didn’t really want to stay long. More than anything he wanted to be home with Megan. Maybe they could foist Matt off on Abby and Lance again. That way they could leave early if Matt wasn't ready to go yet and have the house all to themselves.
Matt sat in the back being his usual calm self, but Chris knew Matt was pissed about the way the game had ended. He’d tried to strip the ball during those last minutes of the game, and almost managed to do it. The running back had bobbled the ball, but had managed to bring it in before Matt could tip it again and bat it away.
Even though Sullivan didn’t live far from campus, the party was well underway by the time they got there. Sullivan must've arranged for someone to get things started before the game even ended. They had to park a couple of blocks away, which just cemented Chris's plans to only have a few drinks and head home. He didn't want to make Megan get his and Matt's drunk asses all that way in the cold.
A round of cheers greeted their entrance, and they grabbed their drinks before settling on the couch in the living room, him in the corner with Megan on his lap and Matt next to them. Lance and Abby walked in just as they were getting settled, and Matt kicked a sophomore off the couch to make room for their friends. They spent time drinking and dissecting the game and what went wrong, bemoaning the end of the season, the seniors talking about their plans for next semester or after graduation. Someone got out a bottle of tequila, lime quarters, and a salt shaker, and they took turns doing shots.
After a few rounds, one of the guys called out, “Let's do body shots!” A girl squealed, whether in anticipation or not, Chris wasn't sure.
He grinned at Megan, who laughed and pulled her shirt to one side, exposing more of her shoulder for him, handed him the salt shaker, and put a lime wedge in her mouth. His grin grew wider as he leaned forward, licking and sucking where her shoulder met her neck. He sprinkled the salt on the wet spot he'd just made, taking the shot from the redhead who was doling them out. After licking the salt, he knocked back the tequila and sucked the lime out of Megan's mouth. He spat it to the side before taking her mouth again, kissing her deeply. A round of cheers went up around them, and Megan pulled back, laughing.
She leaned forward to talk in his ear so she could be heard without shouting. “I’m going to use the bathroom and get something to drink.”
He watched her ass as she picked her way through the crowd until she rounded the corner and he couldn't see her anymore. Laying his head against the back of the couch, he closed his eyes for a moment, the adrenaline from the game long since burned out of his muscles, the alcohol making him pleasantly tired.
After what seemed like just a moment, he felt someone climb onto his lap, straddling him. Soft hands gripped his cheeks, then lips found his, a tongue forcing its way into his mouth.
This was wrong. She was taller, heavier, and tasted like liquor instead of soda. He couldn't pull his head back because he was trapped against the back of the couch. His eyes popped open, but he could only make out a halo of red hair.
Who the hell was this chick? He gripped her hips and tried to push her away. She seemed to take it as encouragement and ground her pelvis into his lap. He got his hands up to her wrists and managed to push her back enough to break the kiss.
The redhead who’d handed him the shot stared down into his face, smiling. She looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place her.
Rage worked its way past the alcohol. “What the fuck?”
The smile on her face slipped, but she tried to reach for him again. He pushed her backward and stood up, letting her fall to the ground.
Shock and anger took over her face, her features pinching together. “What the fuck, Chris?” She scrambl
ed up off the floor and pulled her dress down.
“That's what I want to know! What the fuck? Who the hell are you, and why are you climbing in my lap and kissing me?” He towered over her, yelling, causing her to back away from him. Hands pulled at his arms, but he shrugged them off, crossing his arms and waiting for her to answer. “Well?”
She looked around, trying to find support. “You were interested in me at the pool party. We kissed. You acted like you wanted to hook up, but then you got busy. I wanted to pick up where we left off.”
“And watching me make out with someone else made you think tonight was the night to make your move?” He didn’t even try to restrain the anger and scorn in his voice.
Her eyes flicked over Chris's shoulders, then she put her shoulders back and firmed her sneer. “Aren't you done with that bitch yet? You've been fucking her for months. Everyone knows it's time for you to move on.”
Chris's mouth fell open, and he drew a deep breath, prepared to tell her exactly what she needed to know, but Matt's voice in his ear stopped him. “Dude. I know. But Megan just left. She was on her way back and saw that bitch trying to shove her tongue down your throat. She turned around right before you dumped her on the floor. I just heard the door slam. She's gone. You need to go after her. Now.”
Chris closed his mouth and nodded once, not sure what to do. He was too buzzed to try to drive. Maybe he could catch her before she got to the car. God, he hoped so.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Megan froze.
Some chick was grinding on Chris's lap, kissing him. He had his hands on her hips, exhibiting no signs of protest. He didn’t pull away or shove her off him. Nope. Just sat there, holding her hips as they swiveled over his dick.
Players of Marycliff University Box Set, Books 1–3 Page 40