Hard Pass: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by K. G. Reuss

  Ava cocked her head me, her smile widening.

  “Fake married. Not real.” Another ugly lie. “It’ll be over in a few months. We’re going to be exclusive on this project. That’s it.”

  “OK.” She continued to smirk knowingly at me. “Ring is cute. You guys pick it out together?”

  “Shut it,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  “OK. Fine. But in a few months, I’m going to sit right here and tell you I told you so.”

  “About what?”

  “Travis. He wants a piece of you.”

  I shook my head and snorted. “The only piece of me he’s going to get is my foot up his ass.”

  “We’ll see, sis. We’ll see.”

  We turned back to the movie, her words rolling around in my head. Travis didn’t want me for anything other than torturing. That was a fact. But this tiny part of me tingled with the prospect of maybe he gave a damn.

  “Lexicon, wait up!” Travis called out to me as I walked through campus. I paused as he trotted over to me, his jeans low and his dark shirt tight enough to showcase how fit he was. “Glad I caught you.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I went to your apartment and Ava said you’d left early.” His green eyes swept over me.

  “Yeah,” I shook my head as we walked. “I wanted to talk to my counselor about a scholarship I saw posted.”

  “Oh, cool,” Travis said.

  I glanced at him and caught the glint of his silver band on his finger as he held the straps on his backpack as he walked.

  He caught me looking and winked at me. “For you, wife.”

  “You don’t have to on my account.”

  “You’re doing it for me.” He nodded to my hand. “That means something. You’re in this. Thank you.”

  “Welcome,” I answered, my cheeks heating at his seemingly kind words. I cleared my throat before continuing, “What did you need?”

  “I texted you, but you didn’t answer. Guess your phone is on silent or something.”

  I nodded.

  “I wanted to know if you’d like to hang out tonight. Maybe watch a movie or something. Get pizza.”

  “What? Why?”

  Travis cleared his throat. “I thought we could get to know each other, just the two of us without everyone around.”

  “Again, why?”

  He rolled his eyes. “We’re married, Lexy. Like really married. I’d like to hang out with my wife. Is that bad?”

  “Yes.” I snorted, stopping and turning to face him. “Travis, it’s not real—,”

  “If I’m doing this project, I’m doing it right, Lexy. If that means sucking it up and hanging out with you for a few nights a week and working on it, I’ll do it.”

  “You’re an ass.”

  “And you’re being a pain in my ass. I need to win this award. If word gets out I’m hitched to someone as a fucking joke, prank, whatever, it could end badly for me. You said you’d do this. If you’re not going to, let me know right now because I’m not going to chase your ass all over campus begging.”

  “Wow, since you put it so nicely.” I flipped him off and stomped away.

  “Fuck. Lexy, come on.” He caught up to me and grabbed my elbow, pulling me to a stop. “I’m sorry, OK? This is stressful.”

  “Right. I forgot you’re the only one suffering through this. Must be hard carrying around that giant head in your ass.”

  His lips quirked up into that damn smirk I hated. Or loved. Ugh. Yuck. I pushed the thought away.

  “It is. That’s why I’m asking my wife to help with my giant head.” He winked at me. Once again, my cheeks heated. His smirk widened. He stepped closer and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

  “I remember more about that night than I forgot, honey pot. There’s a reason for that nickname. Think about it.”

  “I guess one of us is lucky enough to have forgotten,” I managed to snark back as he backed away.

  But the damn smile on his lips and his glittering green eyes let me know he was calling my bluff without saying a word. I remembered too. His rough, fierce kisses. His words. How he was gentle. How he filled me completely. It was blurry, but it was there, haunting me. Teasing me. Begging me to maybe see if it was just a fluke.

  “Challenge, honey pot,” he said, reaching for my hand and holding it in his.

  I raised a brow at him, waiting for his ridiculous antics to begin again.

  “Pizza. Movie. My place. Tonight.”

  “Are we only speaking in weird, short sentences?”

  He let out a soft laugh. “Are you accepting or are you too afraid to be alone with me?”

  “If there’s one thing I don’t fear, it’s you, Owens. I accept. But it’s at my place. Chinese. Eight o’clock. And I pick the movie.” I pulled my hand out of his and walked away.

  “This is the beginning of something beautiful, Lexicon! I can feel it!” Travis shouted to my retreating back.

  “Doubt it,” I called back.

  The sound of his laughter had me fighting a smile that eventually spilled onto my lips.

  Twenty-Eight

  Travis

  “Beer pong!” Brandon shouted in the rec room of the frat house as I walked through, ready to get to Lexy’s.

  “Not tonight,” I called out, grabbing the keys to my truck.

  “Damn, hot date?” Alex’s eyes swept over me.

  “Uh, no.”

  “Bullshit. You’re all dressed up,” Mason said, winking at me from his seat on the couch. “Who you going to bang the brains out of?”

  I shot him a withering glare, making him grin. Asshole. He was trying to get me to admit what had happened. He’d lectured me before I went to find Lexy earlier that it was going to cause more trouble trying to hide it from Alex than it was worth.

  After a grueling football practice, all I wanted to do was get somewhere and rest. I’d been studying my ass off, and coach was taking no prisoners at practice. Not that he should or that I should slack. I needed to keep working hard. All of it was going to be paying off soon. I could feel it.

  “Who is she? Anyone I’ve already tapped?” Alex teased, cracking open a can of beer.

  “Unless you’re banging your sister, I’d say not.”

  “Wait.” Alex frowned, placing his beer on a table. The guys in the room who hadn’t said anything yet stared at us, probably wondering if Alex was going to kick my ass. “You’re going to hang out with my sister? That’s why you’re dressed up?”

  “We are partners on that project. If I don’t show up, she’ll be pissed. And I’m not dressed up. Since when are jeans and a polo dressed up?”

  “Since you’re going to hang out with my sister,” Alex growled, folding his arms over his chest. “What the fuck? You can work on the project here and email each other.”

  “No, I can’t,” I said, staring him down. “I told her I’d show up. I’m not going to cancel on her.”

  “You cancel on other chicks,” Gabe, one of the guys, spoke up, stirring the pot.

  “Dick,” I muttered, flipping him off. He snickered. “Listen, Alex. It’s me. It’s Lexy. Ava will probably be there. It’s not a big deal. If I fuck this up, she might not get into med school. You know she needs amazing grades to get her scholarships, man. I don’t want to screw that up for her. And you guys know I’m up for the Heisman. I need to keep my own shit top-shelf. I’m not leaving this house to make a move on Lexy. I promise.”

  Alex’s eyes shot to my hand with the ring on it. “I don’t like how serious you guys are making this project.”

  “It’s just a project. A few months then it’s done. That’s all, man. I’m not interested in your sister.”

  Alex surveyed me for a moment before sighing and nodding. “I know. You guys would be a fucking disaster together. It’s just… I don’t know. Whatever, man. I’m a little on edge, I guess.”

  “It’s cool.” I clapped him on the shoulder as he walked with me to the front door.

 
; “I know this shit is important to you both. Don’t screw it up, man, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “I won’t,” I promised.

  “And you might want to bring a pillow. She’s going to make you watch a documentary. Probably one you have to read subtitles for. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Noted. See you later.” I said, chuckling as I stepped out the door.

  “Later. Tell Ava to text me.”

  I waved at him over my head and got into my truck, exhaustion taking over me. I could use a nap. I said a silent prayer that Lexy picked out a movie which wouldn’t put me to sleep.

  “Where’s Ava?” I asked as I stepped into their apartment.

  “With Collin,” Lexy answered, going into their kitchen area. The apartment had an open floor plan for the kitchen and living room. It made it seem more spacious. My eyes bugged out as she bent over to rummage through the fridge.

  Fuck.

  Her tiny, pink sleep shorts barely covered her ass. My dick twitched to life in my jeans. If she were my girl, I’d hold her by her waist and fuck her from behind. Maybe not in the fridge, but I could see a dozen places in her apartment where a good time could be had.

  “I’m tired of takeout,” she said, emerging from the fridge, holding two bottles of water and two sodas. “So I thought I’d make us something.”

  “Like what?” I asked, moving to sit at the small kitchen island.

  She slid my choice of drinks to me as she bit her bottom lip and crinkled her brows. “Mac and cheese?”

  I snorted at her. “Mac and cheese and movies? Why not Chinese?”

  She wrung her hands together for a moment before going to her bag and rummaging around inside. Her lips twisted into a deep frown as she stared into her wallet.

  I got up from my seat and took her wallet from her. “My treat, Lexy,” I said softly.

  She shook her head at me, the frown still on her lips. “It’s fine. I’m not even hungry. You can order for you.”

  She started to move away from me, but I captured her hand and pulled her to a stop.

  “Why won’t you let me help you?”

  “I don’t need your help.”

  I scoffed. “Lexy, I’m the one who asked you to do this. At least let me pay for dinner.”

  She fidgeted for a moment. “I don’t want to owe you anything, Travis—”

  “Owe me? Lexy, it’s fucking takeout, not a kidney. I’m ordering.” I moved away from her, pulled out my phone, and hit send on my speed dial.

  She let out a soft sigh, her eyes on her hands as she twisted them. Seeing her upset over food drove me mad. I couldn’t screw this project up. It would devastate her. Sure, it’d screw me, too, but her? She worked so hard. I knew she’d struggle to pay for the rest of her education.

  “They’ll be here in thirty or it’s free,” I called out, pocketing my phone.

  She gave me a tight smile and followed me to the couch where we sat down.

  “What do you want to watch? We can stream something. Ava has every streaming service you can imagine.”

  “I thought you were picking?” I challenged her.

  “You bought dinner. The least I could do is offer you a choice,” she muttered, flipping through the streaming menu.

  I stared at her, watching as her blue eyes flicked over the TV screen, taking in the titles. There was something mesmerizing about her. I didn’t know if it was her lips that were just so fucking sexy or if it was simply the way she carried herself.

  “What?” She glanced at me.

  “Did you go with Ava to get your nails done?”

  “No. Priscilla had to reschedule. We’re going tomorrow after class. I mean, I’m moral support. Ava is getting hers done.”

  “I’ve never seen you with your nails done.”

  “That’s because I don’t do it,” she said, sipping at her bottled water.

  “Why?” I watched as the bottle touched her lips again, an ache growing deep in my belly with the need to taste her just for a moment to see if it was as good as drunk Travis remembered.

  “You know why. Besides, who do I have to impress?”

  I shrugged as she locked eyes on me. The ache grew, but I shoved it away. “I think it’s sexy.”

  She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “All the more reason to not do it.”

  “Oh come on, Lexicon. Just once in your life do something that doesn’t connect to something else. Do it because you want to.”

  “I don’t,” she muttered, frowning.

  “I think you do.”

  “I don’t like to do things I’ll enjoy,” she said softly after setting her water bottle on the table.

  “What?” I wasn’t sure I’d heard her right.

  “It’s just… I don’t know. If I end up liking something, it sucks because I either don’t have the time to keep doing it or I don’t have the money. So I steer clear. Makes it easier.” She fidgeted in her seat, twisting her fingers together. “And what am I supposed to do once the nails grow out and I can’t afford to have them filled or whatever? I’ll look ridiculous.” She locked her big, blue eyes on me.

  “Lexy, they’re just nails. You overthink things. Just get them done.”

  She shook her head, wordless.

  “Do you want to do it?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s pick something to watch.”

  “I’ll pick something once you answer me.”

  “Christ, Travis. Who really cares? They’re nails. I don’t need them done, OK?”

  “But you want them done.”

  “You’re annoying me. Shut the hell up and pick a show.”

  A knock sounded on the door, and she jumped up from her seat like a fire had been set beneath her. I was faster and shoved her back down, causing her to let out a squeak.

  “Hey, fried rice and half the menu?” the delivery guy asked.

  “That would be me,” I said, handing him the money and taking the items.

  “Have a good night, man,” he said, glancing at Lexy on the couch in her tiny tank and shorts. “A really good night.”

  “Thanks, that’ll do,” I said as he tore his eyes off her and winked at me. I shut the door in his face and took the food to the coffee table. Lexy strode to the kitchen and got us each a plate before taking a small portion and settling into her spot.

  “Have some rangoons,” I offered, nodding to them as I settled onto the couch beside her. I winced as I sat back.

  “Are you OK?”

  “Yeah. Coach has us working our asses off, and I’ve been training harder than usual. Just sore muscles.” I snatched the remote and cycled through the documentary section as she frowned at me for a moment. I didn’t say anything until she placed her food on the table and turned to me.

  “I can massage you,” she said softly.

  I did a double take as I pressed play on a documentary on how bubble gum was made.

  “What?”

  “I took a massage course last summer and got my certification. Figured I could make extra money doing it. I won’t charge you,” she rushed on. “Just thought I’d offer.”

  “You want to massage me?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Not particularly, but I know you have to be in topnotch shape to play. I figured since you bought dinner, the least I could do is help you out.”

  I grinned at her and placed my plate on the table.

  “Should I take off my pants?”

  “Yeah, unless you want oil all over them.”

  I glanced around before grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.

  “Let’s do it in your bedroom.”

  “No,” she scoffed, pulling her hand away from mine.

  I was quick to take it again. “If Ava walks in here and sees me in my underwear, she might tell Alex. And Alex might kick my ass. If my ass gets kicked, I don’t get to play football. If you’re going to help me, it’ll be in your bedroom.” I waggled my eyebrows at her.

&nb
sp; She responded with a roll of her eyes before reaching down and grabbing our food.

  “Fine, grab the drinks. We can watch TV in my room.”

  I grinned, scooped up our drinks, and then followed her to her bedroom.

  “Am I going to get a happy ending?” I asked as I stepped into her room.

  “I’m not going to choke you to death with my bedsheets. That’s the best I can do.”

  I let out a soft chuckle as I closed the door behind me.

  This was going to be fun.

  Twenty-Nine

  Lexy

  What the hell was I thinking? Abort! You’re in dangerous territory! Remember the last time you two were in a bedroom together?

  I set our plates down on the foot of the bed while Travis put our drinks on the nightstand. I turned to my desk to make space. Hastily, I shoved aside a stack of papers on my desk, and a sex toy catalog Ava had teased me with fell to the floor. Travis snatched it up, his eyes glinting with glee.

  “Didn’t figure you for a butt plug girl, Lexicon. But hey, I’m down if you are,” he said with a wink.

  “Shut up, Travis.” My face heated as he let out a snort of laughter. I snatched the catalog from him. “Ava gave it to me. She went to a toy party.”

  “Uh huh.” He continued to grin.

  Knowing ignoring him was probably the best course of action, I rolled my eyes and pointed to our dinner. “Just shut up and eat.”

  Travis snatched his plate before flopping down onto my bed and grabbing my remote. He switched the bubble gum show back on and chewed on his rangoon.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I demanded, my hands on my hips.

  “Uh, well, I’m finishing my dinner while waiting for my massage, wife. What are you doing?”

  I stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t just come in here like you own the place—”

  “Kinda do, honey pot. You’re my wife. Half this bed is mine.” He bit into his rangoon and winked at me. “I’m just on my side is all.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him, which only caused his shit-eating grin to widen.