Looking To Score (Providence University #2)

by Ali Parker

He nodded and smiled. “Then do it.”

  Chapter 23

  Emily

  I hated that Jacob was gone when I got up the next morning, but I needed to take care of a few things anyway. After rolling over and pressing my face into his pillow like a stalker several times, I got up and changed back into my clothes and called Tasha to beg for a ride. As always, she was far too good to me and agreed without a problem.

  I took the time to make Jacob’s bed and left him a small note telling him that next time we were together, I would be waking up beside him for breakfast. The lovemaking session was hot, but I was half out of it and missed snuggling against his warm, tight body that morning.

  Micah was downstairs making toast when I walked in, and several guys were on the couch in the living room, watching TV and eating popcorn.

  “Popcorn for breakfast?” I snorted and walked into the kitchen.

  “Hey, Em.” Micah smiled over his shoulder. “That’s not breakfast. Those guys just got in from an all-night party at our sister sorority.”

  “Sounds like fun.” I moved toward the counter to see what he was up to.

  “So you and Jacob, huh? I can’t help but tell you that I’m a little surprised.”

  “And disappointed or…”

  “Not at all. Jacob’s one of my best friends, but I’ve never known him to have a steady girlfriend. Have you guys talked about all that stuff yet?”

  “Sort of.” I pushed the butter closer to him and pointed to the open bag of bread. “Can I steal a piece before I leave this morning?”

  “You can have anything you want. You know that.” He moved out of my way and walked to the fridge. “You like orange juice?”

  “I like just about anything. I’m poor, remember?”

  “You need some cash until payday?” He turned around and gave me a serious look.

  You just couldn’t find a better guy.

  “No. I’m good. I’ll make it work. Enough people love me to keep me fed and not looking like I just crawled out of the sewer.” I pulled his toast out and handed it to him before putting mine in.

  “You take those and I’ll grab the next ones.”

  “You sure?”

  “Of course. There’s no way I’d eat before a lady did.” He pulled two glasses down and glanced over at me. “How’s everything going back at home?”

  “Bad. I’m going to see if Tasha will take me out to see Cally.”

  “Is she still with your mom?” He lifted his glass to his lips.

  “No, with my aunt.” I reached out to brush something from his shirt and he stiffened. “How is it that you’re not dating anyone? You’re incredibly handsome, as sweet as can be, and just an all-around great guy.”

  “It’s the last two things you mentioned. Women want an alpha asshole, right? Where I’m more than happy to take charge in a relationship, I’m not a jerk. I never will be.” He took another drink and shrugged. “I figure I’ll find a woman when I get out of school and get into the business world.”

  “I thought the dream was the NBA?”

  “It is, but it’s a high bar to reach. I haven’t given up on it, but I’m practical as well. How sexy is that?” He gave me a cute smile that was insanely sexy.

  “I told Natasha that I was going to set you two up later this summer.”

  “You did? And what was her reaction?” He didn’t seem interested, but then again, he was a cool and collected kind of guy.

  “She’s down with it. You know she’s got a lot going on, but maybe it can be a basketball date. You know, shoot some hoops together and then go out for ice cream?”

  “You realize that I’m insanely competitive, right? There’s no way I’m going to throw the game to make her feel good about herself.”

  “Wait.” I laughed and moved back from the counter as a car horn sounded outside. “Where is the gentleman that just gave up his breakfast for a lady?”

  “He’s right here, but he doesn’t exist on a basketball court. Maybe I’ll ask her if she wants to see a movie.”

  “All she likes to do is play basketball.”

  “Then hopefully she likes to get spanked.”

  I laughed loudly and grabbed my toast. “You better be careful. She’s no lightweight.”

  “Oh, I’m well aware. One of the reasons I’m so turned on by her is her basketball skills. She’s a champ in her own right, but I’m better.”

  “Oh shit.” I patted his chest and smiled. “Thanks for breakfast. I’ll figure out the date thing and get back to you on it.”

  “Thanks for trying.” He turned back toward the toaster and let out a soft sigh.

  Surely, there was a way for me to get them together without having to appease them both at the same time. That wasn’t my job anyway. It was theirs.

  I jogged down the stairs and got into Tasha’s jeep as she reached for my toast.

  “Hey. I’m planning on eating that.”

  “You had two. I just drove my happy ass all the way over here on my one morning to sleep in. Love on me and let me have a piece of toast.”

  “All right. You have a point, and besides, I need one more favor.” I handed her a piece and folded the other in half as I made quick work of it.

  “Sure. Whatever you need.” She backed the jeep out and turned toward the mainline before glancing over at me.

  “You gonna tell me?”

  “Yeah, sorry. I love grape jelly, but it’s so expensive.” I shoved the rest of the toast into my mouth.

  “It’s three dollars at the grocery store. I’ll buy us some. What’s the favor? If this has to do with Micah, drop it. I’m not going out with him or anyone else.”

  Dammit.

  “Nope. I need to see if you can take me out to check on my sister. She’s at my Aunt Dara’s house, which is just about ten minutes from here. I wanted to see if she would talk to me now that things have settled down a little.”

  “Oh yeah. We can totally do that. When are you meeting with Coach Rhodes?”

  “Around lunchtime. I don’t have to be at work until five tonight.” I licked my fingers and leaned back in the seat. “I think I’m falling in love with Jacob.”

  “Wait a minute. A few days ago, you weren’t even interested. Now you’re in love?”

  “Falling in love. Please remember the verb.” I closed my eyes and let the warmth of my thoughts about him fill my chest and force a goofy grin on my face. “He’s really a good guy underneath all the shit.”

  “No. Really? I’m pretty sure I told you that.”

  “How did you know?” I turned my face a little so I could see her.

  “I’m a good judge of character.”

  “Then why are you so against going out on a date with Micah? He’s a great guy. Like one of the last really, really great guys.”

  “Because of that reason alone. I don’t want to fall for someone. I told you how that turns out for me.”

  “I’m not going to reopen this can of worms again, but just know that I want to.” I pulled out my phone and checked for a message from Jacob but didn’t have one. I had to assume he was still playing soccer in Waban.

  “What’s going on with your cheer captain tryouts?”

  My mood plummeted fast. “They’re on Monday, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to pass the opportunity by.”

  “What? Why?” She pointed to the exit in front of us. “This one?”

  “No, the next one.” I tugged at my seatbelt and let out a painful sigh. “Because the position means I’m going to be up front directing everyone.”

  “Since when have you been shy about being in front of a large crowd? You’ve been cheering since you were in sixth grade, Emily.”

  “I know that, but the problem is that my mother is off the map because of her DWI and CPS is taking my sister. There’s no money left from my scholarships.” I paused and let out a frustrated sound as I tugged at my hair. “You know all this. I don’t want to rely on anyone.”

  “You used to rely
on Brody completely.”

  “I know, and I hated myself for it. For the first time in a long time, I feel free. I’m broke as hell, and if it wasn’t for you and Jacob, I wouldn’t even have a bed to sleep in at night, but I’m not tied down. I don’t belong to someone because of what they can do for me. It feels good.”

  “I bet.” She pulled off the freeway and turned left as I directed. “I’ll ask my dad for a small loan to help you cover the costs of your cheer stuff. You’re not missing out on all of this.”

  “No way. That’s not happening. I’ll figure it out. I know Coach Rhodes is in my corner. Maybe I can ask Diaz for a stipend for organizing the cheerleaders to come out this fall and cheer for their games.”

  “How is that going to help you now?”

  “It doesn’t, but it will if I can get it early.”

  “That isn’t going to happen.”

  “Thanks for you shitting in my Cheerios this morning and eating my toast.” I pointed to the quaint blue house at the end of the block. “That one. Just stop in front and I’ll run in. I shouldn’t be more than a minute.”

  “I’m a realist. I’m not trying to upset you. You know that.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Good luck with your sister. Just remember that she doesn’t have you anymore since you came to Providence. Maybe just remind her that she’s not alone.” The softness in Tasha’s voice forced me to slow down and listen. She rarely showed a side of herself that wasn’t ballsy and in everyone’s face.

  “I will. Thanks.” I released her hand and got out, walking languidly as I tried to think through what I could say to my sister that I hadn’t said a million times already.

  I knocked on the door, and Cally answered it, her hair cut short and dark circles under her eyes.

  “Hey.” She walked out on the porch as if I wasn’t going to be invited to the house.

  It was probably better that way.

  “Hey. How are you?” I clasped my hands behind my back to keep from reaching for her.

  “I don’t know. I guess okay.” She lifted her hand and waved to Tasha, forcing a smile that faded fast when she looked back at me.

  “I’m sorry about everything that happened. I wish I could—”

  “Right, well, you can’t.” She shrugged and wrapped her arms around her chest. “Mom’s going into rehab next week, and Aunt Dara is going to take care of me until I’m eighteen. After that, who knows?”

  “I’ll be out of college by then and hopefully will have a job. You can come live with me.”

  “And be a burden on you until I figure out who I am? No thanks. It’s not like I’m going to college or anything else.” Tears filled her eyes. “This is as good as it gets.”

  “That’s not true. I’m right here, and you’ll always have a place with me as soon as I get one. Don’t push me away. Please, Cally. I didn’t do any of this to you. I just want to help.”

  She nodded as tears ran down her face. “Can you just come visit more often? Can we go to a movie sometime like we used to? We can sneak in and shit.” Her face crumbled as she let out a painful sob.

  I was done playing it safe. “Of course.”

  She melted against me and cried hard as I held her and rubbed her back, shedding a few tears of my own. We’d had a hard childhood, and where I’d finally gotten through mine, she still had a few years left. It was shitty of me to stay away from her until I got myself together. I’d never be together enough to feel like I had something to offer her or anyone else, but that was a damn lie.

  She didn’t want money or comfort or anything else money could buy.

  All she wanted was me.

  Chapter 24

  Jacob

  I got up extra early on Monday morning and stopped by the pizza place to install the electric dart game we had in the game room at the frat house for my dad. He was going to be surprised by it, and hopefully, the guys at the Omega House wouldn’t throw too much of a fit over losing it. No one ever played with the damn thing anyway, and when we did, someone always got hurt, which led to a fight.

  The idea to have a Friday night cheap beer night coupled with a dart contest was brilliant. We were busy both Friday and Saturday night, and I held my father after we closed on Saturday as he cried in the office. I was grateful to have him threaten me within an inch of my life afterward if I told anyone he got emotional. I wasn’t sure who he thought I would tell. Emily already knew. She was right beside me, loving on both of us.

  She’d spent the night with Tasha the night before, which sucked to high heaven, but we probably needed to have a few breaks while we were figuring things out. I didn’t want to go too fast and have things fall apart on us because we didn’t set up a good foundation. Whatever the fuck that meant.

  “Yes,” I mumbled and moved back as the dart board lit up. I felt good about helping my old man, and his decision to tell Sheila to find someone else was one of the best things he could have done. He would find his Emily. I had no doubt. How could he not, seeing that he kept putting himself out there and trying over and over again? It was going to happen.

  I locked up the door and got in my truck as I headed over to Layla and Aubrey’s place. I had to meet with Coach Rhodes at nine, but I talked Layla into going with me. I wanted to check on her, and I was running a week behind schedule on doing just that. If someone was beating up on my closest gal pal, I was going to open a can of holy hell whoop ass. I almost looked forward to it.

  After texting her that I was there, she walked out, looking perfectly normal.

  I smiled over at her and tugged at a long strand of her pretty blonde hair as she buckled up.

  “Hey, handsome.”

  “Hey, squirt. What do you know?”

  “That you’re five minutes late. Let’s grab something at the coffee shop on campus on our way to the athletic building. Coach Rhodes isn’t someone to mess with. If you’re not on time, you can fucking forget it.”

  “Really? She’s the cheerleading coach for god’s sake.” I snorted and waved my hand around. “Don’t tell Emily I said that.”

  “She’s also the volleyball coach too, and I heard she’s going to help out with swimming.”

  “Oh, damn. I didn’t know that.”

  She smiled and reached over to push at my shoulder. “You really going to date someone for more than a day or two?”

  “Yeah. I think I am.” I pulled up to the coffee shop beside the business building and pointed to the large pole out front. “Look at that thing. It’s fucking huge.”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “You would have to be a total dumbass to run into that thing or not know it was there.” I got out of the truck and walked to the front before turning to face her. “And the last time I checked, you aren’t a dumbass, and you’re well aware of that pole. What happened?”

  “Really? Come on, Jacob. I thought we were going to grab something to eat and catch up. That’s what you said to drag me out of the comfort of my bed where I was dreaming of Jayce in a sexy thong.”

  “Ugh. Fuck. Come on already.” I gagged and turned to walk toward the coffee shop. I opened the door and gave her a hard stare. “You’re going to tell me what’s going on. I wouldn’t keep anything from you, right?”

  “No, but you don’t understand. It’s not that easy.” She brushed by me and walked to the counter.

  “So break it down. Make me understand.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and studied her before she pulled away.

  “I got in the middle of some shit that I shouldn’t have gotten involved in, all right?”

  “Are you in danger?”

  “Yeah, of people finding out that I know you.” She snorted, but I didn’t give her an inch.

  “I’m serious.” I turned to face her and forced her to face me too. “You know you’re like a little sister to me.”

  She wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her cheek to my chest. “I know. I appreciate you caring about me. It means a lot, okay?”

  “Y
eah, but you keeping shit from me means that I have to waste time digging around everywhere to figure out what the fuck is going on. You could just tell me and save me the drama.”

  “How about this?” She glanced up at me. “What I got in the middle of is over now. No more problems or issues. It’s all fixed, and I’ll never have a problem with it again. That good enough?”

  “That’s all I’m going to get, isn’t it?”

  “Yep. Forgive me, but this is just too personal to talk about.”

  “Does Aubrey know?” I moved up to the counter to order.

  “No, and I’m not telling her either.”

  “All right. I’m here if you need me.” I wasn’t going to push, seeing that she wasn’t showing signs of physical abuse anymore. If that changed at all, I was going to push until she broke down and told me what the fuck was going on.

  “Wait. You want to do what?” Coach Rhodes brushed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and glanced over at Layla and back to me.

  “I wanna pay off the debt that Emily Campbell has for her cheerleading stuff for this upcoming year. It’s around a grand, right?”

  “Yes, but does Emily know you’re doing this?”

  Layla shook her head, grabbing the coach’s attention. “No, and he doesn’t want her to know.”

  “And why are you doing this?”

  “She’s my girlfriend. Sort of.” I felt like an idiot trying to explain myself. Why couldn’t the woman just take the damn money without peppering me with fifty questions? With my luck, Emily was going to walk through the door behind us any minute and I would be busted.

  “Hmm.” She sat back and studied me. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

  “How so?” My shoulders stiffened. I had no doubt that she, like every other coach on campus, had been warned about me being a troublemaker. With all the shit that had happened at the Omega House in the last few weeks, it was a shock that my scholarship wasn’t in jeopardy.

  “Because when Coach Diaz came over here, investigating some of the stuff that was facing you, she took the heat and claimed to be your alibi for the night, even though all of us knew she was dating Brody Jackson. I was a little blown away by her loyalty to you, but now I see why. You guys love each other.”