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A rumble of laughter filters through the door and Damon ignores it as he reaches for me, cupping my face in my hands. “I’m sorry I have to go like this.” He presses a hurried kiss to my lips. “I wish I could stay, but?”

“Go!” I say, giving him a gentle shove. “Seriously, it’s okay. I’ll walk you out.”

His gaze rakes over my face as if trying to ensure I mean it before he nods and heads for the door. Yanking it open, he rears back when Chris all but falls inside the room, stumbling as he reaches for the doorframe. West, Jace, and Brandon all form a wall behind him.

“So . . .” Chris smirks. “Have yourself a nice time last night, did ya?”

Damon scowls. “Fuck off.”

“Oh, I think you did enough of that for the both of us.”

Damon gives him the middle finger before motioning to his teammates with pink cheeks. “Was the search party really necessary when you already knew where I was?”

“Hell yes, it was necessary,” Chris says with a laugh. “You needed a proper walk of shame. No disrespect intended, Avery,” he says, turning to me.

“Out. Now.” Damon points toward the door.

“Nothing to be ashamed of,” Chris prattles on, ignoring Damon. “It’s completely natural. Just two people who are in love, expressing it in physical form. A beautiful thing.”

“Would you shut the fuck up?” Damon snaps, while I stifle a laugh.

“Geez, you’re testy,” Chris mutters. “You’d think since you got some last night, your bedside manner would have improved.”

The muscle in Damon’s jaw ticks as he glares at his friend, then shoves him out the open door, waiting for the others to follow before turning back to me. “I don’t want to leave.”

I laugh, nudging his arm. “Go and crush them, QB. Have some victory drinks with your dad. I’ll be waiting for you when you’re finished.”

“Promise?” he asks, his gaze settling on my lips.

“Promise.”

Chapter 28

DAMON

Sleeping with Avery and waking up in her bed the night before the National Championship game probably wasn’t the wisest idea, but if it hurt me any, it doesn’t seem to show. My muscles feel loose, and my mind is clear as crystal as I lace up my cleats in the locker room. The familiar pregame chaos swirls around me: Press conferences followed by the coaches barking last-minute adjustments, teammates headbanging to pregame playlists, trainers weaving through the locker room with tape and tiger balm.

“You look relaxed, man.” Jace grins over at me while he shoulders into his pads at the neighboring locker.

Brandon scoffs. “Yeah, I’d be relaxed too if I—”

“Don’t go there,” I grind out, flicking him a warning glare.

“At least we know who to blame if things go sideways,” Chris jokes.

“And if they don’t?” I ask, raising a brow.

“Then I guess we know who to thank.” Jace laughs, and I shake my head.

“Actually, we should be thanking ourselves. If it weren’t for us getting your ass up when we did, you probably would’ve missed the whole damn game.” Chris laughs.

“I would’ve woken up,” I grumble. “Eventually.”

“Just for the record,” West says, sauntering toward us, already dressed and ready to go, “I had faith you wouldn’t miss it or be late, but Chris vetoed me when I said we should wait for you to return to the room.”

“Could you imagine the vise grip Coach would’ve had on your balls if you hadn’t been here for pregame warm-ups?” Chris says, his tone defensive.

“Whatever,” I say with a shake of my head. “I admit it probably wasn’t my finest idea waking up in Avery’s bed the morning of our game, but I don’t regret it.”