Page 24 of Overtime

“They call me priest because I don’t fuck around as much as they do.”

“Why not?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the quarterback. I don’t know a ton about football, but I know it makes you the Queen Bee—”

“The Queen Bee…” I echo with a laugh.

“You know what I mean. You’re incredibly attractive and you have that whole good-guy image. Plus, the money and the fame? You could have anyone you want. I’m sure actresses and models are lined up to put themselves in your way. Why not take advantage of it? I would if I were you.”

“I love football. I love this team. And I want all these guys and this city to have the rings, the trophy. It’s my main priority in life. I eat, drink, sleep,livethe path to getting us there. Which doesn’t leave time for a lot of other things. Most women don’t want to come in second, understandably. And second place is all I have to offer.”

She looks at me carefully, her eyes drifting over me and back to my face like she’s considering that statement.

“Even still. I find it hard to believe at least a few wouldn’t be willing to try.”

I shrug again. “I’ve dated a few here and there. One I almost thought was going somewhere. But it is what it is. You’re still single, so what’s with the judgment?”

“I’m single because I don’t have time for relationships either. I want to be on the road. Seeing new places and new people, whenever I can. I don’t want to have to say no to new experiences because somebody sitting at home tells me I have to.”

“I get it. Being on the road is where you’re happy.”

“Right,” she agrees.

“So neither of us wants a relationship. So I don’t think we’re in danger.” I give her a meaningful look.

“But we need to be careful around each other. So we don’t make this messy on accident. You don’t have time for it and neither do I. Ben and Violet definitely don’t want to referee another round.”

“Well, just keep your hands to yourself and stay out of the bathroom when I’m showering.” I give her a playful smile.

“I can keep my hands to myself. You’re the real problem.” She shrugs.

“Me?” The laugh rumbles out of me before I can stop it. “Dollface, one of us definitely has impulse-control problems, but it’s not me.”

“How dare you!” She pretends to act pissed but cracks a smile a second later. “We’ll see. I have more control than you think. I bet you crack first,Priest.”

“I’m not cracking first.”

“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?”

“That a bet?” I ask, my eyes drifting over her.

“Maybe. Do you want it to be?”

“Maybe. Depends on the rules of the agreement. Like, do I get to torment and torture you to see if you’ll break?”

“Sure. Do your worst.”

I grin because I know so many of her favorite things. So many ways she likes to be touched and talked to. I’m fairly certain I could bring her down in one night.

“Keep grinning like that, Farm Boy. You forget, I taught you everything you know. Which means I know all your weaknesses.”

I close the distance between us because I still remember everything she taught me. How much she liked finding those weaknesses.

“Like you didn’t love every second of getting to teach a guy how to fuck exactly how you wanted.”

“I never said it was a burden. I like a challenge.” Her eyes glint with amusement as I take another step closer to her.