Page 93 of Quarterback Sneak

I yank my bag from Ex’s hand. They step just the slightest bit away from me, leaving me room to push through them and walk to Zane. My legs are shaking, and they barely hold me up. Zane’s eyes run over my body, like he’s checking to make sure I’m not physically harmed. Then his intense eyes run over my face, andI watch as his face hardens into something I’ve not seen on him before. “Are you okay?” he asks in a really deep voice. I nod, because I’m not sure I can talk. His eyes hold mine, and I watch as they soften a moment. “You sure?” His voice is more tender this time.

I nod again. “They didn’t hurt me,” I say so only he can hear me.

His eyes harden, and he looks over my head. “Slate, take her out for me. Lock the doors behind you.” He looks down at me. “Go with Slate. I’ll be there soon.”

One of the guys laughs; I’m not sure which one. “What are you going to do? Take on both of us?” They both laugh.

“Dude, if she didn’t want us, she shouldn't have been coming on to us like that. This is aherproblem, not an us problem.”

I gasp and spin around, but Slate makes a sound and I look at him. He nods his head towards the exit. I don’t want to go, but I also know that I’m still shaking too badly to add anything to the conversation. I follow Slate out of the large room and out into the empty corridor. He chuckles darkly. “What?” I ask absently.

“They just made it a thousand times worse.”

I don’t get a chance to answer because the door to the building opens, and Quint and Reid enter. Quint grins at me. “Hey, we heard it was going down and came to join in.”

“Really?” I ask in surprise.

“Nah. Zane has it handled,” he says easily.

“Now, what did you do, lowly freshman, to rile up those juniors?” Quint asks slyly.

I’m not really in the mood for his games. “You’re only a sophomore, Quint,” I remind him.

Quint sighs all dramatic like. “That’s true, but at least I don’t look like it.” He flexes his arms, and just like that, I’m over all men.

“Put down your tiny arms, Quint. The only one who has anything to show off is Zane, and he’s a little busy right now.” I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the door, willing Zane to come out. The door blows open, and Zane steps out. My eyes run over him, and relief crashes through me. But then he stops and looks behind me.

“What?”

I turn to see Quint grinning widely, and even Reid and Slate are smirking. I repeat Zane’s question. “What?”

Quint steps over to me and slings his arm around my shoulders. “We’re just happy to see you falling for our main man.”

“You’re going to be falling on the floor if you don’t get your arm off her,” Zane rumbles. Quint drops his arm and steps back, still grinning.

I look behind Zane. “Where are the two guys?”

Zane shrugs. “Not sure.”

I narrow my eyes at him, but he doesn’t let it bother him. “Reid, is this going to be a problem?” Zane asks.

Reid waves off his concern. “I can deal with them.”

I look back towards the room, but Zane wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. At first, I think it’s to distract me; but then he breathes deeply. I pull back slightly and look up at him. “Are you okay?”

He reaches out and tucks a hair behind my ear. “I need to know that you’re okay. Really.”

I meet his eyes. “I am. They were just being idiots. How did you know I needed help?”

“I felt your fear.”

I frown up at him. “What?”

He runs a hand over his head. “Come on. Let’s get you to your next class.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls meclose as we walk out of the building. The guys surround us as we walk.

“But what about those guys?” I ask, looking back over my shoulder.

“They’ll be fine.”