Page 42 of Red Card (Prescott University #1)

Rory

A fter everything I learned at the hospital yesterday, I understand why Cillian’s so fiercely loyal and protective of his sister.

Aisling on the other hand does not want to be coddled nor have her older brother suffocating her.

Rolling my lips together, I sink back into the couch and watch the two of them having a… creative discussion, one that Aisling is absolutely winning, and Cillian has yet to realize that.

“Ais, for fuck’s sake, you can’t just pretend that you weren’t in the bloody hospital yesterday !

” he cries exasperatedly, tugging at the ends of his hair like a frustrated dad.

My lips tilt into a grin, and I cover my mouth to stop the giggle that’s threatening to spill.

“You’re supposed to be resting. You’re being stubborn. ”

Aisling rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest and lifting her chin in defiance. “And you’re being overbearing. I got discharged, Cillian. That doesn’t mean I need to stay in bed for the next week. I passed out. Barely hit my head. I’m fine !”

He groans as he stops his pacing and places his hands on his hips. “I’m sure when they discharged you they didn’t mean go to a damn study hall. The test can wait. You can get an excuse.”

“Nope,” she retorts with a smirk. “Now, quit being so bossy and leave me be. My pump is working perfectly fine; you checked three times, remember? My blood sugar is fine. I have a huge test coming up that I’m going to sit in a chair and study for.

End of discussion.” Without another glance at him, she gathers her notebooks and laptop and puts them into her periwinkle-colored backpack, then stops and turns to me.

“Oh! Rory. Thank you for the book. I’m so excited to read it. ”

“Of course. I was worried you already had this one, but the bookseller assured me that it was a new release, so I figured that lessened the chance of you having it despite your library,” I say.

She reaches up to her curls and adjusts the bright yellow headband in her hair with a cheeky grin.

Today she’s got on a pair of light-washed overalls and a pink pastel long sleeve underneath with a frilly neck that I haven’t the slightest idea of what the proper name for it is.

What I do know though, is that Aisling has the most adorable style of anyone I’ve ever met.

She’s always wearing something girly and fun, and while it’s quirkier than what most of the girls on campus wear, it’s 100 percent her.

It fits her personality to a tee, and I love that she’s so comfortable with her self-expression.

Also slightly envious when I’m unsure of my own style, or lack of.

“When you’re feeling up to it, would you possibly want to go… shopping with me?” A swirl of anxiety settles in my stomach.

I’m not sure if she would even consider us friends, but if so, she would be the first girlfriend I’ve ever had. Like, ever. All my friends are guys from the team.

Aisling’s eyes light up as she bounces on the tips of her toes.

“Hell yes! Literally nothing would make me happier. We could even get manicures? It’s been so long since I’ve had one.

Since I was still in London. There was this adorable little posh place near our flat that I loved.

But you know you’ll have to go through my captor if I’m ever to leave this tower.

” She cuts a pointed look at Cillian, who just shakes his head while muttering “bloody” something and my lips curve into a grin.

I think he’s cute, like a worried dad, even though he is slightly overbearing.

But I get it. He feels responsible for Aisling even though she’s technically an adult. And this is his way of showing that he cares and that he loves her.

“Perfect. We can make a day of it? Have lunch. I know this place right off campus that has the world’s best lobster roll.”

She nods as she slips her arms into the straps of her backpack. “Yes! I’ll get your number from Cillian and shoot you a text. I’ve gotta run before I’m late.” She walks over to her brother and throws her arms around his neck even though he’s still grumbling. “Love you. I’ll check in all day, okay?”

For a second he doesn’t move. Then his arms wrap around her waist, and he holds her for a beat. “All right. If you don’t, I’m coming there and making a scene.”

She gasps sharply. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me, Ais,” he retorts.

“Fine. Whatever. See you lovebirds later!”

She lifts her hand in a wave as she bounds out the front door without another glance, slamming it shut behind her.

It’s truly hilarious how different she and Cillian are, but I think at the end of the day, they balance each other out.

He looks over at me with a resigned expression before sinking down into the couch beside me and pulling me into his lap. I wind my arms around his neck, my fingers tangling in his nape, causing him to sigh.

“What do you think, St. James? Do you think I’m being overbearing?”

I draw my lip between my teeth and squinch my nose, giving him a subtle nod.

“Maybe a little? I get it. I’ve got a different perspective though.

I can see why she feels like she’s being coddled, but also…

you’re worried. But you just have to remember, she’s an adult now, and you have to let her make her own choices and mistakes. ”

Cillian’s brow pinches, and I rub my finger over the tense space. “I guess you’re right. It’s just hard. Especially after yesterday. I’m scared something’s going to happen, and I’m not going to be there.”

“I know. But you can’t always be there, and you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to predict everything that could possibly go wrong.

” I press my lips to his when he sighs. “You have to trust her to make the right decisions and to take care of herself. Even though I know it’s easier said than done.

” My lips ghost along his, to the corner of his mouth where I press a kiss, then one to the edge of his jaw, then pull back to look at him.

“Maybe you just need a little distraction. You know, to get your mind off of worrying for five seconds?”

“Yeah? What kind of distraction?” His lip twitches and his dark brow curves.

Instead of responding, I rock my hips in his lap, feeling that he’s already half hard brushing against my core.

Leaning forward, I hover my mouth just a few centimeters above his. His warm breath stutters as it fans across my lips.

I love that he’s so affected by me, and that I’m not the only one who feels like this when we’re together. Like there’s this invisible string tethering us together, and with each breath it pulls us closer.

His large hands curve around my hips, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he drags me over his erection, causing us both to groan in unison.

I think it might actually be a crime for him to be this good at making my body light up and come alive with such little effort.

I feel his hands slip beneath my sweatshirt and slowly trail up my back as he pulls me closer until I’m molded against his hard body and still… it doesn’t feel close enough. I want more.

No, I need more.

Cillian moves to pull my shirt over my head when his phone begins to ring on the coffee table. He groans, dropping his forehead against my chest. “Bloody fucking hell.”

I laugh. “Get it, it could be your sister. You told her to check in, remember?”

He reaches past me and grabs it from the table, his brow knitting together.

“What?” I ask, glancing down at the phone.

His eyes lift to mine. “It’s Coach.”

Surprise sears through me. Why would my dad be calling him in the middle of the day? Maybe he wants to go over tape or something.

I shrug. “Answer it!”

He swipes his finger across the screen and brings it to his ear. “Coach. What’s up?”

I can’t hear what’s being said, but I can hear my dad’s voice low through the phone. Cillian nods to whatever he’s saying a few times before he says, “Yeah, sure. I can be there in a few.”

A few moments later, he hangs up and looks at me with a confused expression. “He just asked me to meet him down at his office. Said it’s important, and it can’t wait. You know what it’s about?”

My head shakes. “I have no idea. I actually haven’t talked to him in a few days, so I really have no clue.”

Cillian’s dark eyes move over my face as he lifts his hand to cup my cheek. The slow, steady sweep of his thumb along my jaw makes my heart falter. “Do you wanna wait here till I get back? Probably won’t take too long.”

God, I want to, but… clearly the universe is at work and knows that I’ve been neglecting my homework for the past few days and is sending me a sign to get my shit together. I don’t think I’ve ever been this distracted in my life from school, but without a doubt, it has been worth it.

Sighing, I poke my lip out slightly. “I’m going to head back to my apartment. I’m so behind on homework, and I don’t want to fall behind. But call me after? Tell me what happens?”

“Of course. Maybe I can help you… study later. You know how good of a teacher I am, baby.” His grin is wolfish, causing his eyes to crinkle.

“I need to be a good girl for one night.” I laugh, stealing a quick kiss before sliding off his lap and fixing my sweatshirt.

“I think you can survive a single night without me. How else would you have made it this long?” I walk over to his kitchen table and grab my bag, checking that my phone and house keys are inside.

Cillian strides over to where I’m standing and wraps his arms around my waist, hauling me against him. “Can’t bloody help that I’m addicted to you, St. James. It’s your fault that I can’t get enough.”

I smirk as I roll my eyes. “Go, before you’re late. He hates when people are late. I’ll see you tomorrow, though?”

With one last lingering, toe-curling kiss, he walks me to the door and then I turn in the direction of my apartment and start walking home.

Ignoring the swell in my chest at how out-of-my-mind crazy I am about the guy I was never supposed to fall for.

And how I don’t even care anymore.