Page 20

hawke

. . .

Emmarys stares at me, eyes-wide, not blinking, until I’m standing right in front of her, one of my hands holding out her go-to morning smoothie and the other handing her the wrapped breakfast protein burrito I’ve now seen her devour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the days her hockey team has double practice and a strength training day.

“Morning, sweets,” I greet her and press my lips gently against her cheek.

Audible gasps and a few giggles are heard around us, but I tune them out.

My only concern this morning was getting to my girl and making sure her day started with her much-needed breakfast and seeing me.

After her brush off over the weekend, I need her to know that I am not going away quietly.

She can take some time to adjust, but we’re together, now, today in my mind.

“What are you doing?” Her words are stiff despite the confused, small smile on her lips.

I pull back, chuckling, and run my hand through the loose strands of her hair, and tuck it behind her ear. “Bringing you breakfast. Now you have extra time before your class to study more before the test.”

Her lips part with the cutest little gasp and her cheeks turn pink. “Are you watching me?”

“Observing, maybe. Your boyfriend should know what you like to eat for breakfast and the smoothies you need for energy with the schedule you keep.” I shrug. “And honestly, sugar, memorizing a schedule is the type of thing any man should be doing for his woman if he cares about her.”

Emmarys takes a small step back and I can tell that my words affected her by the way her mouth pinches together in a firm line. “You're not my boyfriend. We are not together, Hawke.”

I shrug, letting her denial run off me. I knew that taking action and putting myself into her life when her mind was telling her she wasn’t ready was going to be a challenge.

I am prepared to fight back without being hurt by her comments or when she brings up the past. I will fight for both of us until her heart and her mind align with the idea that we belong together.

“We can talk about that later, sweets. Right now, you should take your breakfast and get to the lecture hall so you can study your notes again before your test.”

A small laugh falls from her lips and my fingers itch to reach out and touch her again. I love the sound of her laugh, her voice. If I could hang around her all day and just listen to her, I would. I have years to make up for.

“You’re being a stalker.”

I just smile and she huffs in response before taking her breakfast from my hands and walking in the direction of her classes.

Emmarys does her best to ignore me, eating so she doesn’t have to talk, but I’m determined not to let it get to me.

Fuck, I’m finally in her space, orbiting around her.

I let my arm brush against her as we walk, ignoring the way she stiffens, just happy to be close enough that I can inhale her scent into my lungs.

“I don’t need an escort to class,” she finally says between bites and her pretty whiskey-colored eyes glint at me.

“Just humor me, Em. I want to make sure your day starts off good and that you have everything you need. I heard Mondays are rough for your whole team.”

She makes a noise that sounds somewhere between a grunt and a snort, which is adorable either way, before taking a drink of her smoothie.

I’m quickly realizing I need to tone it down a bit, even while I watch her obsessively.

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “I don’t even want to know how you have that much information on my team or where it came from. ”

“People talk all the time,” I answer her and turn slightly so she won’t see the smirk on my lips.

“Okay, well, we’re here.” She lifts her chin in the direction of the building her lecture hall is in.

As more people turn to look at us, watching our interaction, her voice becomes smaller, and she seems to try and shrink in on herself.

In Texas I never worried about the attention I received or how people would openly gawk and gossip about me.

I never had Emmarys with me on campus though and until now I never felt like I had to shelter her from the audience.

If it was up to me, I never would. I want them to know she’s mine and that I take care of her, provide for her, love her.

Right now I can tell she's uncomfortable and until things between us are settled and she trusts me, I can’t blame her for being hesitant.

Turning to her I, once again, reach out and brush her hair behind her ear, loving the way her pupils expand while she stares at me. “Good luck on that test, Emmarys. I’ll see you later.”

“Hawke.” She shakes her head. “I have a busy day and my schedule is all over the place. I don’t need you here waiting on me. I’m sure you have your own classes to take care of.”

Carefully, I step closer to her, letting her feel my body against hers. “Don’t worry about me, sweets. I’ll be here to give you what you need. Just focus on your practices and class, okay.”

Her brow quirks up. “I feel like I should be saying the same thing to you. Don’t you have football to worry about? That's why you’re here.”

A laugh tumbles from my mouth and I can’t help but reach for her, my hands sliding along her cheeks and into her hair.

Emmarys is forced to tilt her head back, and I hold her gaze.

“We both know the only reason I’m here is for you, sugar.

And my most important job is to take care of you.

” I brush my lips against hers, a brief kiss, when I want more, but my brain is screaming to calm down right now.

“I’ll wait for you after practice tonight, we can go get dinner.”

Emmarys places her free hand against my chest and pushes some distance between us. “I’m not going out with you, Hawke. We are not together.” She turns and practically sprints away from me.

Part of me wants to laugh and part of me wants to chase after her.

Sensing that she needs the space, I let her go.

There will be more time to talk later and even though the urge to hash out all our issues right now is strong, I also know that Emmarys needs some time to accept her fate.

Because we are fated, soulmates, and I will follow her into the next life.

“That play is getting better,” Coach says to me on our way off the field after practice.

I nod in agreement, my eyes assessing different players as they head into the locker room ahead of me. “The line is still a little weak in the middle, but I think they were getting the hang of it by the end. Everyone is just used to only strengthening the outsides.”

Coach’s gaze lingers on me until he finally grunts in acknowledgement of what I said. “I’ll give it to ya, kid, you really know what you’re talking about.”

“I study plays hard, Coach, nothing really to it,” I answer, slipping a little bit of that dark edge that lives inside me into my words.

The team is already putting it together with my sudden move and the drama from the party the other night.

I’ve been prepared on how to handle the situation, and I don’t plan on letting them run their mouths.

Chasing Emma to Michigan has no effect on my play.

Hell, I’m going to be playing even better now that I feel like I can breathe, and I’ll be even sharper so that nothing can jeopardize my spot here.

“Look, Sheppard,” Coach sighs and scratches the hair on his chin, “I don’t like drama and believe that rumors are bullshit.

I do want to say though that I hope you have your head on right.

I took a chance bringing you here, and so far you’re proving me right at every turn, but I hope these rumors won’t negatively impact your chances at success. ”

I turn and give Coach my full attention because although I can see this situation makes him uncomfortable, he isn’t blaming or shaming Emmarys. He’s only concerned about my play.

“I know what the rumors are, Coach,” I tell him honestly and shrug my shoulders. “She’s the reason I’m here, but I’m still playing to win. My goal is the NFL, and I’m taking my girl with me.”

He looks a little shocked at first but manages to recover. His burly neck turns red and he starts walking again. “Let's just never have to talk about this again. Play like you have been and whatever girl you’re chasing in the off-time, I don’t want to know about.”

“Sure, Coach,” I laugh and we go our separate ways once we are off the field.

The locker room is still busy when I get in there and I glance quickly at my phone to see if there are any messages from Emmarys.

I gave her the space she needed during the day so she could concentrate on her classes and their practice, but I still made sure her favorite lunch was delivered and that she was sent a fresh water bottle and one of those blueberry-lemon scones she likes in the later afternoon before her last practice.

I wanted her to know I was thinking about her even when I couldn't be with her.

Showering quickly, I notice that everyone is clearing out pretty fast and as far as locker rooms go, this has been the quietest day in here. I catch Riggs’s attention and he saunters over. “What’s the deal?”

“Rumors about you and Emma are circulating, along with the incident at the party. Nothing too bad, but it's out there,” he answers.

We had planned for this, knew it would come the minute I made my interest in her known, especially since she was already in a relationship when I showed up on campus. “Are you shutting them down?”

He shrugs. “Shutting it down as far as them thinking your girl is the problem.”

“Good.” I nod in approval. I don’t want anything bad to touch Emmarys. I know people can be cruel and there will always be someone out there who’s jealous and bitter wanting to label the woman the issue. “Let me know if anything changes.”