Page 63 of Reverse Pass

“Can I ask you a question?” She looks up at me with big eyes that look sad.

“Yes.”

“The girl that spent the night?”

“Nothing happened. We watched a couple shows on TV. Talked. That was it.”

“You didn’t come home last night.”

“Didn’t want to be here if you and Cam were going to be here.”

“I guess I would have done the same.”

“Seemed like the smart thing at the time.”

She nods for a second, a pensive look on her face before a smile returns.

“Now.” Her hands go to my towel. “Is there anything I can do?”

She grins up at me, and I lean down and place a soft kiss on her lips. She returns it, her mouth opening for me, and I slide my tongue over hers. Just that little bit of contact has me going hard, and I reach to pull her closer but groan as my muscles fight the movement.

“Fuck. As much as I wish, I think I would just hurt worse by the end.”

“Yeah, no way I’m letting that happen then.” Her fingers tuck the edge of the towel back in that she’d started to pull on, and I feel a little drop in my stomach at the letdown even though I know it’s for the best.

“I’ll let you get some sleep then, okay?” She starts to walk away to go back to her room, but I grab her hand.

“Stay?” I ask.

“Okay.” Her eyes rake over my chest. “But you’re going to have to put more clothes on if you want me to keep my hands to myself.”

I kiss her again.

“I can do that.”

A few minutes later I try to remember I have everything I want in this moment with her curled up against me, breathing softly as she falls asleep. But I can’t help feeling like a coward for not asking for more.

TWENTY-ONE

Violet

Ben hasa phenomenal game with three touchdowns, and by the end of it the whole stadium is screaming his name. It feels surreal to know the boy who everyone here worships. After the game Joss and I wander down to meet him where he gets out, and he’s busy with Colton and Jake talking to fans who have waited for them afterward. Another guy I don’t recognize who’s massive and looks like a football player himself is standing with them chatting. A gorgeous auburn-haired woman at his side lurches forward and wraps her arms around Ben’s neck, pulling him into a hug that he reciprocates wholeheartedly, and a tiny flicker of jealousy rises in my chest.

“Wow. Your boy is a bona fide star,” Joss whispers.

“Yeah. I feel like we should probably leave him to his post-game celebrations with his friends, but I’d feel like a jerk if we didn’t at least say goodbye before we leave. You know?”

“Agreed.”

We make our way through the small crowd, and I tap Ben on the back softly. He turns around and grins wide when he sees me, wrapping his hand around my forearm and dragging me close to him.

“You actually stayed the whole time?” Amusement and sheer unadulterated happiness have this guy’s face lit up like fireworks. The return to football has made him so giddy, and I love it.

“Of course. But Joss and I are gonna head out now.” I nod in her direction. “I just wanted to tell you, you looked fucking amazing out there and say bye before we go.”

His smile falters and disappointment flashes over his features, “You’re going home?”

“Yeah. I figure you have a lot to celebrate with your friends.” I mentally tell myself not to look at all the women fawning over him, but I can’t help it, and holy hell am I getting dagger eyes from most of them for being this close to him. The dark auburn-haired girl who had hugged him earlier though is positively grinning at me, and I am more than a little confused.