Page 15 of The Surprise Play (Nolan U Football #3)

WILY

I can’t believe Satch called me out like that.

She dropped it once we started eating, but it kept humming in the back of my mind while we talked about the one concert she’d been to for her sixteenth birthday—Taylor Swift.

Why am I not surprised that she’s a Swiftie?

Her mom took her, and the animated way she told me about it showed how much that night meant to her.

I then told her about the various concerts and sporting events I’d been to since I was old enough to attend, and she sat there trying not to gape at me.

But of course I’m gonna go to the Super Bowl every year, and Blake needs a bodyguard when she goes to see all of those bands she loves so much, right?

And all the while I was talking and she was trying to hide her surprise… I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said before the food arrived.

The whole “turning girls from humans with souls to just bodies” thing made me feel like total shit .

I don’t do that.

Or maybe I do a little, and fuck… I am a total creeper.

When the waitress eventually comes back to collect our plates, I make sure I look her in the eye when I say thanks and force my gaze back to the pages in front of me when she walks away.

Even with all that effort, I still feel like a world-class dick.

Shit, Satch is so right. If my buddies knew that I’d checked out their girls—albeit very briefly—they’d pluck my eyeballs out. I can’t go hurting my team this way. I need to stop this shit.

But damn, it’s gonna be hard.

This campus is filled with hot chicks, and so many of them intentionally cross my path. It’s hard not to notice them.

Your girlfriend or wife won’t appreciate it.

Satch is right.

Not that I’m interested in having a girlfriend right now, but one day I want a wife and family. Will I still be checking out other women when I have one waiting at home for me?

Hell no.

Which means I’ve got to start practicing now.

Blake always calls me a man slut, and we both think it’s funny.

But the way Satch spoke to me before makes me kind of hate the fact that I am. She looked at me like it was something to be ashamed of, and my peacock feathers have taken a serious hit. That’s what Blake always tells me I have .

“Strutting around campus with your peacock feathers in full bloom, you cocky shit.” She would shake her head at me and laugh.

Spinning the blue fidget toy around, I glance up and watch Satch finish typing the sentence I just gave her. It obviously wasn’t a very good one, because she’s reworking it a little. I’m losing concentration. It’s hard to think when I’ve got her look of disgust in my head.

“Do you think I’m an asshole?”

“What?” Her head jolts up, and she blinks at me in surprise.

I’m kind of surprised too. I don’t know why I even care what this woman thinks of me. She’s my tutor. It’s not like I’m trying to get it on with her or anything, but for some reason, the idea of her thinking less of me is driving me nuts. I scratch the side of my mouth and stare back at her.

Her surprise starts to fade, her lips pursing as she takes in my expression. “Are you referring to our earlier conversation? About the mental undressing thing?”

I nod and clench my jaw.

“Wily…” Her lips twitch. “I may not like that you do that, but I don’t think you’re an asshole.” Her tone is soft and reassuring. “You have so many great qualities. Just because you do one thing I don’t like doesn’t mean I’m going to write you off.”

The sweet look on her face makes me smile, and soon her lips are spreading wide as well. I’m about to get hit with one of her full beamers when her expression falters and she dips her chin, hunching over and staring at her laptop screen.

“You okay? ”

“Yep.” She accentuates the P , and the tension radiating off her is palpable.

“You sure?” My eyebrows dip together. I can feel it.

She darts a look at me, then past my shoulder before she nods, slapping her laptop closed and shoving it into her bag.

What the hell?

“Where are you going? Are we done for the night?”

“Just need the bathroom,” she squeaks, her cheeks flushing bright red before she bolts out of the booth and does this awkward little jog past the counter.

I watch her go and wonder if she’s got her period or something. I know some girls get some horrible shit going on. Blake’s told me all about it. There was a girl in her class last year that got the worst periods. I didn’t want to know all the details, but I got them anyway.

It’s called flooding, and it can be quite horrific by the sounds of things.

Shit, I’m so glad I’m not a woman.

I tap my fingers together, waiting for Satch to come back. She’ll probably want to leave right away, especially if her skirt has gotten caught in the crossfire, so to speak.

Pulling out my phone, I jump up from the booth and wander over to the counter to pay. I’m kind of bummed out that our session is over already. I really want to get this essay done. It’s due tomorrow, and we’ve still got to finish the third paragraph and do the conclusion.

Ugh. I hate conclusions.

And then we’ve got all the editing and final proofing to go. Satch mentioned shuffling some stuff around and then maybe cutting a few bits here and there .

I know, right? Cutting! I’m usually stressed about trying to get to the minimum word count, and now she’s talking about how we have too much to work with.

What the actual fuck?

It makes me want to belt out a triumphant laugh.

This Captain Ahab guy has given me so much to work with, and Satch keeps asking me the best questions. She makes me look at things from a different perspective, and the answers just pop into my head.

Unbelievable.

“Hey, Wily.”

I spin and spot a girl behind me. She looks really familiar, but it takes me a second to remember her name.

“Jade.” She points at herself.

“I remember,” I assure her, and I can’t tell if she believes me or not. “You’re in my finance class. Nice to see you again.”

“You too.” She brushes her fingers through her silky hair, and I check out those shiny locks, then force my gaze not to wander down the rest of her body.

From memory, she’s slight with petite curves that she obviously tries to accentuate as much as she can.

“So…” She looks around, her glossy lips rising into a hopeful smirk. “You here alone?”

“No, I’ve just been working with my tutor.” I point to the booth Satch and I were sitting in before my eyes dart toward the bathroom sign.

I wonder if I should go check on her.

But she probably wants her privacy if she’s dealing with… whatever it is she’s dealing with.

My eyebrows pinch together, but Jade distracts me with a hand on my arm. “What’s your tutor helping you with?”

“Just a novel analysis essay. Moby Dick ,” I murmur.

She hisses. “I hated that book in school.”

I’m about to agree with her, but for some reason, I tip my head and say, “It’s not so bad. That Captain Ahab’s an interesting dude.”

What the fuck did I just say?

Are these words seriously coming out of my mouth?

Jade titters, her right shoulder hitching. “If you say so.” She brushes her teeth across her lower lip, and it’s hard not to notice how full and pink her mouth is.

I bet it tastes delicious.

Her lips curl into a sultry smile and I blink, forcing my eyes away. There I go again, turning her into nothing but a body.

Looking into her eyes, I go for a friendly smile but find her outright hunger kind of unnerving.

Seriously?

What is happening to me?

I should be asking if she needs a ride home with the expectation that she’ll invite me in and we can get a little busy. Or maybe we’ll just make out in my truck, and then we can go our separate ways with a sweet little buzz.

But…

Satch.

I glance back at the table, then look over my shoulder again. She’s taking ages. I hope she’s okay.

“So, once you’re done with tutoring, do you want to hang out?” Jade gazes up at me, all sweet and hopeful.

I smile down at her, loving the sound of that, but? —

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I glance at the screen.

Tutor Girl: Not feeling too great. I’m just gonna walk home. We can finish the assignment tomorrow morning. Do you think Coach will let you skip one gym workout so we can finish it up in time?

Walk home?

In the dark?

At this time of night?

Fuck that!

“I gotta go.” I glance down at Jade and wince when her eyebrows start to pucker. “Sorry.” I lift my phone. “My friend needs me.”

This seems to appease her, and she nods. “Maybe another time.”

“Yeah.” I move away from her, this weird urgency firing through me.

Why didn’t Satch ask me for a ride?

Snatching up my stuff as fast as I can, I bolt out the diner door, checking the road and spotting her in the distance.

“Satch! Wait up!” I shout before racing to my truck. “I’ll give you a ride!”

She kind of jerks on the sidewalk, slowing her steps, then shakes her head and picks up her pace.

Shit.

What the fuck is up with her ?

I thought we were having a good time together, and now she’s bailing?

Because she’s not feeling well, you douche. Show a little sympathy.

Jumping into my truck, I rev the engine and squeal out of the small parking lot, rushing to catch her before she has to walk another step.