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Parker let me slide away from his touch, then flattened his hands on either side of me against the door. “We can’t ignore this.”
“We have to. The team looks to you for leadership. You can’t be seen messing around with me, for both our sakes. The athletic director was very clear about the rules.” Despite my words, I didn’t make any effort to leave.
Shadows cut lines onto his biceps as he leaned closer. “And if I don’t care about the rules?”
“I do.” I ducked under his arm. “I’ll see you in the morning, Shaw.”
He pushed away from the door with a pained smile. “What happened to Parker?”
I shook my head. We were already well beyond the line of friendship, and I desperately needed to reestablish some distance.
“Goodnight, Shaw.”
Parker nodded and backed away toward his apartment. I closed the door, then leaned against it in the dark space. Eva had texted to say not to wait up. A blessing considering the show we’d just put on in the hallway.
I wasn’t sure how this fiasco would affect our relationship on the team, but I had a feeling Monday’s class would beinteresting.
One thing was clear—I couldn’t let myself be alone with Parker anymore.
10
Fuck the rules. I wanted Lorelai Jones in a way I’d never wanted anything before—and she’d clearly decided I was off-limits.
I stood in the chaos of the tunnel, minutes before we had to run out onto the field, and let the noise blur around me. My Chill the F* Out playlist hadn’t been able to touch the churning in my chest. I wasn’t worried about the game—week zero was never competitive so we used it as a warm-up for the season—but Riley had shoved me so far into the friend zone I could probably braid her hair from my apartment.
Seeing her multiple times a day in class and at practice without being able to touch her was slowly killing me.
I kept replaying that night outside our apartments. After having her in my arms, hearing that breathy noise she made, I couldn’t think about anything else. I faked it well enough that Coach didn’t notice, but Mac kept sneaking me concerned glances.
He knew I’d left the party with Riley, then come home way past my normal time. I’d managed to deflect all his questions about what went down when I showed her the camper. He clearly didn’t believe we’d sat and talked for hours—the truth, incidentally—but he didn’t think we were hooking up.
Riley helped out his confusion by teasing me at practice like everyone else while refusing to move from her spot on the fringe of our friend group. Mac and Eva had both invited her to lunch, but she always had an excuse. No matter what she told them, I knew I was the real reason.
“There you are!” My mom’s excited shout rang across the tunnel, yanking my thoughts away from Riley.
She pushed her way through the wall of players with my dad trailing along behind her, grinning like an idiot as he watched. I knew the feeling. When Riley turned her attention on me, I couldn’t stop smiling. Except I didn’t want to be thinking about Riley in my tight football pants with my mom coming in fast.
I winced at my own choice of words and surreptitiously adjusted myself before she got too close.
Mom rushed up and hugged me, then stepped back to let my dad have a turn. The rest of the team ignored them. They’d all met my parents by now.
“I’m so proud of you, honey. Not that I ever doubted you’d be starting as soon as D graduated. I’m just excited for the first game of the season with my baby as the captain.”
Over her shoulder, Riley came out of the women’s locker room. I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t help myself. Watching Riley had become an involuntary reaction whenever she was in the vicinity.
Like the rest of us, she was dressed out in full pads and carried her helmet. Her long hair fell in an intricate braid over one shoulder, and she smiled at Mac when he bounded her way. For a long second, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Once we left the tunnel, I’d need to focus on the game, but I had this moment where I could pretend she was smiling like that at me.
Mom’s hand on my forearm grabbed my attention, and I cursed inside when I saw her face. She looked at Riley, then back at me with a knowing smile that I dreaded. Fuck. I needed better control of my facial muscles.
“You’ll have to introduce me to the woman on your team. She’s been all over SportsCenter.”
I was totally screwed. Mom didn’t take no for an answer. “Sure. I can introduce you to Riley after the game, but you guys should go find your seats.” I frowned as I realized I didn’t see a dark-haired teen with her nose buried in a book. “Where’s Jaina?”
Mom rolled her eyes. “Lecturing the guard on letting random people into the tunnel.”
I frowned. “But you guys have permission to be back here.”
