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“So just rightaftersex then? It’s the cuddling, isn’t it? I’ve seen you and Mac on the bus…”
Parker brushed his nose against mine. “I’d rather be cuddling you on the bus.”
This wasn’t the first time he’d made a comment about wanting to bring our relationship out into the open. I knew he understood why we had to keep it a secret, but he chafed at the restriction.
I couldn’t fault him. In a perfect world, I’d be able to play professional football, and no one would bat an eye at me dating a teammate. Unfortunately, our world was far from perfect, at least outside this bedroom. On the plus side, he never made me doubt how he felt about me.
“I know.” I didn’t have an answer for him. My favorite place in the world outside the football field was in Parker’s arms, and I’d love to spend the long bus rides to other schools curled up with him.
Parker’s stance relaxed, and he lay on his side next to me. “My mom made a good point to me the other day.”
“And here I thought this conversation couldn’t get any weirder after you brought up Mac,” I deadpanned.
He tickled me, and I squirmed around squealing. “She said the football season will be over soon enough. Once it’s done, the university can’t make rules about who wefraternizewith.”
My heart stuttered at the hope in his eyes. “What about next year?”
“What about it?”
I shook my head and tried to resist his appeal. “We both have another year of eligibility after this one, and I plan to use mine. If we announce we’re together, how do we go back in the closet for next season? Besides, the university’s rules are the least of my worries if our relationship gets out. You know my reputation would be shot, and yours would take a beating.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ll take a tarnished rep if I get you.”
The heart stutter turned into a full-on melt, but I couldn’t allow myself to be distracted by the warmth spreading through my chest. “You already have me. Why do we need to tell the world?”
“It’s not about the world, Lorelai. It’s about holding your hand at lunch and dancing with you at Johnny’s and kissing you before a game.” His lips teased mine. “You deserve a life outside of football, no matter who you choose to live it with.”
Words failed me, so I cupped his neck and pulled him down for a real kiss. “Why don’t we make it through the season first, then discuss this again?”
Parker didn’t agree, but he didn’t argue either. With the sun streaming through his windows, neither of us thought we’d go back to sleep, but I was willing to give it a solid effort snuggled next to Parker’s warm body. Until my stomach rumbled from hunger.
Friendsgiving would start in a few hours, and Eva was probably already in the living room watching the parade. I knew Parker and Mac had filled the kitchen with food because I’d spent the evening watching some dance movie with Eva while he’d been at the store. Now was the best time to grab provisions before the horde descended.
It took another twenty minutes to convince Parker to feed me. Or let me feed myself. We almost ended up back in bed, but my hunger prevailed.
I grabbed Parker’s sleeve before he could open the door. “Wait, what was so funny about Mac?”
He grinned. “He developed this theory that the longer the door is locked, the kinkier the shenanigans inside the room.”
I thought back to the day before when we’d locked the door in a tangle of flying clothes sometime around noon. And all the other times we’d rushed into his room desperate to let loose after hours of holding back. I hadn’t noticed anyone in the living room, but I’d been understandably distracted.
“How did he develop this theory?” I asked.
“Knowing Mac, creeping outside people’s doors, but he can be sneaky and inventive when the need calls for it.” He tugged me into the hallway, closing the door in question.
“Think he was talking about us?”
“Oh, yeah.” Parker nodded to prove his point.
I grimaced. “Great. Now I can never look him in the eye again.”
“You asked,” he reminded me. “I’m going for a run before everyone shows up. Want to come?”
Normally, I’d say yes. Running was my jam, but we’d stayed up most of the night. I needed water and food before I exerted any more energy. “Nah. I’m going to get breakfast started.”
He kissed me, lingering on my mouth until I shoved him away. If he kept that up, we’d spend the rest of the day in bed too.
“Stop distracting me and go run before I get hangry.”
