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Mac gestured at the open door of the Kappa House and threw me a big smile. “Welcome to paradise.”
I shook my head and followed him up the walkway, quietly wishing I were anywhere else.
3
Iwas going to be late to my first team meeting. With the semester officially started, I couldn’t find parking in the tiny lot at the front of the training facility.
After circling for twenty minutes, getting my hopes up every time someone walked out of the building, and cursing under my breath, I squeezed into a spot meant for a much smaller car. It was only after I shut off the engine, I remembered Coach had said something about parking in the back.
The mid-August sun beat down on me as I managed not to hit the truck next to me with my door, making me glad I’d taken the time to put on sunscreen despite the early hour. I’d been warned that Texas was basically the surface of the sun in the summers, but the heat didn’t bother me too much. Southeast Wisconsin got hot and humid too.
I hoped there’d be more in common here than the crappy weather and mosquitos. My last team had treated me the same as everyone else playing, but we’d been mediocre at best. I wanted the same respect with a higher caliber of skill. Coach Gordon had assured me I’d find that at TU, but he couldn’t possibly speak for every player on his team. My team now.
The encounter with Parker last night didn’t fill me with hope.
I stared at the large building in front of me and took a deep breath to calm my chaotic thoughts. Four beats in. Four beats out. I had a spot on the team, at least for now. I couldn’t control how the guys would react to me, but I could control how I responded—and I could play my ass off to prove myself.
With a steadier hand, I snagged my backpack and sped through the lines of cars. Other students meandered around the courtyard in front of the building, but I didn’t see any of my teammates. My watch said I had two minutes to get inside and find the meeting room.
The lady manning the front desk smiled at me as I scanned in with my ID. Apparently, this system was new after Parker Shaw and Soren Brehm’s infamous live that got their previous coach fired. No one in the administration wanted a repeat, so they made everyone scan in and out.
Despite how selfish it felt, I was glad they’d done what they did. Not only because that coach was an embarrassment to the sport, but because I’d never have gotten a shot here without the bad press and Coach Gordon taking over.
One minute past the appointed meeting time, I found the door to the auditorium. My heart raced as I gripped the cool metal handle and pulled it open a crack. I’d trained for this. I was ready. All I had to do was go inside.
An arm shot past my face to slap the door closed in front of me. Goosebumps broke out across my skin, and an unwanted heat rose slowly from my chest.
I turned, not surprised to see Parker leaning into my space. The sixth sense that told me where an opponent was on the field worked overtime with my new quarterback. It would be convenient if only I could stop staring at the angry slash of his mouth.
“You have some balls showing up here. Banging one of the football players doesn’t give you an all-access pass.”
“Good to know.”
My calm response seemed to have no effect on him. He stepped closer, forcing me to lift my chin to maintain eye contact. No way was I backing down, but I’d learned that apathy usually worked best in the face of opposition. Parker didn’t respond like I expected. He swallowed his obvious annoyance and lowered his head.
Quarterback or no, I was fully prepared to knee him in the junk if he got aggressive.
Instead, he spoke softly. “I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt that someone asked you to meet him here. That said, you need to let go of whatever fantasy you have going. Every guy in there puts the game first, second, and third. Whatever he told you, I guarantee he doesn’t want to see you in there. Especially when it could affect his position on the team.”
I’d heard the speech before—football players were notoriously possessive—but the sincerity in his voice made me pause. The assumption I was a jersey-chaser should have been insulting. I could understand why it would make more sense to him than the truth though. More interesting was the confidence he exuded with the statement. Parker truly believed that not one of his teammates would compromise his position for a woman. It demonstrated the kind of dedication I’d found lacking in my previous team.
Of course, I wasn’t going to ruin the moment by telling him that.
I let a small smile slip out. “Noted.”
His eyes dropped to my lips for a beat, and I had the crazy feeling he might kiss me. Something deep inside me woke up and took notice before I shoved it back down where it belonged. I didn’t fantasize about my teammates. Ever.
Without thinking, I licked my dry lips. Parker’s gaze heated, and an answering electricity zipped through me. Oh no. Oh hell no. I hadn’t come this far to fall to the temptation of Parker Shaw—no matter how well he could throw a football.
Parker must have had a sixth sense too because he straightened away from me a split second before Coach Gordon turned the corner. The big man with the bigger mustache harumphed as he juggled several file folders, a tablet, a phone, and an enormous travel mug probably filled with his ubiquitous hazelnut coffee.
He spotted us and his heavy brows drew together. “Stop dawdling, Shaw. I expect you to be inside and ready when the meeting starts. You too, Jones.”
I wish I could have recorded the shock on Parker’s face, but the memory alone would bring me joy for years to come.
The door moved under my hand, swinging out as Mac poked his head through. His face brightened when he spotted me, but he quickly refocused on Parker.
“Saved you a seat,” he chirped.
