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It clearly wasn’t what he’d intended to say, but he disappeared back into the room before anyone could call him on it. He’d probably heard the news about me and was intending to warn Parker not to stick his foot in his mouth again. I was so glad he’d been too late. Parker must have come to the same conclusion because he sighed before waving me into the room ahead of him.
I didn’t have time to cater to my nerves. One second, I was battling with my quarterback, the next, every eye in the room settled on me. I wiped my hands on my jeans and reminded myself not to show weakness.
Parker followed me into the auditorium, and Mac waved from the second row, dramatically pointing to two open seats next to him. Guess he’d been talking to both of us. I moved toward the stairs, but Coach stopped me.
“Jones, hold up a minute.”
Parker passed behind me without a word to claim his seat. I had every intention of ignoring him, but my eyes had a mind of their own. Coach rustled his files on the desk, muttering to himself about bureaucracy, and my gaze slid to Parker’s face. He watched me with the same intensity I’d felt in the hallway.
“Jones.”
I jumped when Coach called my name. With some effort, I broke the connection and moved to the front of the room. Coach cleared his throat, crossing his arms across his barrel chest.
“I know this year is a departure for most of you, but you’ve risen to the challenge over the summer. This team has a new head coach and a new starting quarterback, but the same fierce determination to succeed.” Mac bumped his shoulder into Parker’s as the team cheered, but his blue eyes never wavered from me as Coach continued.
“You’re a talented group of athletes, and I expect you to be decent men—” He turned my direction. “And women.”
The room quieted, and I scanned the faces staring at me. None of them were outright scowling, though I was pretty sure under Parker’s impassive expression he was seething. A few smiled, especially when Mac let out a loud whistle and started applauding.
“Hell yeah, RJ,” he yelled as the other guys joined in.
Coach’s lips twitched, and he shook his head. “Enough, you bunch of hooligans. As some of you know, this is Riley Jones, our new wide receiver. She’s a football player just like you, and I want you to treat her with the same respect you treat each other.”
One of the guys a couple of rows behind Mac and Parker snorted loudly. “So none then?”
Someone else threw a wadded-up piece of paper at him, and Coach ignored the outburst. I got the feeling he did that a lot.
“The administration wants me to make sure you’re all aware of the new fraternization rule they’ve instituted. No romantic relationships between coaching staff and playersorbetween players themselves.”
My head jerked toward him. This was the first I’d heard of a rule like that. The university’s brand had suffered after the debacle last year with the coach harassing female students, but it hadn’t been sexual.
The rule was an insult to me and to the athletes I played with. Coach didn’t look too happy to be mentioning it either. I fought a wave of anger at the school’s heavy-handed approach. Their new rule reinforced my suspicion I was only here as a publicity stunt.
Did they think my presence would turn the football team into a salivating horde incapable of controlling themselves? Or worse, that I’d waste this opportunity by sleeping around? What a bunch of horse shit.
“Jones.”
I blinked at Coach as he called my name, and the concerned look on his face made me think it wasn’t the first time. “Sorry.”
“Go sit down so we can get the real meeting started.”
Mac nodded at the seat on the other side of Parker, and I smiled at him, thankful for his immediate friendship. I didn’t know anyone at this school, not even my new roommate who’d been out when I’d moved in yesterday. Being alone was the norm for me—I’d been burned enough times not to trust easily—but Mac made me want to give him a chance.
Parker spread his legs to make space for me to pass, and I brushed against him as I squeezed by. A shockwave of heat shot up my thigh. From his knee. Dammit.
I took my seat and stared straight ahead. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Parker rubbing his knee absently. A new source of anxiety reared up as I admitted that something about Parker called to me. Much to my horror, my body reacted to him, but I’d spent years learning to control my body. I’d pay no attention to the flutter in my belly until it went away. Once practice started in earnest, I’d be too exhausted to notice anyway.
Coach started talking about our first game, and I studiously ignored the warmth of Parker sitting next to me. He wasn’t the only hot guy on campus. Hell, he wasn’t the only hot guy in this row. Mac was attractive if you liked charm and bedroom eyes, and the guy on the other side of me looked like he belonged in a kilt defending Scotland against the English. Dark red hair, a scruffy beard, and shoulders that made me feel like a waif.
He sent me a quick smile when he noticed me looking, and I made a note to do more research because I couldn’t place his name for the life of me. Or I could introduce myself when I had the chance like a normal person. Unlike my unsettling reaction to Parker, the big guy’s hotness had no effect.
As if he knew I was thinking about him instead of listening to Coach, Parker shifted, resting his forearm next to mine between the chairs. Goosebumps rose even though we didn’t actually touch.
He didn’t seem to notice, but I wasn’t about to jerk away and give my new team an immediate reason to discount me. I needed to move past Parker’s draw and focus on my job. To prove I could sit there unaffected, I left my arm close to his for the remainder of the meeting.
As stupid as the university’s new rule was, it wouldn’t matter in the end. I didn’t date fellow players.
4
