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“Bro, did you keep your best game of the season for us to see, buddy? You were awesome out there. Not one mistake all night.” Xavier steps forward and takes me in a hug for a split second.
“Good to see you, buddy, glad you enjoyed watching the game. You picked a good one to come to see.” Releasing him, I feel like my stomach is in knots, but pushing through, I turn to Nat.
“Hey, stranger, it took you long enough to come and visit me. Come here.” Opening my arms, she hesitates, but rather than make it weird, she steps toward me and into my embrace.
“Hi, Jordan. Great game today.” Her voice is soft and not much more than a whisper. I want to hang onto her for longer, but I can’t, otherwise it would be weird for her.
“Thanks, you look great.” What I really want to say is you look smoking hot. Those jeans and boots with my jersey are a sexy combination.
“You too,” she replies, getting ready to look down again. I need to keep the conversation going. “Nice to see the jersey finally came in handy after two years.”
Looking back at me, I can see the apology in her eyes. “Sorry it took me so long to come and watch you play. I’ve been busy, you know, with studying and things.” Her words, instead of soothing me, are actually pissing me off.
“Funny. Xavier always seems to find the time. Maybe it’s just because he missed me more than you.” Well, look at that, I’ve stirred something in her too.
“Perhaps that’s because he likes you more than me, or there’s the fact that he doesn’t give a fuck about his grades in school like I do.” Her hands are on her hips, about to say more, but she’s stopped in her tracks.
“Whoa, what is going on here? You two haven’t seen each other in forever, and then I finally get you in the same zip code and already you’re throwing shade.” Xavier looks more confused than I feel.
Before I can even say a word, we’ve been spotted, and all hell breaks loose around us.
Lonigan pipes up, “Yo, Brandon, you didn’t tell us one of your high school buddies here watching you was a girl. Now you definitely need to come to the party and introduce them to the team. I’m sure everyone will be wanting to meet your friends.” The hairs on the back of my neck are already standing up and my teeth clench as my jaw locks from aggravation at his loudmouth comment.
My sight has not shifted from Nat, and seeing her already shrinking inside herself makes me want to be the man she cowers into. Not standing here on her own, feeling self-conscious with a bunch of obnoxious football players. The high school guys she grew up with all her life, those she’s used to, but this is different.
This is a group of guys who think they can touch what’s mine.
We’ll see about that, won’t we.
If I can’t have Nat, then I’ll be damned if any of them can even get close.
Five minutes of laying eyes on her and already she is bringing the worst out in me.
What the fuck is going on?
ChapterEight
JORDAN
Itry to just take a deep breath and pull back the aggression.
The anger I was feeling a few minutes ago is evaporating and the protective mode is fiercely building.
“Fuck off, Lonigan. What makes you think they even want to know your name? They only came here to see the star quarterback, not you dickheads.” Trying to diffuse my anger by making a joke of it just proves useless, because Xavier, oblivious to it all, jumps straight in.
“I see you haven’t lost your ego since we left high school. Hi, guys, I’m Xavier Lane, this loser’s best friend, and this is my sister Natalie. Great game out there today, glad we were here for it.” He offers his hand out to all the guys and starts talking to them, and Xavier is in his element. “So where is this party that you are all talking about? Jordan did promise me to be ready to party after you won, so show me the way.”
“Right on.” Lonigan slaps him on the back. “Are you coming too, Natalie? I’ll be happy to give you a ride over in my mustang if you’re interested in getting away from this grumpy asshole.” Watching him puff his chest up a little is now making me live up to my name of being that asshole. Watching Nat’s hands fidget nervously, I just want to grab her and disappear.
“Not a chance I would punish her by letting her in a car with you,” I say. “You’re a shit driver. Besides, we have lots to catch up on.” Her shoulders slump down a little in relief that she didn’t have to answer.
“I’ll ride with you, though, if that’s okay,” Xavier says. “Mustangs are a pretty cool car. Is it vintage or a new model?” Xavier looks like he is in jock heaven with most of the team now swarming around us.
“Vintage, yellow with black racing strips,” Lonigan boasts a little. I never knew Xavier really cared about cars, but then it occurred to me he probably doesn’t but is just using it as a way to take the heat off Nat. I hate to disappoint him, but the Mustang is a piece of shit, though Lonigan loves to talk it up.
“Fine, you go with the muscle heads, and I’ll bring Nat with me. We’ll swing past the dorm first to drop off my gear and then meet you there.” Not giving her time to object or comment, I take her hand and drag her across the lot toward my truck. I still have the same one I left town with the day after she sent me on my way.
I didn’t bother hanging around the extra few days after the night we spent together. I just wanted out of town and there was nothing holding me there.
