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“A little nervous. A lot excited.” I sigh. “My teacher said that she thinks this can count toward my internship, which will keep me on track to graduate this spring.”
“That’s awesome. And then, once you’re done, where is your ideal place to live?”
“Probably Florida.” I shrug. “I’m a Florida girl at heart. What can I say?” Patting his side, I frown. “What about you? Are you wanting to be drafted somewhere close to South Carolina to be closer to home?” I swallow, wanting to clarify. “Well, to your grandmother.”
His body stiffens, and I feel his heart beat faster against my cheek.
“Nah. Gram has Alzheimer’s. She doesn’t know who I am, and when I visit her, I do more harm than good.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” I whisper.
“Bria, she thinks I’m my dad.Herson, who is a drunk and probably the reason her Alzheimer’s advanced so fast because he’s done nothing but stress her out her entire fucking life. So, yes, trust me when I say, she doesn’t care if I visit her,” he snaps in a way he never has before, and I shift nervously against him.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I didn’t know.”
“Why would you know?” he grumbles before pulling his arm from under my head. And just as quickly as the light switch flicked on, it turns off. “Look, today was fun, but we probably don’t need to be cuddling and shit after I fuck you.”
My heart sinks, and I scurry away from him and off the bed, grabbing my clothes.
“Yeah…you’re right.” I nod, begging the tears behind my eyes to just stay inside. “I should get going.”
Dressing quickly, I swallow back the lump of embarrassment that has lodged itself in my throat. “I guess I’ll talk to you later.”
And before he can answer or I can completely fall apart…I bolt. Leaving his room and him behind.
Brody
My mood is foul. Hell, even I don’t want to be around me right now.
I’m tired of being the way that I am. I’m forever tortured because, my entire life, everyone’s left or been so shitty that I wish they had left. Yet when the sweetest, coolest girl on the planet gets too close, I suddenly can’t stand her presence.
She thinks I hold it together well. Thinks I’m strong. She thinks I’menough. She doesn’t really know me at all because I’m not shit.
I’ve always wanted to protect my teammates and friends at all costs. Maybe it’s because they are all I have. But whatever is going on inside of me when it comes to Bria is different. I feel like I breathe easier when she’s around. But then she oversteps without meaning to, and I can’t get away from her fast enough. Even I don’t understand it.
“Yo, O’Brien,” Link calls from outside my room. “You ready to roll? We’ve gotta get going to practice.”
Grabbing my duffel bag, I push through the door and brush past him. “Yep. Let’s go.”
“What’s crawled up your ass and died?” he chimes behind me as we head down the stairs.
“Guess your grouchy-ass attitude is rubbing off on me,” I mutter.
“Guess it isn’t so easy to be friends with benefits, is it?” Tate calls from behind her laptop as she sits at the table. “I won’t say I told you so. But…”
“Tater Tot, not today,” I warn her. “I put up with your and this clown’s back-and-forthhates me, hates me notshit for weeks. Leave me alone.”
“Sorry,” she says softly. “I’m here if you need me.”
Not answering, I head outside and follow Link to his truck. The sun is shining; it’s a beautiful day. And yet it doesn’t help how fucking mad I feel.
“What’s going on?” Link asks as we turn out of the driveway. “You seem off.”
Staring out the window, I recline the seat. “I’m fine. Drop it.”
“Did you drop it all the times I was pissed about my shit with Tate?” he snaps. “No. No, you fucking did not. In fact, you did the opposite.”
“That was because you were being a prick to her.”
