“Why would the paps care about a future NFL player’s family, though?”
“I’m not just talking about the stalkerazzi.” Kay shakes her head. “Every news outlet ran with the story because what E did, the way he stepped up for me, was human interest gold.”
“Why didn’t you sue to get them to issue a retraction?”
“Because ‘a source close to the family’ is where they got their information.” Kay’s mouth turns down in a frown.
“A source?” I arch an eyebrow.
“Liam.” Kay buries her face in her hands, elbows braced on her knees, fingers digging into her hair. “We couldn’t prove it, but after the breakup and the cheating was revealed, it was the best we could come up with.”
Boy, this motherfucker just keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper. I crack my knuckles, imagining how satisfying the smash of his skin would be under them if I could knock him out when we play in a few weeks. Sure, there’s a slim chance it could put an end to my career before it even starts, but I’m highly motivated to find an opportunity to fulfill this goal without being caught.
“Why?”
“Other than the fact that the dickwad loves drama?” I can’t help but smirk at Tessa’s choice of insult. “That day we convinced PF to shower, he showed up shortly after we pulled her out of it. It didn’t matter to him that we realized she was in the shower for hours, letting what had turned to icy water pelt her as she sat on the floor, and I swear she was practically hypothermic—”
“I wasn’t hypothermic,” Kay cuts in, but Tessa continues like she didn’t even speak.
“—by the time we pulled her out.” Tessa’s red ponytail swings with each shake of her head. “All he saw was that it was JT who got her out, that my brother saw her naked before she was covered with a towel. Even though he was dicking down most of the school’s cheerleading squad, we believe he wanted to punish PF for his misguided belief that she was cheating on him with Jim.”
“Dicking down? Really?” Kay asks.
“Just calling it like I see it,” Tessa says with a shrug then walks away, leaving me with the pieces I hope to use to put my relationship back together.
Every bit of information I’ve been told only increases the murderous rage building in my gut, but one thing’s for sure—I really like Tessa Taylor.
“Okay.” I remove my hat, running a hand over my head before replacing it. “I feel like we’re going around in circles here.” I hook a finger under Kay’s chin and turn her face to mine. “What does this have to do with us?”
“Mason—” A fresh round of tears starts as her voice breaks on my name.
“Baby.” I take heart at how she nuzzles into my touch when I wipe to clear her cheek. “Nothing you can tell me will change my mind about us.”
“With you being a better player—especially at the same position—Liam is going to use your connection to me to try to hurt your draft potential.”
“I highly doubt—”
“That’s because you don’t understand.” Her previously small voice finds strength so it can talk over mine.
I love this woman, but she frustrates the fuck out of me. I’m trying to understand, but I keep feeling like even after we hashed all this stuff out, there’s still so much she’s not telling me.
“Then explain it to me.”
“I gave you the t-shirt, and I’m sure you’ve seen his post on Instagram.” Her chin rises, but instead of looking at me, she stares off at a spot just past my shoulder, and I get that not-getting-all-the-information impression again. “He’s stirring up the hornets’ nest. I barely survived back then, and that was only with overwhelming panic attacks and isolating myself from anything and anyone that wasn’t The Barracks. You…”
The muscle of my pec jumps as the flat of her hand presses over my heart.
“…have the potential to have a huge career. Being linked to me—a person who sometimes throws up at the mere idea of being the focus of media attention—I’m only going to hold you back.” Why the fuck do I feel like she’s not telling me everything? “Like I told you…I’m no good for you, Mason.”
Abruptly, she stands, brushing imaginary dirt off her delectable ass. Too bad it’s covered by the hem of her hoodie.
“So please just go. Kick Nebraska’s ass tomorrow and forget about me.”
Without giving me a chance to stop her, she turns and runs up the stairs, out of sight.
She wants me to go? Fine, I can do that.
Beat Nebraska? Might as well put the win in the Hawks’ column now.
Forget about her? Never going to happen.
This was my third attempt at talking some sense into her. It’s a good thing I play football instead of baseball and I have another down to play.
#Chapter22
UofJ411: What’s with the new seats? #MusicalChairs #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl
*picture of Mason and Kay sitting in separate rows in class*
@Bellebookblog: I saw them talking before class so this confuses me #Confused #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl
@Bestiesandbooks: Has anyone figured out what happened between them? #WhyTheDistance #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl
TightestEndParker85: Aww @CasaNova87, I know you were able to hold on to the football this weekend, unlike when your little birdies played Iowa. Too bad you can’t hold on to the girl. #ShesNotThatGreatAnyway
*REPOSTED—picture of Mason and Kay sitting in separate rows in class—UofJ411: What’s with the new seats? #MusicalChairs #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl
@UofJ411: Oh shit! #GrabThePopcorn
#Chapter23
“Hey, T, you cool to head to The Barracks early?” I call out to Tessa as I round the banister of the staircase at the Taylor home.
“Sure.” Her red ponytail swings around as she turns from the open refrigerator. “I’m good to go when you are.”
I take the water bottle held out to me and grab Pinky’s keys from the rack on the wall. “Let’s roll.”
T barely sits still on
