“It was good. The bars were packed, the food was yummy, and I got a killer dress for the AK party tomorrow night.” Bailey retrieves a gold shopping bag from her room and pulls out a cold-shoulder red bodycon dress that will certainly have heads turning her way at the Alpha house. “Are you wearing the shirt from the picture Casanova posted earlier?” she asks after hanging her dress on her bedroom door.
I do my best not to frown at hearing his old nickname.
Guess Mason’s Instagram post is making the rounds. Sure, I can admit the thought of my face—unhidden—out there for all the world to see on an account with thousands of followers makes me nauseous, makes me feel like I’ll be mainlining Pepto Bismol for the foreseeable future.
But…
I was pushed too far. I tried to walk away to protect Mase, but he loves me enough to not let me. I’m not sure if I deserve a love like that, but if I’m ever going to feel worthy of it, I need to not be scared of it.
You seriously need to tell him about that bitch showing up and her lies. Yes, I do, but that can wait until after the game. He’s going to go postal.
“No.” I jump up and skip to my room to get my own show and tell. “I had this”—I spin to show the custom shirt—“made special for the Black Out.” It’s not one of the new ones from Mase, but I have a feeling he’ll approve.
“Black to go with your new hoodie?” Em teases with an eyebrow waggle.
One home game a season, the U of J does a Black Out game. With Penn State’s tradition of having a White Out game, the Hawks love to save their version for when we play the Nittany Lions.
The Black Out is my favorite game to attend. The football team, cheerleaders, dance team, band, and even the mascot get a refresh to a black uniform. Fans are instructed to wear head-to-toe black—hence my new team hoodie—and it all combines to make the atmosphere inside the stadium almost eerie to experience.
Wine flows, chick flicks are watched, and laughter to the point of bellyaches is had. Internet trolls and psycho exes aside, this weekend has been one hell of a good time, and there are still two days to go. Gotta love a holiday weekend.
#Chapter55
TheQueenB: Everyone thinks the @AlphaKappaUofJ house is the place to be. Yes that’s true for our @UofJFootball victory party after we beat those Nittany Lions…but this right here is where it really begins @UofJ411. This is where our @CasaNova87 gets his pregame kiss from his queen. #PuckerUp #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl #FootballRoyalty #Kaysonova
*picture of the tunnel outside the U of J’s locker room*
#Chapter56
There’s an energy inside the locker room, different from any other game this season. It’s like a buzz that sounds at a frequency only the team can hear.
Rivalry.
Do or die.
The spot in the Big Ten conference game up for grabs.
The culmination of our season at stake.
That’s the situation for the team.
But this game? It’s personal.
I want to be able to look into Liam Parker’s eyes after it’s over and make sure he knows I beat him. I want him to know no amount of shit-talking, taunting, or threats was enough to get under my skin.
My only regret? That I’m not on defense—that I can’t be the one tackling his ass to the ground.
Good thing the captain of the defense loves our girl too, huh?
Most of the time I want to tell my inner coach to stick it where the sun don’t shine, but look at him coming up with something good on fourth down.
We have a few hours to kill until kickoff, most of the team is spread around the clubhouse relaxing and trying to get in the right head space for the game. One of the perks of being such a successful football program is our boosters are super generous, as evidenced by our state-of-the-art facilities. Sure, we have your typical gym and physio rooms, but we also have two pool tables and a media room filled with leather couches and recliners, large flat-screens, and multiple gaming systems.
I make my way over to the media room, choosing an open seat as close to Kevin as I can get.
“You ready for this?” he asks, gaze flitting to mine before returning to his game of Madden.
“You know it. These fuckers don’t stand a chance against us.”
All around, hawk cries echo my words, bringing a smile to my face. This, this right here is one of my favorite parts of the game; the camaraderie, knowing these are my people. We win and lose together—though none us of plan on losing today.
“Kev.” I shift forward in my seat, resting my elbows on my knees. “There’s something I need you to do for me.” The others in the room, sensing my shift from playful to serious, stop what they’re doing and give me their undivided attention.
Kev’s dark gaze bores into me. He sets the controller off to the side and clasps his hands to hang between his knees. “Name it.”
“I need Parker to still be feeling today’s game a week from now.” I lift my hat from my head, fidgeting against the tantrum begging to be set free.
“Because of Kay?” He narrows his eyes, trying to read me the same way he does a quarterback on the field.
I nod. They knew some of the drama surrounding Kay and her ex—hard to avoid when it’s splashed all over social media—but they didn’t fully understand it until they got to witness firsthand E’s reaction to Liam’s taunt yesterday. For E to ask Kay—a lover of all things football and a genuine fan—to skip attending today to avoid any additional Liam drama spoke volumes.
Kev pushes himself up from his chair, steps smooth and confident as he strolls through the open doors to the media room and
