At one point, a woman I guessed to be his mother arrived with spare pants, but shaking his head, West refused them. Being the cocky bastard I’ve come to know him to be, it was probably a power play. His attempt at proving to me that I hadn’t gotten to him. A chance to show me that what I’d done couldn’t stop him being a beast on the football field.
Whatever the case, seeing how unshaken he was out there, still making plays with confidence, I liked it a little more than I should have.
Because I’m an idiot.
Scar’s already making her way back to the car, clutching her phone close to her face while she texts. Probably Shane, which is something I’ve been keeping a close eye on. Jules spots a couple girls she knows from volleyball, so it’s just me and Lexi, silently stewing in satisfaction for having pulled this whole thing off without a single hitch.
The smug grin I’m wearing has me feeling good for a while, and it’s only more pleasing when I spot West.
“Uh oh. Here come’s trouble,” Lexi announces, and then takes off before the storm in cleats and shoulder pads approaches. He’s with the team after having been bombarded by fans, but I have one hundred percent of his attention. And, like him, I can’t stop staring.
Soaked with sweat from head to toe, and keeping his eyes trained right in my direction, West reaches me. I’m not even shocked when he breaks from his team to step to me, invading my personal space like always. Only, he isn’t angry like I expect him to be. There’s something else that has his eyes wild this time.
Heat from his breath grazes my neck when he leans in to whisper.
“Well played, Southside,” he admits with amusement in his tone. “But you got one thing wrong.”
I’m shivering and it has nothing to do with the slight chill to the air, but has everything to do with inhaling the scent of his sweat. There’s something raw and primal about it that I’m not exactly hating.
“What’s that?” I finally ask, peering up into his bold eyes, feeling weak in all the wrong ways.
His lips move and I’m all ears.
“We both know which of us is really the bitch, don’t we?” he growls with a smirk.
I’m barely able to process the words when wet heat presses to my lips. The undiluted taste of him is everything to me in this moment, and I don’t even know what’s happening. Unsure of what to do with my hands, they move on their own, and the first place they go is into his warm, damp hair, drawing him closer as the helmet he carried settles against the small of my back.
His tongue pushes inside my mouth and, on instinct, I lean into him, proving him right yet again. He may be the one with the words printed on his uniform, but letting him kiss me like this—enjoying the kiss like this—says so much about me.
He pulls away and his dark stare burns through me, leaving me hot and flustered when he backs off. But he doesn’t leave without smacking my ass first, in front of everyone, marking his territory.
He wants them to think I’m his because he believes I find nothing more repulsive than that, but … I’m not sure what I’m thinking at the moment. However, I’m suddenly aware of having so many eyes on me now.
Most notably, Parker’s.
There’s more hatred in them than usual, more of that icy vibe that’s always bouncing off her. She passes by without a word, but I feel exactly what she’s thinking: I’m in her way, blocking her path to West.
Even though the attention I get from him is pretty damn negative, it’s more than she thinks I deserve.
More than she’ll allow.
Feeling self-conscious having everyone’s attention, I cross both arms over my chest and chew the side of my lip. Then, I start fast-walking it to my car.
What is wrong with me?
I’m screwed up in ways I didn’t even realize, but what’s surprising is … I’m beginning to think West and I suffer from the same strain of stupidity. And, as wrong as I know this is, I’m finding the idea of exploring our warring, explosive natures less and less appalling.
Call me crazy.
@QweenPandora: As expected, our boys brought Cypress Prep another win! All with KingMidas wearing a pair of … uniquely painted pants. Perhaps a little retaliation for a certain tire incident? Who knows? But what we all know, is CPA’s fav new couple has clearly made amends. How can I be so sure? Let’s just say a certain after-game kiss STILL has me sweating bullets, that’s how. Hmm … wonder how SeXyBeAsT feels about NewGirl playing both sides of the field.
Later, Peeps!
—P
Chapter 25
BLUE
I swore I’d never step foot inside this place. It’s cold, it’s heartbreaking. It’s also my brother’s home for now.
Well, at least, until he’s transferred in a week.
The process of getting signed in, waiting for my number to be called, and then getting screened took nearly an hour and a half. Now, here I sit, waiting for Hunter in what looks like my old cafeteria at South Cypress. Small, square tables are spaced out across the room, anchored to the ground with chairs attached. Everything is drab, sterile, and just downright depressing. Everything about this place makes me want to stay on the straight and narrow for the rest of my life. Which, I suppose, is the point.
My knee hasn’t stopped bouncing since I was escorted here by a guard. It’d be nice to check in with Jules, Scar or Lexi while I wait, but seeing as how I had to store all my things in a locker, it’s just me here.
Me and my anxiety.
Every time a figure moves past the reinforced glass on the far wall, I perk
