“It’s okay,” I tease, to ease her worries and cut her some slack. “I know what you mean and I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt in the game.” I don’t tell her nothing is swollen; that would be a big fucking lie. “How about you rest, and I’ll get some ice.”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly as I hand over the remote. “You’re right. I need this ankle to be better before Thanksgiving.”
“Why is that?”
She looks at the remote and for a second I think she’s not going to tell me but then she says, “I don’t want my mother to know.”
I stare at her, recall the things Kaitlyn said to me back at the hospital when I asked if we should call someone. She straight up said no.
“Would this upset her?” I ask, and sit on the bed as she runs her fingers over the buttons on the remote.
“One, she’s a mom and nurse’s assistant, so she’d be putting me to bed and fussing all over me.” She glances at me, and the corners of her mouth twitch. “Kind of like you’re doing.”
“And you don’t like that, I get it. What’s number two?”
Confusion moves over her face for a second, then she blinks and answers with, “I don’t want her to worry about me.”
“It’s what mothers do, but you mean financially, don’t you?”
She curls into herself. “Yeah, I’m an adult. I need to be responsible for myself and find my own way to pay my hospital bill.”
I nudge her chin. “I have faith in you. You found a way to pay your tuition, didn’t you?”
“I honestly still can’t believe that I allowed Kaitlyn to talk me into going to the auction, or that I’m with you right now.”
“With the right motivation, a person will do just about anything. I had an English teacher say that to me once when we were reading an assigned novel. It really stuck with me.”
“And now I’m stuck with you because I had the right motivation.”
“It’s not so bad though, right?” I question.
She gives a humorless laugh. “You’re right not so bad. I could have gone back home with my tail between my legs.”
“That’s not your style.” I push from the bed, rather pleased with myself. “I’ll be right back with that ice. Don’t go anywhere.”
Air leaves her lungs as she huffs. “It’s not like I can escape, Christian. Not with this ankle.”
It’s really insane how much I love hearing my name on her lips. I reach out and lightly trace my finger down her warm calf, stopping when I reach the support sock she wears under her boot.
“Even if it wasn’t broken,” I begin. “I wouldn’t let you escape, and if you tried, I might just tie you to the bed.”
What the fuck am I saying?
I don’t know, but from the way a quiver just traveled the length of her body, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, I’m not sure she’s so opposed to the idea.
Get it together, Christian. You can’t touch her. You’ve done enough already.
Right?
9
Maize
I flick through the stations as doors bang and guys shuffle in the hall. I guess they’d all slept in on this rainy Sunday. With my body still tingling from the way Christian had touched me, I sink further into his cushiony mattress. What the hell is his bed made out of? I’d never get up if I had this kind of luxury.
A yawn pulls at me as I aimlessly go through the channels. I don’t normally watch TV and especially not on a Sunday. Sundays are for running hard and studying even harder. I turn my gaze and it lands on my backpack as a yawn pulls at me. My God, why am I so tired? Probably because I’ve not been exercising, and last night, I had a hard time falling asleep, even after touching myself while I thought about Mr. Quarterback. Star player, and star of my dreams.
You are so screwed, girl.
I’m not and that could be the problem. Maybe if I did sleep with Christian, I’d get over this crazy infatuation. Sex is sex and what I experienced with Ryan is probably what it’s like with all guys. I think girls just make stuff up, to make themselves and the jocks look good. I’d probably be disappointed if he touched me in a sexual way, although every single innocent caress feels erotic when it comes from him.
I shut my eyes as the rain once again picks up outside, the drone against the window pulling me under—that and the monotone delivery on the news station I settled for. The cozy mattress shapes my body and I reach down and pull up a blanket from the end of the bed. My heart slows and I swear I’ve never been so warm or comfortable in my life.
The next thing I know, my eyes are opening, and I glance around. Where the hell am I? I blink, trying to orient myself, and go up on my elbows as my vision clears. “What’s going on?” I ask when I find Christian sitting in a big comfy recliner, tapping away on his laptop. As soon as I speak, he shuts it and jumps to his feet.
“Hey,” he whispers, and the soft sound goes through me, awakens a deep need inside me and in that instant, I want Christian to touch me, I want to feel his hands and mouth on my body. I want…him. “How did you sleep?”
I give a slow shake of my head, and note the stack of blankets on me. Did Christian tuck me in? “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize
