“Besides, the girls have calmed down now,” Zach says softly, trying to downplay it. He’s being nice. I know the truth. Girls always watch him. They record him mid-rep, mid-smile, mid-anything,then splice it with some dreamy music and cut to clips of their own longing stares.
We don’t talk about it much. He tends to ignore it, and although I try to pretend it doesn’t affect me, it does.
How can I not start questioning my self-worth when everyone else around me is? Especially when there are so many girls wearing his jersey and giving him the kind of look that makes my stomach twist.
Girls without baggage.
Girls who haven’t been publicly humiliated before.
Girls who don’t worry that history will repeat itself.
I can’t deny that there's a little voice in the back of my head, always reminding me that my first boyfriend cheated on me. Who’s to say I won’t lose my second the same way?
“It’s the guys in the gym who are my real problem,” he admits. “They record me and post it online so people can roast my form. It’s whatever—comes with the territory, I guess.”
“Doesn’t mean it feels good, though.”
He leans closer to the camera. “Thankfully, I don’t care about their opinion. You’re the only person who matters. Everyone else is just noise.”
I give him a small smile.
“Anyway, since it’s early and I’ve got practice tonight, I was wondering if I could bring you breakfast in bed?”
“As much as I love the idea, I’m going to have to pass.” His brows furrow, and I sigh. “We both know that if you come over, you're going to lock me in this room and wreck me until I have to sprint to class.”
“Correct. What’s wrong with that?”
“I’ll be panting the entire time.”
He slurps on his drink while the edges of his lips curl into a smile. “Then skip it. I’m starving, and your pussy is the only thing on the menu.”
I choke on air. “Zach.”
“I’m serious.”
“No. Not all of us have a future NFL career waiting for us. I need to graduate—ergo, I can’t miss class to get eaten out by my boyfriend.”
He growls, and I feel the rumble through the phone.
“First: it'sourfuture. I don't intend to ever leave you behind. Second: don't jinx it.”
I roll my eyes. “There's nothing to jinx. You're the hottest shit in this place.”
“Damn right I am, Honeycomb.”
I laugh. “Okay, okay. Shower time. If I don’t go now, I won’t get one.”
He slurps again, obnoxiously loud. I narrow my eyes, and he just smirks, fully aware he did it to get a rise out of me.
“When are we seeing each other next? I have to go through film tonight, but I also can’t go too long without being inside you.”
“Classy. Well, we might not be able to get indecent, but I was thinking that maybe I could come watch you at your practice later.”
I throw it out there to gauge his reaction.
“Really?” Zach leans closer to the screen, his eyes narrowing. “Did I hear you correctly?”
“Yeah.”