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Off-Limits 8
“Sweetheart, can I come in?”“Sure, Mom,” I said, and she slipped into my room.“Still not dressed?”“I don’t know what to wear.”“Well, I think anything will be an improvement on that.” She glanced at the fluffy robe wrapped around my body and chuckled. “Jeans and a t-shirt will be fine, baby. You don’t want to give your dad a heart attack.”“Yeah.” He’d been in a mood ever since Poppy announced we were going to the party tonight. Of course, he’d tried to say no, but Mom quickly intervened and reminded him we weren’t kids anymore.“I’m proud of you, you know? This is a big step, Lily.” Mom gave me a reassuring smile and left me to get dressed.I pulled on a cropped, black t-shirt emblazoned with metallic stars and some cropped jeans. Pulling my hair into a loose ponytail over one shoulder, I braided the ends, and added a touch of lip gloss.“Here goes nothing,” I said, grabbing my purse and making my way downstairs.Peyton and Poppy were already waiting. “You look hot, Lil.” My best
Off-Limits 9
If it wasn’t for Mom and Coach Forrester, I’d be attending Millington or Fenn Hill, playing for one of their mediocre teams.Thank God for small mercies because although I didn’t relish playing with the Raiders, it was a damn sight better than playing for a team with no direction or hunger for the win.Everyone stopped to watch us follow Aaron and Cole down to the lake, but I let their stares roll off my back. I wasn’t looking for their approval or even their acceptance. I was here to play football and land a full ride to Alabama.“Fuck yes, jet skis,” Bryan said, nudging my arm.“No way you’ll get me on one of those things. It’s too dangerous.”“Seriously, Thatch, don’t be such a pussy.”“I’d rather be a pussy than benched for the season with a broken arm.”“He has a point,” Aaron said, and I tipped my chin in appreciation. “So how does Rixon High compare with East?” he asked.“It’s… different. But practice is similar. Coach Forrester isn’t such a hard ass as Coach Ford.” “Don’t let
Off-Limits 10
“Now everyone’s here,” she announced, “I thought we could play seven minutes in heaven.” A chorus of cheers and some boos rang out around us.“That’s a kids game,” one of the guys protested.“Not the way we play it.” She winked at him, grabbing a bottle and moving beside the firepit. “The two people chosen have to go into the boat shed.” Lindsey motioned to the small building at the edge of the water. “Then you have seven minutes to… get to know each other. If you choose not to do it, you have to drink this.” She held out a cup and people started pouring a small bit of their drink into it until it was full.“That’s disgusting,” one of the girls said.“Consider it motivation.” Lindsey winked. “Ready?”It was lame, but it was probably her attempt at getting me in the shed. I hadn’t missed the way she positioned herself dead opposite me.She placed the bottle on the ground and spun it. “Okay, here we go.” It passed me once, twice, three times, finally landing on Bryan and one of Lindsey’
Off-Limits 11
LilyMY HEART RACED in my chest, my palms growing slick with sweat. I was in the boat shed withKaiden Thatcher.Kaiden freaking Thatcher.How had this happened?Lindsey Filmer that’s how.She’d been pushing me, taunting me, shining the spotlight right on me, and something just snapped. I didn’t want to be the weird girl who never partied or never played their stupid games. For one night, for one small moment in time, I just wanted to be a normal teenager enjoying a party with her friends.Why was that so difficult?“Lily?” Kaiden asked, his brows furrowed. “Are you okay?”“I—” The words lodged in my throat as the room began to close in around me. “I’ll be fine,” I said, closing my eyes and inhaling a ragged breath.Leaning back against the wall, I pushed my hands behind me, trying to focus on something —anything—but the need building inside me.“Hey, if you’re uncomfortable, we can go.”“N-no, I just…” My eyes fluttered open, colliding with his. “I’m scared of small spaces.” It wasn’
Off-Limits 12
She glanced between us and then zeroed in on me. “Are you okay? You look funny.”“I’m fine,” I said. “We should probably—” I motioned to the door and slipped around them both, inhaling a deep breath the second I got outside.I didn’t wait for them. I was too embarrassed, too confused about what had just happened. Kaiden had kissed me. But it felt like more… it felt like we’d shared a moment.Don’t do that, Lily. Don’t make it into something it isn’t. He was distracting you. That’s all. “Hey, are you okay?” Ashleigh asked as I sat down and burrowed into her side.“Yep, why wouldn’t I be?”She studied me for the longest second, but then Kaiden and Lindsey reached us. “So, dude,” his friend said, “how was she?” I stiffened.“Like I’m going to tell you.” Kaiden dropped down in his chair and stretched out his long legs. His eyes flickered to mine, but I quickly averted my gaze.“You were down there longer than seven minutes,” his friend added. “Did she get on her knees and—”“Bryan, I said
Off-Limits 13
MONDAY MORNING AT SCHOOL, butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach as I climbed out ofAshleigh’s car. The second I spotted Kaiden across the parking lot, I knew why.I’d tried to forget the kiss, but how did you forget your first kiss?The answer was, you didn’t.I could still remember the shape of his lips against mine, their firm yet soft touch. Still taste the bitterness of beer on his breath. Feel the wetness of his tongue against mine.So much so, that when his eyes found mine across the sea of cars, heat exploded into my cheeks.“Lil, what’s wrong?” Ashleigh asked and my head snapped around to hers.“Nothing.” I forced a smile, gently tugging on the frayed ends of my scarf. Her eyes dropped to my fingers tangled in the threads.“Lil?”“I’m good.” My smile was strained as I peeked back over at Kaiden.I couldn’t imagine him like the boy Poppy described. He’d been so patient with me Friday night, so kind.After we’d returned to the firepit, we hadn’t spoken again, but I’d caugh
Off-Limits 14
KaidenI’D FUCKED UP.She was Coach Ford’s daughter.His fucking daughter.It was obvious now. Same blue eyes, same dark hair. But I hadn’t seen it then. I’d been too busy focused on the girl trying to disappear.Well done, asshole.Now she was standing there, looking at me like I’d just kicked her puppy.Her bottom lip wobbled. “B-but I thought—”“You thought wrong,” I swallowed over the lump in my throat. I had to get the fuck out of here before she cried and Coach hauled me into his office for making his daughter sob. Fuck.How had this happened?And why the fuck hadn’t anyone told me?Without another word, I spun on my heel and walked away from her. It was an asshole move, but it was a damn sight better than the alternative.Coach’s daughter.Lily Ford.It was the worst fucking thing that could happen to me.Bryan frowned as I rejoined him and the rest of our crew. “Everything okay?”“She’s Coach’s daughter.”“Oh fuck,” he balked before bursting into laughter.“Fuck off,” I grumbl
Off-Limits 15
We worked like that for ten minutes and then switched. Then we went up on one knee and did another round. It was a strengthening exercise, forcing you to throw from the upper body rather than your legs. And by the time Coach called us in, my muscles ached, and I wanted nothing more than to hit the showers and let the hot jets work out the kinks.Monroe offered me his hand and I took it, letting him pull me up. But at the last second, before I’d gotten my balance, he let go and I stumbled back.“What the fuck, man?” I leaped to my feet and got right up in his face. “What the fuck is your problem?”“My problem?” He smashed his helmet into mine, “This is my team. My fucking team, Thatcher.You think you can just waltz in here and take over?”“You think I want to be here? Trust me, I don’t. But I am here, so you’d better get used to it.” I shouldered past him just as Coach boomed our names.“What?” Monroe called after me. “You think you’re too good to play with us, but good enough for our
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