“Does a bear shit in the woods?” A rare smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. “Now go, before I change my mind.”The locker room had cleared out by the time I was done. Only Asher remained, sitting on the bench near his locker cage. “Hey,” I said, dropping down beside him.“Hey,” he mumbled, kicking his sneakers against the floor.“Why, Ash?” I’d already asked him the question but that was before the sentence had been handed down.“Because this was always how it was supposed to be; you get the girl and the glory.”“Ash, come on…” I nudged his shoulder with mine.“It’s all good.” Raking a hand through his hair, he finally lifted his eyes to me, but his smile was distant. “It’s your dream, man, so make it count.”With a small nod, he got up and walked out of the locker room. Leaving me sitting there with nothing but my regrets.They said heavy was the head that wore the crown. Well my crown was coiled in guilt and shame, and it weighed a fucking ton.FelicityMy eyes flicked to the wall
“I’m so sorry, Mom. This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out. I was trying to tell you over dinner, but the words just wouldn’t come out.”“I won’t deny it’s a lot to process. I had no idea you were even dating; you never said anything.” Hurt flashed in her eyes, making guilt snake around my heart.“I’m not dating, I mean, I wasn’t… Me and Jason just sort of happened.” My eyes lifted to his. “I didn’t plan for any of this.”“Well, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you can’t help who you fall for. I mean, take me and your father for example.” She smiled wistfully. “I just thought you had more sense, sweetheart.”“Mom!” I scolded.“Forgive me, Jason, I didn’t mean to sound so insensitive. I’m sure you can understand I’m not bowled over at the idea of my daughter dating a football player, let alone Rixon’s star quarterback.”He stiffened beside me, squeezing my hand a little tighter. “We’re not dating, Mom,” I said. “I love him. I’m in love with him.”If she’d been surprised in the
“Yes,” I breathed, desire humming through me.“Good.” Jason spun me so that my ass hit the edge of his car. “Now I’m going to make love to you on the hood of my car and then we can cuddle talk about the final thing on your list before we fall to sleep under the stars, sound good?”Looping my arms around his neck, I smiled. “It sounds perfect.”Four weeks laterFelicity“My god, I can’t watch,” I buried my face into Hailee’s arm as we watched from our preferential seats. Mya was with us, as well as Jason’s dad and Hailee’s mom, and Cameron’s parents. Asher was on the outs with his parents since the suspension, so they hadn’t made the trip.A collective ‘oooh’ roared through the crowd as the Bulldog’s defensive end took down Cam for the third time.“Is it always this tense?” Mya asked, to which me and Hailee both answered, “No.”“Sorry I asked.” She held up her hands, grabbing another hand of popcorn.“Seriously?” I gawked at her.“What,” she shrugged, “I’m hungry.”I couldn’t eat. I wa
College.Football.A fresh start with Felicity.It couldn’t come soon enough. But first, we had a game to win.Felicity“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked no one in particular as I stared up at the neon sign reading Ink City, nervous energy vibrating through me.“He’ll love it,” Mya whispered in my ear as the guys jostled one another, the effects of our few celebration drinks showing. “Besides, it’s the last item on your list, you can’t back out now.”I nodded slowly, watching the guys. They were buzzed, we all were. Still riding the high of the win. The Raiders had done it, in the last minute of play. Cam getting the final touchdown.“My parents will—”“Never find out about it. Stick to the plan.”“The plan, right.” I took a deep breath. Hailee caught my eye and frowned.“What are you two up to?”Ignoring her, I moved to the front of our group and grabbed the door handle. “Are you guys doing this or not?”“Fuck, I love it when she takes charge,” Jason smirked, and I rolled m
“Stupid girl,” I muttered to myself as I flushed the toilet and left the stall to wash my hands. The music pulsed through the walls, mimicking the thud of my heart against my ribcage.He’s doing it to get under your skin. Ignore him and he’ll stop.Easier said than done.Jason ‘asshole’ Ford was the bane of my existence. Arrogant. Conceited. A total manwhore.And the guy my heart had apparently decided it wanted.Stupid, stupid heart.Pressing my hands against the cool marble counter, I stared at myself in the wall-length mirror. I looked good. My hair was curled to perfection, hanging in long loose waves down my back; my makeup was smoky and seductive; and the black dress clung to my curves like a second skin.I didn’t only look good.I looked downright hot.“Get it together, Giles,” I commanded to the girl staring back at me in the mirror. “He only has power over you if you let him.”And right now, the asshole was out there all over another girl.A girl who wasn’t me.The knot in my
Felicity“Are you going to ignore me forever?” I asked my best friend as we stopped at our lockers. She gave me some serious stink eye as she traded out textbooks.“Hails, come on. It was a mistake. I made a mistake.”Slamming her locker shut, her eyes fixed on mine clouded with disappointment. “You slept with him,” she hissed, lowering her voice. “You had sex with Jason. Have you lost your goddamn mind?”“It was one time.” Barely one time when you really thought about it. “And I was drunk; it was a mistake.” One I wouldn’t be repeating in a hurry. Not that the aforementioned asshole would want a second round. Get a grip, Felicity.“And you think that’s okay? You were drunk. Not to mention a virgin,” her voice lowered dangerously, indignation flaming her cheeks. “And you let him—”“It’s done now.” I gave her a tight smile, ignoring the knot in my stomach. “It will never happen again. But at least I can check another thing off my list.” Strained laughter spilled from my lips, but Hails
My day didn’t get much better. Hailee was barely talking to me, and all everyone else was talking about was the Raiders upcoming game against Millington. Which meant all day his name followed me, a whisper on the wind, taunting me.But it was fine.I was fine.I’d wanted to lose my v-card and I had. Okay, so I hadn’t anticipated giving it up to one of the most arrogant and conceited jerks I knew, but what was senior year if not a chance to try new things ... and then quickly regret ever going there.Images flooded my mind as I pushed the sandwich around my plate. His hurried and needy and oh so hot kisses. His big strong hands splayed around my hip, my throat, possessive and dominant. The sting of him filling me... the almost tears.“Flick?” Hailee narrowed her eyes at me. “Where’d you go just now?”“Huh, I...”“Forget it.” She went back to her fries, and guilt coiled around my heart. I hated that things were awkward between us. But she had walked in on me and Jason doing it, so I kne
Jason“We need to talk,” Cameron pressed his hand against my chest blocking my exit from the locker room.“Not interested,” I said coolly.“We are doing this.” His brow arched as he shoved me. It was only a mild push but enough for me to know he meant business.“Fine,” I shot back. “Say whatever you have to say, man, and let me get the fuck to class.”“You go to class now?” He smirked.“Fuck you.”“Why’d you do it?” Cam let out a weary sigh, his eyes asking me a million things I didn’t have the answer to.Shrugging, I said, “Because I was drunk and she was there.”“Don’t give me that bullshit. You like her.”“Like her?” I barked out. “I can’t fucking stand her.” Felicity Giles was exactly the kind of girl I spent my days trying to avoid. Needy. Desperate. Weird as hell.“You really are a dick sometimes, you know that?”“Never claimed to be anything else.” I shrugged dismissively.“I just don’t get it. Vaughn was all over you. You could have taken her back to the hotel…” He let the wor