: Chapter 25

Meyer sits beside me on the sofa, Milo and Bianca on the floor arguing about who made Bailey laugh louder. They continuously look to Meyer to settle the argument, but she keeps shrugging the decision away.

“Ugh!” Bianca tosses herself back on the beanbag. “She’s just being nice because she never sees your ass.”

“No, she’s just trying not to offend your bratty ass.”

Her mouth falls open. “I don’t get offended!”

“No, you just get butt hurt and hold it against people for weeks.”

I expect Bianca to shout back, but she simply laughs, rolls over to grab Bailey and set her on her stomach. “Tell your uncle Milo he’s a lying bastard, Bay.”

Meyer rolls her eyes, dropping her head back.

The fiasco at the field today left me feeling like a jackass, so when Meyer invited me to tag along with them to lunch, I passed. I didn’t want to cut into any more of their time together, but when Milo realized I had no plans and was headed home, the guy begged me to come. I’m talking, prayer hands and the whole thing.

It didn’t take much. I wanted to go from the start, and knowing he was more than cool with the idea was all I needed.

Bianca met us at the park after that, but Bailey started to fuss and rather than all of us going back to Milo’s hotel room, as Meyer had planned to do, we came back to her house.

Bailey starts rubbing her eyes and lowers her head onto Bianca’s chest, so Milo snags a pillow from beside Meyer and stuffs it under Bianca’s head. He scoots closer, patting at her butt while quietly singing a lullaby I’ve never heard.

From here, I can’t see Bailey’s face, but her little cheeks squish with what I know is a smile, and my own curves my lips.

Sensing Meyer’s eyes on me, I glance over, and sure enough, they are, but this time, she doesn’t look away. So, I twist my body to face hers, lifting my left arm onto the back of the sofa.

I stare right back.

“What’s on your mind, baby?”

Her cheeks tint a perfect pink and it takes a second, but then her soft little smirk lifts. “You were jealous today,” she whispers.

“Fuck yeah, I was.”

A quiet laugh leaves her, and she drops her head back onto the cushion, but not once do those intoxicating brown eyes move.

I want to lean over and put my lips on hers, but I won’t. Not in front of her family. That would have to be her move.

And they must think so too, ‘cause Bianca says, “Just kiss him already.”

Meyer’s blush creeps up her neck and she slowly looks to her best friend.

“I’m dying to see what happens when gas is poured over fire, so please, get on with it.” Bianca grins.

Milo rolls his eyes, but then pops up on his elbow. “Why don’t you guys go out? I know my school goes buck wild Thursday nights since close to no one has classes tomorrow. This place is likely ten times what mine is. There’s got to be somewhere to let loose.”

“Yeah right. Bailey’s—”

“Asleep, chica.” Bianca gives me an unrelenting expression. “I know what to do if she wakes up. I know you won’t stay out all night, just like you know you could if you wanted, because we’ll be here.”

Milo nods, looking from me to his sister.

Meyer opens her mouth, but he shakes his head, stopping her from saying exactly what he knew she was about to.

“I’ll be here all day tomorrow. We had all day today. Let me do this. I never get to help you out.”

“You help me out all the time.” She frowns.

“Phone calls aren’t the same thing,” he tells her.

“It’s the perfect thing,” she argues.

Milo’s shoulders lower an inch. “Let me be here in a different way. Go, have some fun. Tobias’ll watch out for you and we’ll be here when you get back.” They share a look I can’t explain.

While unease still tugs at her muscles, Meyer turns to me.

I tip my head, gauging her. “They’re partying at the team house tonight. We could go by there for a bit? They’ve been on my ass lately, asking where I’ve been.” I grin, dragging my knuckles along her shoulder. “Let me show them.”

Please, baby …

Anticipation has my abdomen clenching.

Meyer searches for something in my expression, and hers begins to soften. But there’s a slight pull at the edges of her eyes, as if she’s wrestling with something on the inside and whatever it is, it might just win over, make the decision for her, one that won’t end in my favor.

And I get it, I do.

She’s a busy woman with school and work and Bailey. Her downtime isn’t really downtime because she’s exhausted, understandably so. I have no fucking clue how she manages all she does, and she does it like a damn queen. All I know is I like being part of it.

That, and I want her to keep letting me.

My lips curve to one side, letting her know it’s okay if she’s not up for it. I’m good with exactly what we’re doing now. I just want to be near her, so it’s more than surprising when she whispers, “Okay.”

My eyes narrow. “Okay?”

She chuckles, pulling herself to her feet, and my eyes follow. “Yeah, okay.”

I shoot up beside her, my grin fucking ridiculous, but I don’t care. I’ve been dying to have her at my side and under my arm.

To show she’s mine.

The others laugh and Meyer chews at her lip. “Let me put Bailey in her crib, and we’ll go.”

“Whenever you’re ready, ma.”

I watch her walk over, bend to grab Bailey, and disappear into her room before turning back to her brother and best friend. “Should I feel guilty as fuck right now?”

Bianca laughs, dragging herself to her feet. She plants her hands on my shoulders and gives a curt nod. “Yes, you should,” she whispers. “That means you respect her as a mother.”

“I think it means he loves her.”

My head snaps toward Milo and I frown, but it quickly turns into a laugh when Bianca swiftly spins, slapping him with a pillow I didn’t even see her snag. “Make yourself useful and go get us some ice cream or something.”

Milo smirks, salutes me, and walks out the door.

“He always listen to you like that?”

Bianca grins. “The smart ones do.”

Both of us look down the hall when the squeak of Bailey’s door sounds. Meyer steps from the room, anxiously running her hands along her jeans.

I walk up to her, grab her by the hands and pull her to me. “You sure you want to go? We can put a movie on instead.”

“I think we finished Netflix,” she jokes with a smile. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

We’re out the door in five seconds flat.

I love how she didn’t pause to look in the mirror or take the time to change.

I love how she’s comfortable in her own skin and has stopped hiding her body under her baggy sweater.

I think that means he loves her…

I look to the girl at my side, and before she can reach for the door handle of my truck, I’m spinning her against it, leaning in and taking her lips with mine.

Meyer responds instantly, kissing me back with as much need as I’m feeling, but when her hands begin to glide along my skin, I pull away. I drop my forehead to hers. “Get in the truck, Meyer, or we might not make it out at all.”

“I think I’m okay with that,” she pants.

My laugh turns into a groan, and I free myself from her wandering hands. “Not a chance. I’m ready to show you off.”

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and my chest rumbles. I rip away, practically running around the damn hood. “In the truck, Tutor Girl. Now.”

She laughs and climbs right in.

Walking into the house, Cooper is the first person to spot me, and he throws his hands into the air, beer sloshing from his cup onto the floor at his feet. “Ohh! Your royal fucking highness, you’ve graced us with your presence!” He mock bows.

Grinning, I clap my palm into his.

“What up, fuckhead?” He grins. “Finally get your head out of your ass, or what?”

My fingers tighten around Meyer’s and I tug her forward, placing her a space ahead of me and Coop’s eyes fly to hers.

He’s shocked, that’s for sure, but his smile stays in place. “Meyer!” He flies forward, hugging her, and the beer splashes again.

I grab him by the collar, hauling him back, but Meyer simply smiles, kicking her foot to get the droplets of beer off her toes.

“Hey, Coop.” She glances from him to me and back.

Coop does the same. “You and Cruz?” He whistles. “That’s …”

I lift a brow, but it’s Meyer who finishes his sentence for him.

“Unexpected?” Meyer gives me a sly smile before returning his attention to Cooper. “Trust me, I know.”

Cooper grins, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, hey, rock it out, girl.”

Meyer laughs and I wiggle my brows, dragging us farther into the house, saying quick hellos to people we pass, but without stopping.

It’s when we get into the main room that people really get rowdy.

Neo’s eyes hit mine and he starts barking, jumping up on the pool table in the middle of someone’s game. He cups his mouth with his hands, gaining as much attention as possible. “Fellas, tip your hats and pull out them handcuffs. Time to lock a woman up or watch her go, ‘cause Tobias motherfucking Cruz has returned to the hothouse!”

The team shouts like they’re in a fucking nightclub, and I catch Neo’s eyes again, gliding my fingers past my throat as if to say cut the shit.

He frowns, but then he spots Meyer at my side and winces.

Then the fuckhead shouts again. “And to all you lovely ladies, keep your clothes on, and steer clear of my boy …” His grin is slow, and he shifts all his attention to Meyer. “’Cause he’s got a woman now and trust me when I say, she’s first-string material. You don’t stand a chance.”

He follows it up with a wink, hopping down to head our way, but we’re already bombarded by the rest of the boys, each dying to get closer and find out more about the girl on my arm.

They’ve seen me leave with more girls than I care to admit, something I’m pretty fuckin’ embarrassed by now, but they’ve never seen me come with one.

“You’re literally a celebrity to your own team,” Meyer mumbles through clenched teeth.

“You proud?” I joke, and her lips pull to one side.

She thinks I’m fucking adorable.

It’s odd I love that she does.

Nobody wants to be adorable, but if she likes it, I want to be it.

Daniel Rojas, one of my relief pitchers, steps up first.

“Rojas, this—”

“Hey, Meyer.” He focuses on her, nodding his chin my way. “Cruz.”

I frown, my eyes moving between the two.

Meyer gives a single wave. “Hey, Danny, how’s it going?”

“Good, good.” He grins, but he’s pushed to the side when Allen, our shortstop’s younger brother, steps up.

Allen smiles. “Meyer, what’s up?”

“Hey!” Her lips curve and she leans forward, giving him a half hug. “Did you get my email yesterday?”

“Hell yeah, I did.”

Meyer laughs. “Well earned. I bet your coach was ready to throw you a party after that.”

“My body owes you for that one.”

“What the fuck, bro?” I snap and both their heads snap to me.

Along with a few others around us too.

“Your body owes her?” I step in front of him. “Are you for real right now? You’re gonna come into this house and say some shit like that? To my girl?”

“Tobias,” Meyer whispers.

His palms lift in the air. “Aye, I was referring to the ass kicking my coach would give me in the gym and on the stairs, man. Legit my body, my muscles … I didn’t mean anything else by it.” His eyes flick past my shoulders briefly. “She’s a badass tutor, that’s all.”

Tutor.

She’s a badass tutor, he said.

Of course.

Here I am excited to introduce my girl to all these assholes, but most of them already know her. She tutors for the athletic department and is their top tutor at that. Tutoring athletes is her job. Spending time with athletes is what she’s paid to do.

There’s a flicker of heat in my abdomen, a nasty flare of jealousy.

But then Meyer’s fingers flex alongside my own, reminding me that her hand’s still tucked in mine, and the stormy sensation is smothered.

With a calm I don’t quite feel, but confidence I do, I look to my girl. “That she is, my man.”

There’s an anxiousness I’m sensing from her, but she smiles, and I imagine she’s got that whole angel-devil thing going on.

It’s a fucked-up quality, possessiveness, but it is a quality.

And I think she kind of likes it.

Either way, I didn’t bring her here to have a shitty night, though, so I swallow the part of me I’m still working on and lift our joined hands, kissing her knuckles as I lead us the final steps to my teammates.

It turns out she only knows two more people here, and the rest take turns stepping in front of us to say hello. The plus side is they like her, but of course they do.

What’s not to like?

As a group, we hang around the kitchen, spending the next hour laughing. They make jokes, flirt, and try to get under my skin, but it doesn’t work.

It might have sixty minutes ago, but not now. Not after witnessing her with my crew. There’s a respect between them and her, one they earned on their own time, and knowing that feels pretty fucking good.

They see her as a person, not a toy, and I’m loving the look in these asshole’s eyes as they realize she’s mine. Mine, mine. As in not just a date for the night.

“So, Meyer, how’d you get stuck with this guy?” My buddy Franky drops down beside her, throwing his arm over her shoulder. “Everyone knows I’m the one who swings harder south.”

I knock his arm away, pulling my girl in front of me, and curling my hands around her waist. “Yeah, bro, you swing heavy … but you also stay swinging.”

Franky shoots to his feet, a drunken grin on his face. “One time I couldn’t make a moment count, and to be fucking fair, I was a half a bottle of Jose in!”

The boys laugh and Meyer hides her smile by dropping her chin to her chest.

“You know how it goes, Franky, Jose, no lay.”

“That’s the last time I tell you guys shit!” he shouts with a smile, spinning away when his name is called.

Neo turns to the group and starts telling them some story about him and X in high school, so I lean forward, putting my lips to Meyer’s ear.

“For the record, my southern region is impressive as shit, I’m talking north pole status.”

Meyer’s shoulders shake with her laughter, and she tips her head back, but as her brown eyes meet mine, a weight slips into them, shadowing the golden rims from my view.

The moment her lips move, they’re all I see. Plump, full and intoxicating. I take them with my own, playfully nipping at her when she pulls away.

“I’m going to step outside and call Bianca to check on Bailey,” she whispers.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Stay.” She spins in my arms. “I’ll be right back.”

If it wasn’t policy to leave a freshman outside the door to keep track of who comes in, I would have followed, but since we do, I stay planted where I am, keeping one eye on the front door, the other on my boys.

Out front, I walk to the edge of the driveway, keeping myself in view of the safety guy at the door, and plop onto the grass.

I text Bianca so I don’t risk waking Bailey and then look along the road.

This is ‘Ruckus Row’ here on campus, every house on the block owned and affiliated with campus. The boys’ team and frat houses line this side of the street, while the other is made up of sorority and female squads.

Both sides are well lit tonight, LEDs glowing all around, music flowing from most, but there are a few quiet ones. Come tomorrow, the yards will be full and people will be going from house to house on the hunt for whatever it is they’re searching for that night.

Some will be looking for a good time, others will be looking for a good way to forget…

Last time I was here, it was for all the wrong reasons, a night I’ve regretted for far too long, but somewhere along the way, that regret faded into something else, something a little more dangerous.

It transformed into hope.

It’s completely reckless, at least where my heart’s concerned. I know myself and I won’t allow my life to be thrown off course. I can’t. I have Bailey to think about, but I’d be lying if I said it won’t break another piece of me to watch the man I’ve come to know walk away … like the one I thought I knew before did.

Like all the men in my life have, outside of my brother.

If he does, it will be my fault.

When he does, it will be my fault …

I’m the one who allowed things to get this far.

“Now this is familiar.”

My head snaps right and I shoot to my feet. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes narrow and he goes to speak, but a couple guys step out the door, spotting him.

“What’s up, Coach!” One salutes him, while the other nods his chin.

“Boys.” He gives a curt nod, watching as they slip behind the wheel of a blue Chevy before turning back to me. “I went by your house today.”

My face falls, tension swimming in my stomach. “Why?”

He scoffs, malice driving the sound from his throat. “I wonder, Meyer.” He steps closer. “Why would I come by, hmm?”

I swallow, shaking my head. “I don’t know.”

“Where were you today?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“No?” He sticks his hands in his pockets, tipping his head with a condescending look in his eyes. “You’re not even going to try and lie your way out of this, say you’re tutoring someone at eleven o’clock on a well-known party night this side of campus?”

I stare without a word and his lips thin.

“I take it you haven’t been online or on campus today,” he continues, inquisition heavy in his tone. “If you had, I don’t think you’d be here right now, then again, I thought you were smarter than this period. Guess I was wrong.”

Panic swells in my chest and I have to fight myself not to pull my phone up again.

“Did you come here looking for me?”

“I came here to check on my athlete,” he snaps. “I’ve been calling Tobias all day, and he hasn’t picked up once.” He glares. “Do you have something to do with that?”

“I was with Milo,” I rush out. “He showed up this morning to surprise me.”

He raises his chin, doing his best to decipher if I’m being honest since five seconds ago, I refused to tell him anything. “I got Tobias’s grade check-in today, his GPA is almost at a three.” He stands tall. “You’re done, Meyer.”

“There’s three weeks of school left. He still needs help—”

“He’s got a hint of cushion in his problem class, thanks to your … dedication. He’ll be fine,” he snaps. “He’ll be removed from your schedule by the time you sign in tomorrow, and I’ll be refilling it with others.”

A sharp pain knocks against my ribs, and my next words leave me before I have time to think them through. “You can take him off my schedule all you want …”

He raises a brow. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, and you will regret it. Don’t forget you’re no longer on scholarship, Meyer. Think of Bailey.”

“Every move I make I’m thinking of her.”

“Your actions say differently. Do I need to remind you I can make all this go away? Not just the job—”

“How can you be like this to me?” I cut him off, my panic morphing into something else. “I’m just trying to get through school so I can take care of myself and my daughter. Why are you making it so much harder than it has to be?”

“Don’t put this on me.”

“I won’t need you forever, you know.” I don’t mean to whisper. “And then what?”

He’s quiet for a moment, but when he speaks, he’s just as callous as ever. “You have one stipulation and that’s to steer clear of my athletes, especially Tobias.”

“Then why am I in your department? Why do you assign your athletes to me? Why did you assign him to me?”

“Again. Do not put this on me.” Anger shades his features, and he takes a quick look around before turning back to me. “Do as I said and everything will be fine.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Make it that simple.”

My eyes begin to burn, but I won’t cry.

Not yet.

The moment he disappears into the night, I lift my phone up with shaky palms. I know right where to go based on his comments, and open the student app.

I don’t even have to click on the news tab, because this article made it onto the main page, as did the photo accompanying it.

My heart drops to my feet as I stare at the three of us, and my phone falls to the grass as I bring my hands up to cover my eyes. I can’t hide from that.

Make it that simple, he said.

In other words, end it and quick.

Palms fall to my shoulders, and the soft touch has my heart clenching. His hands glide down, wrapping me up from behind and then his lips are on my neck, my jaw, my ear. “You saw the picture?”

I nod, my head falling against his chest, eyes locked to the lit-up screen wedged in the grass at my feet.

“We look good together, us three.”

Tears prick at the back of my eyes, and again, I nod.

We do.

“You upset, baby? I didn’t get the chance yet, but I planned on asking Coach Reid to help us out,” he says, and those tears swell, threatening to spill over. “He might be able to get them to back off us. I know if I ask, he’ll do whatever he can—”

The tears fall. I swiftly reach up, haul his lips to mine, and cut off his thought, allowing all common sense to escape me, knowing it’s a cruel notion, but unable to hold back all the same.

Tobias groans, his hand flying up to grip my face, but it quickly disappears into my hair, and I spin, the need to get closer to him overwhelming, heartrending.

As if we’re completely in tune with one another, his arm comes down the moment I jump up, my legs wrapping around him as his firm hold tightens.

“Baby …” he pants, his kiss deep and devastatingly perfect.

My body aches with conflicting emotions, twisting and turning at an insufferable rate.

Dread and desire.

Fear and comfort.

Disgrace and devotion.

Yet still I whisper, “Take me home.”

And he does, but much to my surprise, he kisses me good night at my door, with a heartfelt promise of a tomorrow.

Little does he know, come tomorrow, my mind will be clear, and my orders followed.

I’m at the mercy of a man who doesn’t deserve to be called one, and there’s not a thing I can do about it.