“Okay, honey. But beware. You know the saying—a leopard doesn’t change its spots.” She clicked her tongue. “I suppose if you two ended up at the same university, it was inevitable.”
“You didn’t know he was here, did you?” I lifted my brows. Mom was not a football fan. In fact, I’d never seen her watch it.
“No, I heard nothing about him.” She paused. “I guess I didn’t want to know. I’m sure with my business, if I’d asked around, someone would have told me. But I didn’t ask.”
“Yeah.” If things worked out with Eli, I’d have to convince Mom he was good for me. Damn it. “Anyhow, I’ll let you know how the dinner goes with Dad.”
“Okay,” she said. “Are you traveling with the team this weekend?”
“I am.” I nodded, though she couldn’t see it. “I’ll speak with you soon, okay?”
“Yes. And Wren, be careful, okay? Not just with Eli, but with your father too.”
“I will Mom. Love you.” An ache lodged in my chest. Fuck, this was driving a wedge between us. I felt it.
“Love you too. Bye now.” She ended the call.
ELEVEN
ELI
Friday was filled with classes, packing for the game and football strategy. We boarded our bus and then our chartered flight to Dallas and finally a long-ass bus ride to Baylor, in Waco, Texas. I bumped along in our bus next to Malik, who sat in the window seat while I had taken the aisle, leaving an empty seat between us. “Baylor is tough this year.” The coaching staff had drilled it into our heads we’d have to stay on our toes.
“Yeah, the running game will be hard to beat.” He shifted, peering at me. “More importantly, how will you keep your head in the game with your boyfriend hopping all over the sidelines?” He raised the corner of his lips.
“That won’t be a problem.” With a tut, I squirmed. Except that it might. I had to devise a way out of it. Having Wren on the field with me wasn’t going away. “We’re not officially boyfriends and don’t say that in front of him.”
“Oh? Why’s that?” His gaze searched my face. “You two are together again, and it’s not like you’ll be dating anyone else.”
My chest pinched as Wren’s words from last night filled my head. I’d been so happy, and then he’d crushed me. “He doesn’t want to be official yet, and I need to honor it.”
“How do you know? Did you point-blank ask him?” He planted his hand on the seatback in front of him.
“No, I…” Fuck, I had to tell him what happened now. “He’s going through a rough spot. His father moved to Scottsdale and invited him to dinner, though they’re not close. So, I agreed to go with him for emotional support…as his boyfriend.”
His brows snapped down. “But you aren’t boyfriends, even though you both act like you are.”
“Yes.” Why did labels matter? I tensed my mouth. They meant commitment. I knew better. “He’s not ready for it, like I said.”
“But you are?” He shifted, lifting his leg onto the seat between us.
“I am, but remember, I’m the one who fucked it up last time.” I clenched my hand into a fist. I was still paying for what I had done four years ago. When would it stop?
“Eli, you two have to resolve this, or you’ll never make this work.” He squeezed my thigh. “I enjoy seeing you together, I really do, but you have to stop beating yourself up, and so does he.”
“Yeah, I know.” But how much longer could it continue like this? I’d felt closer to him than ever at dinner on Thursday. “Look, it’s getting better. We’re working through it.”
“Okay. I’ll leave you alone about it.” A slow smirk worked across his mouth. “But if you miss some of your tackles and I catch you watching Wren, you’re in big trouble.” He pushed on my shoulder.
“I can’t get every tackle.” With a scoff, I shook my head and focused on him. Wagging my finger at him, I said, “But I’ll get all the right ones.” I had to remember Wren would be cheering me on, no matter what our status was.
After the team dinner,I fished my phone from the pocket of my joggers and texted Wren. He had to have spoken to Grace already, and I couldn’t wait for a pregame release of tension. I tapped my phone.
Eli
When can I come to your room?
The three dots taunted me as my dick plumped. Shit, at this rate, I’d have a boner before I got to his room.
