Chapter Twenty-Six
Saylor
“So your parentsare going to be here this weekend,” I said as Cash and I split a pizza at Stromboli’s.
After the emotional wringer of a day I’d had, the thought of having to pretend for his parents exhausted me.
“It’s the playoffs, and I’m starting—two things my family and I had pretty much given up hope of being able to say in the same sentence.”Cash folded his slice of sausage-and-jalapeno pizza in half and chomped down a third of it in a bite.As he chewed, he peered at me from beneath his brows, swallowed, and said, “Plus, the pros are sending some scouts.”He cleared his throat.“Actually, the scouts will be at every playoff game from here to the National Championship.”
“That old goal you gave up when you transferred here is back in play.”
It wasn’t a question.Saying it aloud turned my dinner to stone in my stomach.My reaction to his news wasn’t fair at all.From the start of our liaison, we’d both known we were temporary, two people having a good time together during our last year of college.Why was the thought of him going pro sitting so heavy in my gut?
“I’ve wanted to throw passes in the NFL since I was throwing Nerf balls in our living room before I was in kindergarten.”Something poignant passed over his features—something like worry or pleading.I wasn’t sure which.
“Well, then”—I forced a smile—“it’s good the Wildcats made the playoffs, so you can give the scouts a show.”
“Saylor.”
“Hmm?”I asked around a normal person’s-size bite of pizza.
The thoughts whirling in his head came through in the intensity of his stare.I braced myself, but he surprised me.
“What did the dean say after everyone had left his office?”
Cash hadn’t been able to wait around until after I finished my private conversation with the dean.This close to the end of the semester, he couldn’t afford to skip class.As he’d walked out of the dean’s office, though, he’d whispered he was only a text away if I needed him.His offer shouldn’t have brought me as much comfort as it did.
“He apologized for dragging his feet on my harassment complaint.”I sipped my beer.“Then he wanted to know if I wanted to amend it to include the bribery scheme since it shows a pattern of behavior targeting me.”
Cash narrowed his eyes.“What’s the catch?”
“I could become a target for powerful people in the business when Barry gets kicked out of another program, especially this close to graduation.Pullman wanted me to know that could happen.”
“So he’s still trying to put you off filing your complaints.”He fisted his hand on the tabletop.
“He wanted me to be sure I understood the risks.”I shrugged.“I reminded him that if he didn’t back me one hundred percent, that video we made in his office would be presented to the president of MSC.Dean Pullman’s academic career would be over, which would be a bummer, since no doubt Barry’s dad will pull the plug on financing his movie the second my complaint hits the faculty council.”I sat back against the cushion of the booth.“But I hedged my bets.”
For the first time since we’d sat down to eat, a tiny smile tipped up the corner of Cash’s mouth.“Of course you did.”Leaning his forearms on the edge of the table, he asked, “How?”
“After I left the dean’s office, I called Olivia Carter.I gave her the short version of recent events and asked for her advice.”
That tiny smile bloomed into a massive grin.“You did damage control before Barry could do any damage.”
“Got it in one.”I reached across the scarred wooden tabletop to fist bump him.“She wants to see my senior project since it’s a mockumentary of a touring band.From what she hinted, I have the idea she might produce it for a bigger audience than my cohort at MSC.”
“That’s my girl.While the idiots are underestimating you, you’re busy running the end-around and tearing upfield for the touchdown.”He reached his hand palm-up across the table.
After a second, I laid my hand in his, his heat and strength seeping into me, warming me in all the places I’d been trying so hard to keep from him.
“You’re so fucking impressive, Saylor.”
Those words in his raspy baritone arrowed straight into my chest where they took up residence in my heart.
It was too much.
Tugging my hand from his, I reached for my beer.“Yeah, well, a lot can happen between now and the end of the semester, no matter that finals are next week.Barry has already proved he’s willing to sabotage me.If even one person lets out the barest hint of what’s coming to him, it’s hard telling what else he’d do to have his way and save his ass.”I shuddered at the thought.
Out of nowhere Taco and Dalton slid into the booth beside us.
