He cut me off with a kiss.Against my lips, he said, “We.Are.Celebrating.”Then he started backing me in the direction of my bedroom.
By the time we’d reached the bed, we were standing naked together at the end of a trail of discarded clothes.
When he dropped to his knees and buried his face in the apex of my thighs, he made me forget all about films and studios and veiled threats and final exams and football.The pleasure he gave me with his hands and his lips and his tongue drove all coherent thought from my head.All I could do was let go as Cash filled my senses with his happy groans and his expert attention to my body until my knees were shaking with the effort to stay standing upright as a tsunami of desire washed through me.
Making love into the wee hours of the morning wasn’t conducive to outstanding performances in the classroom, but in the end we didn’t care.Sometimes, sleep was overrated.
The next day when the dean screened the final eight short films, everyone noted the absence of big names in attendance.Out of habit I looked around for where Barry was sitting so I could avoid him, but he was conspicuously absent too, which made sense when the dean asked me to stay for a few minutes while everyone else filed out of the theater.
“The hearing scheduled for Thursday for your complaint has been canceled, Miss Davis,” Dean Pullman said.My face must have betrayed my shocked outrage, because he put up his hands and hastily added, “In light of Mr.Brown’s immediate—and permanent—withdrawal from the MSC film program, it won’t be necessary.”
“I see.Is he withdrawing from MSC in general, or only the film school?”
A small smile tugged up the corner of the dean’s mouth.“You have quite an eye for detail, Miss Davis.It’s what made your film resonate with the audience so intensely yesterday.”Pulling in a breath, he said, “Mr.Brown has decided to pursue his minor in finance.I don’t expect to see him in the Film building.”
“What about your film?Do you foresee a long hiatus for that as well?”I couldn’t help it.With one more semester to go, I needed to know what to expect from the faculty after everything that had gone down at the end of this semester.
“Interesting you should mention that.It seems you made quite an impression on Olivia Carter during your internship last summer—enough that she asked for a meeting.One thing led to another, and…” He shrugged.“ Nothing is set, but she has some ideas for helping me see that project through.”
Although it pained me, I had to ask.“Your meeting with Olivia didn’t affect the decision with Barry, did it?”
“Those were two separate conversations.After the screenings last night, Barry, his father, and I mutually agreed he should give up his film aspirations.My meeting with Ms.Carter took place this morning before she flew back to Denver.”Leveling me with a look, he added, “None of this will have any bearing on your grades or your opportunities for university recognition.As you know, the entire faculty, the grad students, and your cohort determine the those.”
“Thank you.I appreciate you keeping me in the loop.”Shouldering my messenger bag higher on my shoulder, I turned to leave, but he stopped me one more time.
“For the record, Saylor, the last student who drew a standing ovation for his senior project went on to make a worldwide television phenomenon with the adaptation of a certain series of fantasy novels.”His warm smile let me relax.“In the future, we expect to see great things from you too.”
Nodding, I said, “That’s the plan.”
His quiet laughter followed me out of the auditorium.
Chapter Thirty
Cash
Between studying forand taking finals and implementing the new playbook in practice, I’d almost forgotten I’d be walking across the stage at graduation on Friday night.My parents flew my brother and my grandparents in for the ceremony, where I received my diploma summa cum laude in Kinesiology.No matter what happened with football in the next few months, I’d taken care of my future career prospects at least.
Even though my family showed up to support me, it was knowing Saylor was somewhere in the gym watching me walk that made me stand taller and enjoy the moment more when the president of MSC handed me my diploma.Afterward, I stood around and smiled for the cameras while my parents took a crap-ton of pics with everyone in the fam, as well as with my teammates who’d graduated with me.Somewhere during the impromptu photo shoot, Saylor appeared at the edge of the group, giving me a secret smile that held all kinds of naughty promises for later.I didn’t even bother to hold back when I grinned back at her.
“That’s the best one yet!”Mom gushed as she checked her phone.
“Nah.The next one will be better.”I beckoned Saylor over to me.“Hey, babe.Are you proud of me?I didn’t trip or anything.”
Laughter rang out of her.“Good thing, Slick.That might have tarnished your rep.”
“Hello, Saylor!You’re joining us for the celebratory dinner, aren’t you?”Mom asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said, but she was looking up at me.
Somewhere to my left a camera clicked, followed by Grammy Donovan’s distinctive cackling laugh.“Cash was right.The next picture is the best one.”
It was a good thing my parents had booked a private dining room at The Divide, since dinner was a rather raucous affair, with my family either trying to terrify Saylor away from me or initiate her into the family.I wasn’t entirely sure which.My girl played along like the champ she was until she leaned in once to whisper in my ear.
“Your family is awesome.I have blackmail material foryears.”
I groaned and shook my head, but it was all for show, since my thoughts had snagged on “years” and what that meant for us.
The next day we played our archrivals, the Golden Bears, for the second time in three weeks after we’d both made it to the semifinals on the same side of the bracket.That was the reason for all the new plays Coach had insisted we learn while taking finals.Every man in the locker room was primed and pumped for a repeat of the biggest game of the year.The Bears had had to claw their way into the semifinals by playing two games to our one, but the Chanticleers hadn’t made last week’s win easy, which meant we were ready for another battle.
