“Me too.” I crawled on top of him and kissed him. It was slow and passionate. We moved together as though we were made to fit into one and I did my best to show him how much I loved him. I wasn’t ready to say the words yet but my body was.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Zade
Things were getting back to normal, if there could ever be such a thing. I heard nothing more about my sister getting odd letters or calls. Aaron went home every weekend, but he laughed a bit more each week. The team had a lot to do with that. He never found himself alone. If it wasn’t Jeff, Tanner or me playing video games with him, it was Max or Freddie taking him out. The only downside was that I now trained with the team in the morning instead of Callie. She continued to run and became more determined to run the race because all proceeds were for Aaron’s cause.
Nicole worked the hell out of him and I think we were all proud to see him channeling his frustration into the workouts. Within one week, he benched more than he had before and broke his personal best in the clean and jerk. He was going to absolutely kill the ball when the season started.
On my way to pick up Callie, I mulled over my two plans. The first, to fucking give her my jersey to wear. She continued to say no to being my girlfriend, but we both knew she was. I liked the game she played and how she challenged me on everything. She kept me on my toes and it was time to take it to the next level—meeting my sister.
I whistled to myself and laughed at how I had become one of those happy-assed punks I used to make fun of. They’d had it right all along. Nothing was going to ruin my mood, not even the group of girls walking toward me with a determined look on their faces. I smiled politely at them but they stopped right in front of me. “Excuse me, ladies.”
“Zwillows, can we interview you really quick for our blog about you? We work for the university paper.” An eager girl, with wide eyes and maybe a hundred pounds. “It won’t take long.”
“Five minutes.” I checked my phone and knew Callie wouldn’t care if I arrived a little late. Actually, she’d probably make fun of me for getting interviewed. “I have plans.”
“Thank you, Zade. First off, tell us, how is the team handling the news of Aaron’s family?” she asked and held the phone in front of my face with a hopeful look. I didn’t recall Aaron sharing it publicly yet and I had no idea how they knew. I wasn’t going to give them anything and a protective surge flowed through me. People were low as hell to use someone’s pain to get a story.
“Well, we’re a team. We win together and lose together. Not much more to say about that.” She tried again with a new question and I didn’t hold back this time. “Listen, if you’re looking to get answers about something that doesn’t concern you or anyone else on campus, try someone else. You’re being rude and intrusive.”
She jumped back and fixed the glasses on her nose. “I apologize. I didn’t realize how protective you were of the team.”
“They’re my family.” I pushed past them, but she ran after me with her damn phone. “What?”
“Can you address the rumors that you’re currently seeing a new student, Callie Williams? The paper wants to do a dating profile for some of the major athletes as an entertainment piece.”
I laughed, but not with humor. “They aren’t rumors. I’m with Callie.”
“You are a known player on campus—how did she catch you?” I stared her down, now outright annoyed. She cowered a little bit. “Your fans want to know what she did.”
“She was herself. Now, I’m late for a date with her. Interview over.” I walked faster, her short legs not able to keep up with me, and I ran up the stairs to Callie’s door. She answered on the first knock and I stood, speechless. All thoughts of the interview flew out of the window with her standing there, looking like she did. She wore a skintight red dress and had her hair curled in waves. “Oh, my god.”
She smiled, her dimples coming out against her red lips, and shrugged. “So, you like the dress?”
“Fuck our plans.” I stood, frozen unable to believe how I’d gotten this lucky. She never wore dresses. Just once I had seen her in them and I was going to have a hell of a time not looking at her legs or the way it fit her curves just right. “God. You’re unreal.”
She blushed and I felt like a million bucks. “You clean up nice, too. You really fit that jacket.”
“Thanks. Really a raving compliment.” I laughed and pressed a light kiss to her cheek. If I started on her mouth, we wouldn’t make it past the door. “Are you ready to meet her?”
“I’m nervous, a little. I’ve never done this before.” She sucked in her bottom cherry-red lip. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a quaint little place about five blocks away. Want to walk there?” Her shoes clacked and I saw her wearing heeled sandals. I moaned. Her strong calves were quickly becoming a weakness.
“Hells yeah. It’s perfect outside.” She went to lock the door and I forgot about the gift I’d brought her. I shoved the bag at her without a word, looking like a weirdo. “Uh, what’s this?”
“For you.” I wanted her to like it. I needed her to like it. “I know we aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.” I paused “But I want you to have this.”
“Hmm. I’m intrigued.” She pulled the jersey out of the bag and her eyes warmed. “Aw. Your jersey.”
“I’ve never given one to anyone before.”
“I’ll take good care of it.” She hugged it against her. “I love it.”
“I’m glad. Now, promise me you’ll wear only that later? It’s one of my top fantasies.”
“What’s your top one?”
