“Will you be my girlfriend, little bird?”
“Would that make you my boyfriend?”
“Of course.”
“In that case… yeah, I’d like that.”
“Good.” I leaned in, and just before my lips touched hers for our first official kiss, someone cleared their throat behind me.
“Lucas.” I stilled and winced. I knew that deep all-too familiar voice. “You want to tell me why you, Ferguson, and Fletcher are at the fucking dining hall instead of my gym?”
This was not the moment to have a hard-on tenting my gym shorts. But even with the way Coach’s voice could feel like a fucking bucket of ice water being tossed over my head, Sadie’s sweet body was still pressed against mine. She peeked her head over my shoulder, and if Coach weren’t there, I would have laughed at the look on her face.
“Shit. I mean shoot. I didn’t see you there, little lady. Please forgive my… French.”
“Oh.” She stepped aside, and I quickly realized what she was doing: giving me enough room so that when I turned, her body would be shielding my precarious situation.
“No worries. I’m sorry he’s late to your practice…”
“Coach Freeman.”
“Coach Freeman. Wait, didn’t you play for the Angels?” she asked, and I blinked.
“I did,” he confirmed. His broad shoulders relaxed. Then I watched as my sweet, shy now girlfriend completely charmed my grumpy-as-hell coach.
So much that when Ferguson and Jeremy strode over with an extra protein shake they handed Coach, he simply smiled at my girl, told her it was a pleasure to meet her, and waved goodbye before walking with us to the weight room.
Jer and Ferg both looked back at Sadie, who had got back to work, and then at me. I knew that look. The girl looked innocent as hell, but she was magical. There was no doubt about that.
12SADIE
“Thank you again for this.” Jackie smiled, flipping her pink hair over her shoulder.
“No worries. You feel ready now for your test?” She nodded, her attention moving behind me. “What is it?” I asked, looking back but not seeing anything but darkness that shadowed with the trees that lined the pathway I would have to take.
“Nothing. I just thought I saw… hmm.” She shook her head. “But yes, I feel so ready. Hopefully, I can get a semi-decent grade, pass, and never have to take another math class ever again.”
“Math is good for you.” I playfully hip-checked her. She groaned.
“Good for nothing,” she mumbled. “But I need it for my business degree.”
“And you’re going to do better than just pass.” I was confident she understood the main concepts of the section she was going to be tested on.
“Thanks. You’re good for my ego.” She grinned, then her brows wagged. “Tea time. I heard a little something I meant to ask you earlier.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah… what’s this about two baseball players getting in a fight over you on Friday night at the Omega party?!”
“They didn’t fight over me.” I laughed.
“Jason Lucas went to defend your honor and walked you home?” I shrugged. “I didn’t know you were seeing him. Makes sense now.”
“Why’s that?”
“How he’s always hanging around after our tutoring.”
“What?” I stilled, smiling at her, trying not to give away the fact she had tossed me a curveball, so to speak.
