Page 90 of Love, Literature, and the Linebacker

“Yeah,” he says. “And I keep thinking about having you to myself again. Just us. No interruptions. No pressure.”

The memory sends an electric flutter through me. The closeness. The trust. The way everything else faded when it was just us.

“Soon,” I promise, smiling despite myself.

“I’ll hold you to that,” he says with a quiet laugh, affection woven into every word.

“Deal,” I whisper into the phone, feeling hopeful.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dylan

A box of condoms is tucked into the side pocket of my suitcase, which makes concentrating on my kinesiology exam nearly impossible. The thought of several uninterrupted days with Lucy keeps dragging me away from muscular contractions and neural activation.

Not that I expect anything to happen. This trip is about introducing her to my family and showing her she can trust me outside the familiar rhythm of campus. Anything beyond that happens only if we both want it.

Four questions left. Then Lucy. Then Dallas.

I’ve never been good at wanting things slowly. Football taught me to take the lane the second it opens—commit, drive, finish.

Lucy has taught me that not every important moment needs to be rushed. She knows herself better than people assume, and she trusts me enough to tell me when she’s ready.

That’s what I admire most about her.

My body doesn’t care about my principles. It remembers her mouth, her breath, the way she looked at me like I was safe. Like she trusted me with something tender.

I grip the pencil harder.

Finish the test. Then I get to be with her. No rushing. No taking. Just being the guy she can count on.

I tap my pencil against the desk and force my eyes back to the kinesiology test in front of me.

My mind doesn’t cooperate.

Lucy keeps slipping in anyway.

Almost free.

I finish the last answer and skim my work quickly. It’s solid. Even distracted, I know this stuff. I check that my name is at the top, close the exam booklet, and stand. My chair scrapes loudly against the floor, but I don’t care.

“Done already?” the professor asks as I hand it in.

“Yeah,” I say with a quick grin. “Ready to get out of here.”

She nods, already turning back to her desk.

The hallway outside is buzzing with post-exam chatter, but I barely register it. My phone is already in my hand. Lucy’s probably waiting. I smile just thinking about it.

“Yo, Dylan!”

I turn to see Darnell and Marcus heading toward me, both looking just as relieved.

“Heading out of town?” Darnell asks, grinning like a fool.

“Yeah,” I say. “Gotta grab my bag and pick up Lucy.”

Marcus raises an eyebrow. “Can’t believe she’s meeting your family already. Never thought I’d see the day.”