“I don’t know. I was planning on bringing it home to wash it first.”
My lips curl into a wicked grin. “Good.”
We return to the bench, and sure as shit, Coach is fuming.
“Oh no. Did I get you in trouble?” Charlie asks.
I chuckle. “Nah. That’s the coach’s normal expression.”
“I’d better go find my seat. Go break some bones.”
“Says the girl with her leg in a cast,” Andreas mutters next to me.
I ignore him, way too fucking happy right now to let his comments get to me. I watch Charlie walk toward the bleachers with Vanessa Castro in tow. I didn’t even know they were friends. I don’t look away until Charlie vanishes from sight.
“All right, everybody, you’ve had your fun. Now it’s time to focus,” Coach begins his pep talk.
Knowing Charlie is here to watch me is better than any motivational speech anyone could give me. I’ve got my girl back, and now it’s time to prove that I’m not the unenthusiastic football player she thought I was when we met.
I’m going to play the best game of my life.
CHARLIE
After the game—which the Rushmore Rebels won, by the way—we all head out to celebrate at a pizzeria recommended by Andreas. And when I say we, I mean, Ophelia, her boyfriends, Jane, Ben, and Danny all join us.
I had the best time watching Troy play. It was thrilling, and also sexy as hell to see him in his element. I lost my voice from shouting so much. I couldn’t believe how wrong I had been about Troy not giving a fuck about football anymore. He was on fire on that field, and now I understand why his fans treat him like a god. He is one.
It’s almost eleven by the time we walk through the door. Troy made me keep my cheerleader outfit on, and now he’s watching me with that hungry gaze of his that makes my toes curl in my shoes. I thought he was going to pounce as soon as the door closed, but instead, he’s just staring at me.
“What?” I glance down. “Something wrong?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong. I just want to drink you in first, memorize every inch of your body.”
I smirk at him. “I didn’t know you had a thing for cheerleaders.”
“I don’t have a thing for them. I have a thing for you. The uniform is just a bonus.”
“This cast makes it uber sexy.” I lift my leg jokingly.
He walks over, and like they do in the movies, he takes me in his arms and angles our bodies sideways as he kisses me. It’s a deep and fast kiss that leaves me breathless. When he straightens us again, I want to jump in his arms. Too bad it’s impossible right now. But Troy seems to be having the same train of thought as me. He sweeps me off my feet and heads for his bedroom, taking the stairs two steps at a time.
We don’t speak as he carefully sets me on the edge of the mattress. My body is humming with anticipation, and my fingers tingle with the need to touch him. Wordlessly, he kneels in front of me, opening my legs. His warm hands feel like gasoline over my already burning skin.
“You know, I was ready to ambush you at Golden Oaks tomorrow,” he confesses.
“Really?”
“I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer.”
He runs his fingers up my thighs until they disappear underneath my skirt. My clit throbs, ready for Troy’s fiery touch, but he stops at the edge of the cheer briefs. Desire spreads through my body like wildfire, but it’s my love for the beautiful man in front of me that overflows my heart and takes over everything.
I cup his face, fighting the tears that are quickly gathering in my eyes. “I wouldn’t have said no.”
His heartfelt smile is like a caress. “You didn’t need to make a big gesture to win me over. I would have come running with just a simple text.”
“That wouldn’t have been enough. I messed up, Troy. I let my fear and anger drive you away. I couldn’t accept your love because I was afraid it would hurt my mother and Ben too much. I was a coward.” A rogue tear escapes my eye.
Troy reaches for it and wipes it off with his thumb. “No you weren’t. It took courage to put your family first.”
I capture his face between both hands and bring my face closer to his. “Never again, Troy. I’ll never take you