thinks you’ll be a distraction, and he’s said it enough to put it in the others’ heads that I’m too distracted.”
“So you’re choosing the game? I guess I don’t blame you.”
“No, I’m trying not to choose. I’m trying to get through it all and still keep you. If you can’t handle it, I don’t know what to tell you.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I overreacted again. I guess you’re getting pretty sick of that.”
“It’s not making it any easier.”
“I’m sorry I make it harder for you. I guess I just have feelings too.”
Seth reached for my hand and pulled it to his lips. “I don’t want to put rugby first, so I thought if I hold back a little, when I’m strong enough, maybe I could buy some time and not lose you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I guess I just need to know what you want from me. It’s hard to guess.”
“Well, I kissed you, and I want to do it again, and again, if that’s okay with you. But at the same time, Avery, I think it scares me.”
My eyes narrowed. “What are you scared of?”
“I’m scared of falling too fast, too hard, and of screwing it all up because of who I used to be. I’m scared of losing you.”
I moved closer in the seat. “I’m nothing to be afraid of.”
He smiled. “You have no idea. You make me want to be better, and that’s the scary part. I haven’t ever felt this way about anyone else.”
Seth leaned in, and I closed the distance between our lips, kissing him hard to show him how much I wanted it.
I wanted all of it. Everything.
Seth pulled away and looked down. “You make it hard to behave.”
“Who says we have to?” I kissed him again, this time moving across the seat to sit in his lap as he put the seat back.
He rested his hand on my thigh then moved to cup my ass, squeezing me closer as his tongue stroked mine. His hand didn’t stop until it was up my shirt, and I wanted him to touch me everywhere.
Just as things were getting hot and heavy and his windows were fogging up, there was a knock on the window beside us.
“Fuck,” said Seth as I hopped off his lap.
Will Tanner stood outside the Jeep, glaring at Seth. He pounded the window again. “Hey. I need to talk to you.”
“I should go.” I hopped out of the Jeep. Will was Dillon’s friend, and now I was pretty sure everything that happened would get right back to Clara.
“I’ll call you,” said Seth as I slammed the door.
I got in my car in a hurry, not looking back at the two to see what that was about. With any luck, Will wouldn’t be trying to start anything over me and would respect me enough to keep his mouth shut.
On my way home, I smiled, knowing that Seth did have feelings for me and he was just as scared about what would happen between us as I was.
We’d work it out somehow.
Chapter 12
Seth
I put down my window as Avery left, knowing that Will wasn’t going to fuck off unless I made him. “What’s that fucking important?”
“Come on, man. What are you even doing with Avery? She’s young, she’s Clara’s sister, and she’s not the kind of girl you can fuck around on.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Look, I didn’t stop by to have this chat, but under the circumstances, I just wanted to warn you that if Dillon finds out you were pawing all over her in the fucking parking lot, he’s going to go ballistic on you.”
“It was mutual, and I’m not worried about Dillon. He knows I’m into Avery. You should mind your own business.”
“After what happened with Layla, you’re not going to get the thumbs-up.”
“For someone who didn’t stop by to chat about my love life, you sure haven’t gotten away from the subject.”
“I’m just saying. But you’re right. I talked to Coach Carr, and he thought you might want to spar with me sometime. Dillon is gone, and he used to do it quite a lot. He said you might be interested in working out some of your aggression on me. Might be healthier than fucking with Avery Russell.”
“I’ll think about it. I’m really just trying to get through the season so I can spend more time with Avery.”
Will laughed. “You just don’t know when to stop, man. After Layla, no one trusts you.”
“Funny, it’s almost as if you don’t think Avery