On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,91
don’t want to know.”
“We were at the frat house,” I said. “Guys only. But Josie, a little word of advice...”
Fuck what was I saying?
I didn’t care if little Molineux got her heart broken by one of the guys.
Did I?
My eyes flickered to the drunk girl by my side. I was a fucking hypocrite if I lectured Josie and Brad on their relationship, when I was imagining being balls deep in Calli every time I saw her.
“I don’t feel so good,” Calli croaked.
“Come on.” I slid my arms under her legs and hoisted her up against my body.
Josie fought a knowing smile, despite the hurt in her eyes. She knew it was different with us—she knew we had history. Deep down, I also think she knew that I wasn’t like the other guys on the team.
“You good?” I asked her.
“Yeah.” Josie nodded. “Be careful with her.”
Calli was barely awake as we walked the remaining distance to my car.
“Think you can stand?” I whispered against her hair.
“Hmm-mmm.”
Lowering her down, I leaned her against the car while I dug out my keys. Josie climbed into the back and I helped Calli in the front. I couldn’t explain it, but I needed her close.
I went around and got in the driver’s side, taking a second to watch Calli. Her head was pressed against the window, her eyes screwed shut. In fact, her whole face seemed tense as if she was warding off a nightmare... or the urge to puke.
“Sweet pea?”
“Uh... yeah...?” She cracked an eye open at me.
“You going to be okay?”
“I don’t know.” Her sad smile almost gutted me. “It hurts, Zach. Everything hurts.”
I knew she wasn’t talking about her impending hangover.
Gripping the wheel, I stared straight ahead, trying to tamper down the tsunami of emotion I felt every time I looked at her.
She was my Achilles heel. My Kryptonite. Still, after all this time, Calli was my weakness.
I was done denying it.
I just needed to figure out what the fuck I intended on doing about it. Because Brad was right. She was off-limits. The team wouldn’t bend their stupid sister code for anyone. Especially not me, their star point guard. They wanted me to be focused, one hundred and ten percent on the ball. I was their meal ticket, their secret weapon to take them all the way to March Madness... to help them win.
Calli shuffled on the seat, leaning her head to the other side. She was closer now, and I wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch her, to brush the hair from her face and lose myself in her big whiskey eyes.
“Zach,” she croaked.
“Yeah, Calli?”
“Drive fast... I’m trying really hard not to ruin your nice car.”
Quiet laughter spilled from my lips as I gunned the engine and pulled into the flow of traffic.
This girl.
This fucking girl.
I pulled up to Abrams ten minutes later and cut the engine. Calli was out cold, the gentle rise and fall of her chest hypnotic.
“I need my bed,” Josie groaned. “Are you okay dealing with sleeping beauty if I head up to my dorm?”
“Give me a second and we’ll all walk up together.”
She met my narrowed gaze in the rear-view mirror. “I appreciate your concern, Messiah, but I think I’ve got it.”
“Straight to your dorm, Josie. You don’t want to go over there and do something you might regret.”
“I wasn’t—” She stopped herself, guilt shining in her eyes. “Fine.” An indignant huff slipped through her lips as she slid across the seat and shouldered the door. Climbing out, Josie paused at the last second. “Zach?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for not letting me go over there and do something stupid.”
I nodded, too overwhelmed to reply.
I watched Josie as she disappeared into the dorm building and then I got out and went around to the passenger side. I’d have to carry Calli unless by some small miracle she woke up and found her legs.
“Z- Zach?” It was a muted groan.
“Yeah, sweet pea, it’s me.” I managed to pull her from the car and into my arms.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“Ssh. I’ve got you.”
That seemed to settle her, but it only made my heart beat harder.
I cradled her against my chest as I carried her into Abrams. A couple of girls were milling in the hall and gasped when they saw me.
“Is she okay?” one asked.
“Nothing a good night’s sleep and a gallon of water won’t fix.”
They both sighed dreamily as I stalked off toward the elevator. Of course she had to live on the second floor.