I hope she’s right. I don’t think my heart could take losing him.
17
Theodore
Reid tosses the football into the air and catches it. He’s been sitting in my office for the last twenty minutes. The locker room has cleared out. It was our last practice. Tomorrow we head out for the National Championship game.
“Zoey busy?” I ask him, looking up from my playbook. With all the time I’ve been spending with Willow, Reid and I have become friends. Except when we’re with the rest of the team.
“She and Willow are hanging.” My eyes flick to the clock. Willow and I have been together almost four months now. It was damn nice having her to myself over winter break. Reid and Zoey went back home to their families. I’d talked Willow into staying with me and going to my parents’ place for Christmas.
Mom started wearing her down over Thanksgiving. It can be hard to tell my mom no, as Willow has learned. Mom has really tucked her under her wing and pulled her into our family.
I want Willow to have that. She deserves parents that love her, and I know mine are more than willing to step up to the plate. They adore her. How could they not?
“What are they doing?” Reid pulls out his phone.
“Looks like they're at the coffee shop.” I close my play book and start packing up.
“I could use some coffee.” Reid is on his feet before I finish my sentence.
We head out together. When we enter the coffee shop, we spot them at a corner table. The table next to them is full of a group of boys I don’t recognize but that keep looking their way. This is the one thing I hate about Willow and me. Our relationship is still a secret.
People think she’s single. I want to stamp on her forehead that she’s mine. To make us permanent and official before she can change her mind thinking I’m too old for her or some shit.
Reid heads toward them, and I follow after. One of the boys stands and walks over to them, beating us to the table. My hand comes down on his shoulder, making the boy jump.
“Sit your ass down.” I give him a small shove back toward his table. His eyes bounce between Reid and me. He doesn't just go back to his table; he grabs all of his shit and bounces out. His friends follow suit. They’re much smarter than they looked.
“You guys are ridiculous.” Zoey rolls her eyes. Willow smirks at me. I want to lean down and kiss the smirk off her lips. Irritation rides me hard that I’m unable to do so.
“It’s time to go,” I tell her. This time it’s Willow who rolls her eyes at my bossy tone. I bet if I put my hands down her pants right now, her pussy would be wet. She pretends to be annoyed by me ordering her around, but I know the truth. She gets off on it. I get off on getting her off. So it works for both of us.
“Those fuckers can’t see the ring on your finger?” Reid grumbles.
“He was hitting on Willow, not me.” Zoey tries to reassure him. I grit my teeth.
“Let’s go.” I pull Willow's chair out for her.
“People can see,” she says under her breath. “You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend.”
“I’m not a boy. When we get home, I’m going to fuck you like a man takes his woman.”
Her whole face flushes. She stands, gathering her stuff. “I’ll text you when our flight is ready,” she tells Zoey. They are flying out for the National Championship game. I need her there. She’s my good luck charm.
“You’re such a caveman,” she huffs when we get outside.
I take her bag off her shoulder and carry it for her. “You love it.” Her breath hitches, and she steals a peek my way. I dropped the L word on purpose. I’m tired of walking on eggshells trying not to spook her with how obsessed I am with her. Hell, it scares me at times how much I want her.
I’m going to give her until the championship game to keep things hidden. I’m starting to feel like a dirty secret. Is she worried what her parents might think? She says she’s worried about what might happen to me.
There is also the possibility of her being pregnant. I don’t think she’s on birth control. She hasn’t had a period in all this time. Maybe she has one of those inserts that not only prevent pregnancy but can stop her from having her period too? It was something we should have brought up a long time ago, but neither of us have. The caveman in me wants to keep it that way, but I know that’s not fair to her.