I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her deeply as Jasper continued to cook food behind us. Leo bonded with her brothers, cracking lewd jokes and bragging about his sexual escapades. Our parents laughed over memories and talked about future ventures for their companies, and I held my world in my arms.
The mother of my child and my unborn daughter.
Nothing could get better than this.
“I love you, Ava,” I said into her lips.
“I love you, too, Travis.”
Hard Catch
A Sports Romance
Sophie Madison
ONE
Brooke
As I walked back to my apartment on the edge of campus, I considered how my first two years had gone. Buffalo State University. My dream school.
Things were good, I was good. Good grades, nice apartment. I was lucky. Just two more years and I could be whatever I wanted to be. Whoever I wanted to be.
With a half-mile or so to go until I got home, I heard a group of drunk frat boys behind me. Why did I take the shortcut through the darkest part of campus? I scolded myself.
I picked up the pace. I could pr
obably outrun them if I had to. Jackasses, I hated that I even need to consider it.
“Hey, baby. Wanna party?”
I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm as I walked even faster.
“Where you going, babe? We won’t take very long.”
Laughter filled the air behind me. Why didn’t I call Jocelyn to come pick me up? I’d stayed late in the lab working on assignments before, but I had always made sure she came to get me.
“You better fucking stop, bitch.”
The tone of the taunting voice had changed. My heart beat faster as I clutched the straps of my backpack, wondering if I should stop or keep going. I glanced down the dark, deserted path ahead and saw nothing.
“You hear me, bitch?”
They sounded close. Too close. I gripped my phone. Dial 911, I told myself.
“Get her!” someone yelled.
A hand grabbed my shoulder and squeezed. I stopped and spun around, phone in my hands.
“I’m recording this,” I said, holding up the device.
“Fuck you and your phone,” the man said then slapped it out of my hand.
It skidded across the bricks of the walkway.
“What the hell?
I took a step toward the phone. When I bent over to pick it up, the group of five guys whistled and made crude comments about my ass.