“They’re waiting to see if the rumor is true.”
“Oh yeah?” Her smile grew. “And what rumor would that be?”
“That QB One is officially off the market.” I inched closer to her.
“And is he?” She matched my step.
“I think it’s pretty safe to say, he’s taken.”
“Damn, just when I’d finally plucked up the courage to tell him how I feel. Ah well, I guess I’ll have to wait until whoever it is dumps his sorry ass.”
“Did I ever tell you, you’re so fucking weird?” I lowered my head to hers.
“Did I ever tell you, I have a serious thing for football players?”
“Players, plural? Because I know a couple of the guys who would love to hook—”
She swatted my chest. Before she could move her hands, I captured her wrists, keeping them pressed there.
“Something you want to tell me, Giles?”
“You first, Ford, I have a reputation to protect.” She winked and I let out a hearty chuckle. This girl...
This fucking girl.
Leaning in, I brushed my lips over her ear and whispered, “I am so fucking gone for you.”
Felicity eased back to look right in my eyes. “Is that your way of telling me you love me?”
Swallowing thickly, I nodded, aware this wasn’t exactly how I planned to tell her.
“Good job, because I am completely and utterly gone for you too.”
I didn’t care we had an audience. I didn’t care people had their cell phones out recording the moment QB One publicly handed over his balls to a girl.
I didn’t care one bit as I pressed Felicity against the lockers and kissed the ever loving shit out of her. People would just have to get used to it because she was mine, and I was hers, and I intended on reminding her of that every second of every day.
“Ford, my office, now!”
All eyes went to me as I stood up and padded across the locker room. A couple of guys clapped me on the back, silently offering their support. But this was my burden to bear, and mine alone. Until I stepped inside his office to find I wasn’t alone.
“Coach,” I said coolly, waiting for the shit to hit the fan, sliding my eyes to the silent figure already seated in front of his desk.
“Sit,” he barked, and I took the other empty chair. “I don’t think I even need to ask my next question to know the answer. You’re a mess, Son. A real damn mess.”
I shifted uncomfortably on the plastic chair, trying to find a position that didn’t make my lungs feel like they were on fire.
“As soon as we’re done here, you head straight to medical. You hear me? If you’ve broken anything so help me God...”
I nodded, knowing this was one of those times Coach wouldn’t appreciate a smart assed reply.
He tore off his ball cap and rubbed his head with sheer frustration. “Four more games, that’s all I asked for. And you couldn’t just listen. You know I’ll have to go to Principal Finnigan with this, right? If he hasn’t already found out since it seems to be the only thing on kids’ lips this morning.”
“Sorry, Sir.” It sounded so lame in comparison to what was at stake, but it was all I had.
“So you’re confirming his story?” he looked to Asher who rubbed the back of his neck.
“I, uh...”