It was surreal, seeing her here, in my school, my stadium, with my school’s emblem stretched across her chest.
But it was hers now, too.
Sour disposition settled like an anchor in my gut. It felt like a betrayal, how she could tell me all through us being long distance how much she loved me, how much she couldn’t wait to be here with me, only to finally make it happen and then dump me like a bucket of dirty water.
Idly, I wondered if it was her father’s doing.
Cory Vail was a man I couldn’t help but respect. Not only had he stepped up and stepped in to help me and my mom when my dad left, but he was also one of the top lawyers in the state. He’d built everything on his own, and through that, he’d garnered a taste for the finest things.
He wanted the best — best cars, best wine, best seat at every show or game he attended.
And best prospect for his one and only daughter.
I always thought that was me.
Maybe it was, at one time. Maybe he saw my future and had faith in me going pro, in setting up his daughter with a future he found suitable. Or maybe he was just biding time, letting our young love run its course before he planted seeds in her head that she could do better.
Or maybe he had nothing to do with any of this at all.
Regardless, I knew my anxiety would never let it go. I’d toss and turn every night wondering why she so suddenly broke up with me.
But today, I needed my focus elsewhere.
It was an effort to peel my gaze from hers, and I schooled a breath, checking my watch.
Right on time, Giana walked in.
Her hair was completely dry now, those curls full of life and bouncing as she blew in through the door. She smoothed her hands over her skirt, righting her glasses as she scanned the room. When her eyes found mine, I saw the worry there, saw how her little hands curled into fists where she held her skirt, bunching the plaid fabric in their grips.
She was such a fascinating enigma to me, somehow shy and brave all at once. One moment she’d be having an anxious meltdown, and the next, she was all chin up, chest puffed, brow bent in determination like nothing could sway her.
I watched as it happened, as she sucked in a long breath, squaring her shoulders and setting her jaw. I wondered if she was giving herself a mental pep talk, but didn’t have time to debate it.
She tilted her head, just a bit, asking without words if this was it, if this was the time.
I nodded.
And then she took off in a sprint.
It was quite possibly the cutest thing I’d ever seen in my life, how her hair and skirt bounced along in sync with every step on her way to me. I watched as heads popped up table after table, my teammates and the cheerleaders and training staff alike watching as she barreled toward me.
Leo turned when he heard the slapping of her flats against the tile. “What the—”
But before he could finish that question, Giana launched herself into my arms.
I caught her in a whoosh of air and hair and a sweet scent that washed over me like a baptism, ocean breeze and sunflowers. Her arms wrapped around my neck, mine wound around her hips, and I felt the lace of her stockings as she crossed her ankles where they hooked behind me, the smooth skin of her inner thigh brushing against my waist.
She’d run at me with pure excitement and confidence, but the moment she was in my arms, her smile faded, breaths quick and shallow.
Her wide eyes locked on mine, fell to my lips, and then slowly crawled their way back up.
I squeezed where I held her hips, focusing on everything we’d rehearsed and not on the fact that she had her legs wrapped around me in a skirt — which meant other than a scrap of panties, there was nothing between us.
“You made it,” she breathed, her lips staying parted once the words left them.
When we’d practiced in her office a few days ago, we’d agreed she was supposed to say that louder, with glee and excitement. You made it! You’re on the team! But now, she swallowed, strengthening her grip around my neck as I wrapped my arms full around her and closed every centimeter of space between us.
“Was there even a doubt that I wouldn’t?”
I balanced her in one arm, freeing the opposite hand to trace the blush that crept along her cheeks. Then, I tilted her chin with my knuckles, watching those wide eyes of hers flutter shut.
And I kissed her.
I don’t know what I expected when this harebrained idea first came to me in that coffee shop bar across campus, but whatever it was ceased to exist the moment my lips found hers.
I was surprised by the soft firmness she met me with, tentative, but seeking. She froze at first contact, an inhale trapped in her chest, but then she slowly exhaled, pulled me into her, and deepened the kiss like we’d shared a hundred before it.
A peck was all I’d expected. Even though she agreed when I said we’d need more to be convincing, I had a feeling once this moment came, she’d allow only a quick brush of my lips against hers. Then, I’d smile and drop her to her feet, tucking her under my arm and pretending like everything was normal while everyone around us freaked out. That’s what I’d imagined.
I had not prepared for Giana to roll her hips, arching into me and breathing in another long kiss with a shockingly seductive moan before I had the chance to break contact. That little motion, how her ass poked out and I felt the heat of her against my lower abdomen made my cock twitch, and I groaned, squeezing her hip before I reluctantly pulled away.
I knew every pair of eyes in that cafeteria was on us, so I couldn’t say a word. I simply arched a brow to let her know that was quite a surprise of a kiss, but she only flushed deeper, tucking her chin and making her curls waterfall over her face as I gently set her feet back on the ground.
Just like I’d planned, I tossed my arm around her, kissing her hair before I put my hand at the small of her back and guided her to take the spot in front of me in line.
“You breathing?” I whispered.
“Barely.”
I smiled, taking the serving spoon out of her hand when we passed the mixed vegetables. “You seemed a little frazzled when you blew in here.”
“It’s been crazy all morning,” she said on a heavy sigh, reaching out for a blueberry cake donut, but then pausing and moving on.
I plucked one as I passed and put it on her tray when she wasn’t looking.
“How was it out there for you?” She nodded at a cut I had haphazardly cleaned on my forearm. “Looks like it was rough.”
“It wasn’t an easy one, but at least we weren’t in pads,” I said. “I’ll take that any day.”
We both kept our focus on filling our trays, Giana telling me about all the media lined up for tonight while I smiled and nodded and listened.
But when we had our trays full and turned to find a table, we were both frozen by the stares.
Giana swallowed, glancing up at me, and I just nodded toward the table where Holden, Zeke, and Riley were. She followed tentatively behind me, and while I ignored everyone staring, I saw her scanning the room out of my peripheral.
I took a seat next to Leo, but Giana was still standing, her little fingers clamped around the red tray in her hands.
“Actually, I think I’m going to take my lunch in the office,” she said, forcing a smile that I knew was covering the fact that she was absolutely freaking out at how many people were still watching us. “The buzz of Chart Day doesn’t stop. See you on the media line?”