How could I be so daft?
Chapter Fifteen
INDIE
I put my car in park and hop out. Knowing I’m running a minute late, I jog down to the side entrance of the stadium where Lincoln’s leaning against the wall, phone in front of him. When he spots me, a gorgeous smile falls across his lips.
“Hey, Mayhem. You’re late.”
“A minute. I was wearing spandex that kept falling down and didn’t feel like mooning you, so I changed.”
“I would have been okay with the mooning.”
“Of course you would have,” I say pushing at him, only for his arms to capture me against his chest.
I thought about this moment all weekend: the next time I saw him, what he would do. Would he go back to the friendship zone, would he kiss me on the side of the head, or would he kiss me on the lips?
Now that I’m in his arms, staring up at him, my mind flashes to the swing on his back porch, his lips on mine, the way he felt so strong and confident beneath me, as if he’s the foundation I’m building a new and exciting life on.
The kiss was sweet at first as flashes of light sparked behind my eyes. I was enamored with how slow he took it, but then, when his fingers dug into me, the desperation flowing through his fingertips . . . I was more than enamored. I was addicted.
I like his moms a lot—felt jealous that Lincoln has such amazing parents—but when they caught us, essentially pulling Lincoln’s lips away from mine, I wanted to die a slow, tragic death.
And then all weekend, all I could think about was having his lips on me again.
“What?” I ask, resting my chin on his chest.
“Did you miss me this weekend?”
“Not even a little,” I answer, lying through my teeth. “I was glad to have the reprieve actually. You know, since you tried to suck my soul out of me with that kiss.”
His head falls back as he laughs. “You were the one who started to dry-hump me.”
“Pah-lease. I was just trying to get comfortable.”
“Oh, okay, keep saying that to yourself,” he says, tilting my chin up and placing the softest, lightest kiss on my lips. When he pulls away, his smile is just as wide as mine. “Time to work out, Mayhem.”
“Hope you’re ready,” I say, pulling away. He snatches my hand in his and walks me through the stadium to the weight room where we set up. I add a few different drills, turn on the music, strip down to my sports bra and spandex, and clap my hands. “Warm up, Castle.”
His eyes travel down my body and then back up; his tongue wets his lips.
Why do I feel like we broke a seal with that kiss and things just got a lot more interesting?
“Why are you always staring?” I ask from across the showers.
“Not staring, just making sure you wash everything. That’s being a good friend.”
“I’m aware of how to wash my body.”
He shakes his head. “No, you’re doing it all wrong. Let me come over there and show you.”
I point at him, soap falling in foamy suds down to the tiles. “You stay right where you are, Castle. Don’t you even think about coming over here.”
“Your loss. Be stinky. Not my problem.”
“You’re fun to be around today,” I say sarcastically as I rinse my hair, preparing for conditioner. I come prepared now. I still use their body soap, but I bring my own shampoo and conditioner so my hair doesn’t take ages to comb out after.
“Thanks, babe.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Too bad.” He chuckles, and the delicious sound vibrates off the tiles. “I took it as one.” His shower flips off and I see him grab for his towel. “Sure you don’t need any help? I have two spare hands now.” He’s drying his body, and it has to be one of the most erotic things I’ve ever seen, especially when his hair is spiked in all different directions after drying it.
“Not happening, Castle. Now go change. You owe me breakfast.”
“Since when?”
“Since I’m getting you to ninety-five.” I rinse the conditioner out now and hear him mumble something under his breath before he walks away.
I finish up in the shower, dry off, and head to one of the bathroom stalls where I change into a clean pair of underwear and matching black bra. I flip my head upside down, put the towel around my hair and clinch it in a turban.
Not caring that Lincoln sees me in my bra and underwear, I gather my things and head into the locker room.
And. Run. Straight. Into. Coach. Disik.
Oh fuck!
“Jesus Christ,” he says, slapping his hands over his face. “Castle!”
My throat immediately closes up, and humiliation washes over me. Oh dear Christ, Lincoln’s coach saw me in my underwear.
In black matching underwear.
A thong! He saw me in a thong.
Lincoln runs over and his face falls flat when he sees me standing in front of his coach holding my clothes to my chest, a horrified expression on my face.
“Oh shit. Uh . . . sorry, Coach.”
“Get her out of here.”
“Yeah, sorry, Coach.” He’s stumbling over his words. “We weren’t doing anything, in case you were wondering. We didn’t have sex or anything.” Oh God, stop talking, Lincoln. “We showered together, but in separate stalls. I haven’t seen her naked. We kissed once, and my moms caught us, but that’s it. Nothing you need to worry about. No semen in the locker room. I know how you hate that.”
“Shut the fuck up, Castle, and get her out of here before anyone else sees her.”
Coach Disik steps aside and of course, Lincoln can’t manage to shut up. “She’s been helping me with my leg strength. It’s all business in the weight room. I might stare at her butt when she squats, but it’s all business.”
“Lincoln,” I mumble.
“I don’t care what you stare at. Just don’t let me see her again.”
“Okay, sure, yeah. Just so you know, we’re here every Monday, so try to avoid this time.”
Piping up, because I see a beady vein in Coach Disik’s forehead popping, I say, “I won’t be in here again, Coach. I’m sorry.”
He waves his hand at me and peeks though his fingers for a second. “I thought that was you, Mayhem.” He clenches his teeth and turns away, lowering his hand but with his back to me. “If you can get this kid to ninety-five, I don’t care if you use the bathroom in my office.” He starts to walk away and then says, “Nice goal to win the conference by the way.” Then he takes off, leaving Lincoln and me alone. Once the door shuts, I melt to the floor and cover my mouth as a laugh escapes me.
“Oh my God, I think I might have just died from humiliation. Coach Disik saw me in my bra and underwear.”
“Pretty sure he’s more humiliated.” Lincoln pulls me to my feet and rests his hands on my hips. “Be happy it was Disik and not one of my teammates, because they’d never let us live it down. Disik, on the other hand, he’ll forget all about this and then randomly on a Tuesday ask how my trainings are going with you. Guarantee it.”