Page 98 of Every Beat of My Heart

But tonight didn’t seem like the right time to tackle all those issues. Instead, I closed my eyes and reveled in the feel of his body moving over mine.

This time when we went over, we did it together. Jameson pressed a kiss to my lips before pulling out.

He went to the bathroom and returned with a washcloth, cleaning me before tossing it aside. Then he gathered me to him. His skin was warm and his touch comforting.

He kissed my temple. “I’ll sneak out before morning.”

“Do you think we should talk to Owen about us? So we wouldn’t have to sneak around or pretend you didn’t sleep in my bed.”

“Not until after the season. Brian is already pissed. I don’t want him getting a hold of this.”

I wanted to ask how long we were going to let a kid’s parent run our lives, but I understood it was his first coaching job, and he wanted to prove myself.

Then he fell silent, and I was so tired from the stress of the game and sitting outside that I fell asleep.

CHAPTER 21

JAMESON

I had trouble sleeping all weekend. I should have been flying high after that win, but I was worried about Brian going to the athletic director like he’d threatened. I tried not to show him how his threat affected me, but it had. I didn’t tell Claire because I didn’t want it to mar our time together.

I hated sneaking out of Claire’s place, but we hadn’t talked to Owen about spending nights together yet. I wasn’t sure that was a good idea until we could be more open about our relationship, and I had no idea when that would be. We had playoffs to get through yet.

I wasn’t sure what would come from Brian complaining that his son was pulled from a game after three interceptions when we went on to win with the backup quarterback who frankly looked better.

It didn’t mean that Owen was our starter going forward. But Bryce’s position was in jeopardy. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with a little competition. But Brian wanted his son to be the king on the field.

I don’t think he realized that Bryce was starting to get flack from the other kids on the team because of his dad’s actions. When he was at practice, he still yelled at Bryce after every play. Then he made a point to talk to me after each one, telling me all the things I should be doing.

I just nodded, then said I needed to be somewhere. It killed me not to say anything when I wanted to ask him if he thought he was helping his son. Because he wasn’t.

Bryce’s well-being wasn’t even a consideration for him. I wanted to think the best of people though, and I didn’t want the fear to keep eating at me.

I was able to set it aside the night I spent with Claire, but I wasn’t sure what would happen if Brian went to the athletic director. Would I lose my job because of one disgruntled parent?

It seemed ridiculous, but I couldn’t shake the anxiety. I kept busy with the farm all weekend. On Monday morning, I’d signed up to substitute, filling in for a sick teacher.

Claire stopped in my doorway before homeroom. “I didn’t realize you were working today.”

The kids were starting to come in, so I stood and made my way to her. “I wanted to keep busy.” I couldn’t explain why because I hadn’t told her about Brian yet, and it wasn’t the time or place.

Claire looked like she was about to say something else, then remembered we weren’t supposed to be friends. “Congrats on the game.” Then her amused gaze flicked over the kids arriving. “And good luck today.”

I chuckled like she was any other teacher, and not the one I’d been intimate with on Saturday night. “I’m going to need it.”

Then I resumed my seat, observing the sixth graders as they came in. This was an honors-level class, and most of the kids were well behaved, but there were a few that liked to push the envelope.

Thankfully, no one felt the need to do that today because I was on edge. I hated that Brian got to me, that his threats caused me any stress.

After lunch, I checked the list of things we were supposed to go over for the social studies class. I reviewed the basics of the five battles they were studying for Ancient Greece when I heard a few comments like “Have you seen this?” and “Hey, let me see.”

When I looked up, a few kids hovered around Lexie’s desk, peering over her shoulder at her phone.

“Please put your phones away. We won’t need them today.” But no one listened.

One of the kids forehead wrinkled. “Is that Mr. Calloway?”

Why would the kids have a picture or video of me? Maybe it was from Friday night’s game. But why would they be so interested in a football game? I stood and went to see what they were looking at.

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