Page 26 of Stalked By the Linebacker

“When isn’t it, man?” I finished my water bottle when I my eye caught one of my teammates start to make his way over.

By the way he was staring at my princess, I knew exactly what he had in mind. Tuck Pearson was a pain in the ass.

Rich kid born with silver spoon and was never told he couldn’t have something. He was lazy, but money talked when your parents swung it around this way and that. Guys like him were a big reason I didn’t join a frat when I started at U of D. The guy was an entitled prick.

I watched as he walked up to the girls, but they ignored him, too invested in whatever they were talking about.

“Fucking Tuck,” Dyl mumbled under his breath, but I grabbed his arm, knowing Dylan was a big guy with a temper and they’d had their issues in the past.

“Chill,” I muttered but still moved, making my way through the people who stood between me and my girl. My steps quickened when I watched the stupid motherfucker take a knee in front of her. I wasn’t within reaching distance, but I sure as fuck could hear what he was saying.

“Hey, princess, I’ve never seen you at one of our parties before,” he drawled out slowly.

“Oh, umm…” She glanced over at Mattie, who was already rolling her eyes.

“Her name isn’t princess,” the girl defended. “And this is an and b conversation, so why don’t you see your way out of it, jock,” Mattie continued, all the while my girl looked like she wanted to step in.

“Aw, come on, Pattie,” Tuck scoffed. “Jealous?”

“You wish! And my name isn’t Pattie. It’s Mattie.”

“Look, why don’t you mind your own business, Fattie Mattie?” he hissed. I had heard enough. I took the last couple of steps that separated us, but Dylan beat me to it. Before I knew it, not only was my cornerback at my side, he was picking up Tuck, who was about his size, by the front of his shirt.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Dylan growled, shoving his face in front of the douchebag.

“Relax, Dyl! Jesus. What’s your problem? She’s just some fat chick with––“ I winced before Dylan’s fist hit Tuck’s face because I knew the sound of it was going to hurt Dylan’s hand almost as much at Tuck’s face.

“Fuck! What the hell, man?!” Tuck exclaimed, holding his face. He glared at Dylan. We didn’t have to worry about Tuck going after Dyl because a couple of the guys on the team were already surrounding them. Standing at their sides, ready to pull them apart in case this thing turned into a brawl.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that.” He poked Tuck’s chest with his finger. “Don’t even fucking look at her.”

Whatever was going on with Mattie and Dylan had to be serious.

Suddenly, Mattie was no longer sitting next to Libby but by Dyl. She touched his arm, and it was like all the fight and steam in the guy faded away.

“You hit him.”

“I did.” It was just like Dylan to take the blame. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you but—" Mattie’s hand took his, and she lifted it up between them.

“We should get this cleaned up,” she said softly. Mattie looked toward Libby, who I was standing next to by now, and shrugged. “Sorry. We’ll talk later?”

“Sure.” Libby nodded as she leaned into me. Her scent filled my lungs by the second. My girl had been tipsy, but it was obvious the fight had started to sober her up.

“Text me you got home okay,” Mattie urged, and Libby nodded. We stood next to each other while we watched Mattie and Dylan walk off toward the back of the house. Her hand was in mine. I looked down, and she was already staring up at me.

“You okay?” I asked. What the hell had I been thinking bringing her to a damn frat party? Shit like this always went down!

“You were going to come after him,” she pointed out, and I wasn’t going to lie

“I was. He was too close and wasn’t backin’ off, not getting the point you didn’t want to talk to him.” She smiled gently before she pressed her pilIowy lips together. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I was dying for another taste so badly I could almost taste it.

“Would it be okay if we headed back?”

“Of course.” I nodded, and with her hand in mine, I led the way out. The moment we stepped out of the frat house, I felt like I could actually breathe. I had no idea how I’d made it out of there without kicking anyone’s ass.

“So, your friend and Mattie?”

“I honestly don’t know what’s going on there.” A cool breeze flowed between us. It felt good after the warm house overfilled with too many bodies. We walked in silence until she stopped, and I turned mid-step.

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