Page 3 of Stalked By the Linebacker

“So, what can I get you?”

“Listen, do you know if Libby is working tonight?” I asked and watched Greg’s brows bunch together.

“Libby?” he repeated, obviously a little confused.

“Yeah, umm—" A soft gasp and movement behind him caught my eye, and everything inside of me seized.

Frozen in place, I stared.

Never in my life, not even when I was seven and the first time hit the field against a huge kid two years older and double my size, did the world just stop like it did in that moment.

“Hector?” Her soft voice was familiar yet new to my ears.

“Lib?” My voice sounded hoarse in my ears.

“Wait, who are Hector and Libby?” I heard Greg ask, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the stunning angel standing in front of me.

She stepped to Greg’s side, the surprise in her hazel eyes evident. “Libby? “I repeated, and when her lips twitched, something stirred inside of me.

Something I wasn’t used to feeling.

Something possessive uncoiled inside of me as it came to life. Almost like a whole other being. One that was filled with nothing but darkness and obsession, slowly taking charge of every corner inside of me. She blinked and ran her fingers through her hair.Has it always been that color?I wondered to myself. Almost white-blonde hair that looked long and thick.

But I couldn’t tell since it was tossed up in a messy bun with strands popping out this way and that. The ends of her hair touched her face gently, and I found myself aching to reach out and touch her.

To see if everything about her was as soft as she seemed.

Hell, to make sure she was fucking real and not some weird illusion. My body had never reacted to a woman this way.She’s not a woman. She’s a girl.My head and heart battled against one another. But she wasn’t that little gawky kid I remembered anymore. She was older than my sister, and if I remembered correctly, she was nineteen now. Younger than me, sure, but nothing crazy or nefarious, I decided.

Holy shit! When the hell did my sister’s best friend turn into a bombshell?My hands itched to feel just how soft her tresses were, so much I shoved my hands into my front pockets.

“Libby?” I repeated, completely dumbfounded. Jesus, she looked so different than I remembered.Really different.

“Yeah.” She smiled shyly. Her gaze met mine behind the bulky glasses perched on the top of her nose. She righted them, pushing the frames back, and glanced nervously over her shoulder at Greg. “Do you mind if I take my ten?” she asked softly, her voice soft with a whisper of raspiness.

I caught Greg’s confusion wash away, and then I saw it. The poor bastard simply nodded, a softness in his gaze as he looked at her I didn’t like. It was obvious the asshole liked her. And for some godforsaken reason, I didn’t like it.Mine,a voice hissed inside my head. I scowled.Mine? What was that about?

“Go for it, honey.”Honey? Who does he think he is?

“Thanks.” She smiled politely and turned her attention toward me. “Would you like to talk outside?” she asked, and I nodded, silently following her to the empty patio area. She sat down, and I sat across from her. “How are you?” she asked, and I opened then shut my mouth.

Not only couldn’t I get over how fucking beautiful she was and how much she’d changed but how everything inside me was reacting to her.

“Hector?”

“Crank,” I corrected with a kneejerk reaction.

“Oh! Umm, that’s right. That’s what everyone calls you now, right?” Her cheeks tinged the prettiest shade of pink. “Not that I’ve asked around about you. I’ve just heard people talk about the great new linebacker,” she rambled and probably didn’t notice I was suddenly the one blushing.

“I don’t know about all that.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened with what looked like amusement, and my cock started to get hard. Or harder. Fuck, what was it about this girl?

“That’s not what I heard.”

“Oh? What did you hear?” I leaned closer. A smile pulled at my lips.

“That you’re turning down offers to play for the NFL because you changed your major to pre-med.”

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