Page 74 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“So, is this all about sex for you? Finally found someone better than Jimmy Johnson?” I put the question out there because I need to know before I get in too deep. Who am I kidding? I might as well be swimming in the Pacific Ocean when it comes to my feelings for her. I’ve been swimming too deep for too long, and now my only option is to drown.

“What? No. Of course not.”

“Then what is this? You came here because you missed me, let me fuck you like you liked it, but you won’t acknowledge me publicly. You make no sense.” I push her because it feels like no one has ever questioned her before. I know for a fact she hasn’t had any long-term boyfriends, which hasn’t been helped by following her dad around like a puppy, but it doesn’t seem to be something she’s interested in either.

“It’s hard to acknowledge you when you have Brianna hanging off you all the time.”

I tilt my head with a smile. Always so jealous of a girl that holds nothing when compared to her. “Bella, do you like me?”

She cringes, swatting me in the chest. “What are we, sixteen? Do you like me?” She mocks me, using a deep, dumb voice. “Get over yourself.”

I scratch my chin and smile. “I’m just reading the situation, and all I know is that, apparently, you don’t hate me as much as I always thought you did, and you can’t seem to keep your hands to yourself when I’m around.”

“I already told you I haven’t hated you for a long time,” she replies meekly.

“Well, that’s good to know if we’re going to start dating.”

“Dating?” She whips her head up, confused.

“That usually comes before the sex, but since we’ve known each other for nearly ten years, I guess it’s okay that we switched it around,” I simply say because when it comes to topics of the heart with Bella, it’s better to be simple and direct. Anything more gives her too much to think about, and I want her raw, unfiltered response to the idea of dating me.

“You. Want. To. Date. Me?” See. Short, simple sentences because her brain is frying over this small question.

“Exclusively.”

“But why?”

I sigh and look at the door. I can hear the rumblings of my roommates, which means Bella will probably run scared like a cat again, so I need to get my point across quickly.

“Because I’m coming to the sad reality that my dick doesn’t want anyone else but you.” It’s an understatement and a fact I’ve known for a long time. It’s only been solidified by all this touching. She’s more to me, but I can’t admit too much because it will scare her away. Baby steps.

She swallows, and I let her digest my proposal. “But what will everyone think?”

I shrug. “What about them?” Their opinion is the last thing on my mind. “Doubt anyone will care.” I don’t have the heart totell her that my teammates have already raised questions after I not so subtly followed her into her father’s basement and came back looking like someone had just trampled on my heart. She didn’t help those rumors when she fell over the equipment while looking at me yesterday, either.

“We can keep it between us to start if you’d prefer? Gives me some time to think about how I will break the news to your dad, too.”

Her face pales, and she scrubs her hand across her face. I probably should have left out her dad, but it’s a reality we’ll have to face since I’m not willing to give her up any time soon.

“Oh, uh, yeah. I forgot about that.”

She looks down, and I cup her cheeks, bringing her attention to me. “Don’t worry, B. I got this. I got you. I always have.”

I can feel her hands shaking when she places her palms over mine, and I so desperately want to be the person to calm her. Even though I’ve watched Bella and Coach’s relationship over the last decade, I still can’t figure out what’s going on with them. All I know is that she’s always had a stick in her ass over how much attention she gives football. I want to know more. I want to be there for her, but I know she’s got to trust me first.

“Are you sure?” Her eyebrows lift.

“About?”

“D-dating me?” The crack in her voice comes as a surprise. Can she really not see it?

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to make it official with you.”

Bella draws her lips into her mouth, and then rub my thumb across her cheek, wishing I could crack open her head and know all her thoughts. For a girl who had so much to say, she was being awfully quiet right now.

“If you don’t want to date me, I’d rather know now,” I say, trying to hold back showing any annoyance.

Her fingers move across the back of my hand. “No. It’s not that. It’s… It’s…” She closes her eyes and grumbles something incoherent. “It’s just I don’t get why you’d want to risk your relationship with my father and future football career for someone like me.”

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