Page 21 of A Quarterback for Christmas

Even in her pretzel-like state, I could see every inch of her body because her legs were spread wide open.

Smooth, perfect, and glistening away.

Bella naked is perfection, better than I ever imagined – not that I imagine it too often these days. I’d rather eat razor blades than constantly taunt myself with images of a girl I know I can’t have.

I cringe just thinking about that moment. It was stupid of me to open the door without announcing my presence first. I was trying to be a gentleman, waiting close by, just in case she needed my help. I didn’t think I’d be called upon.

But when I heard a loud thud, my instincts took over, and I didn’t think about the consequences of opening that door. The only thought running through my mind was, what if she’d fallen over and knocked herself unconscious, only to drown in my bathtub?

So I opened the door and froze at the sight.

The whole scene was a mess. Water was spraying everywhere, shower curtain rings were scattered on the floor, and she was wrapped up in the shower curtain like it was a prom dress she got fromWish.

She was wrecked but beautiful, and her body looked incredible. And I wanted it badly. That’s why I had to throw a towel at her. I needed her covered up, so I’d stop looking.

When she came hobbling out, looking bashful and innocent, and wanting to talk about what I saw, I knew I needed to get out of there. Honestly, did she want me to write an essay on how awesome I thought her body was or something? How I’d almost memorized each freckle location because I have a photographic memory?

I couldn’t stay there with her looking at me so expectantly, so I walked straight out of the house with a few sarcastic barbs to make her think I was unaffected by her. I blow out a humorless breath because now I’m here, hoping the frigid air will get rid of the memory of her clouding my brain…and my boner.

Pulling my hat out of my pocket, I shove it on, listening to the whistle of the wind. It’s stronger than yesterday, creating a breeze so cold my lips and nose are already going numb. This might have been a mistake, but going back in now will raise more questions that I’m unwilling to answer.

Flashbacks of Bella haunt my mind. Her beautiful, naked body is driving me to the brink of insanity, and I’m helpless to stop it. I shouldn’t know what Bella Summers looks like naked.She’s not mine to touch. She’ll never be mine, but now that I know, will I ever be able to forget?

My feet sink into the snow with each step to the car. I don’t want to drive in this or walk for that matter, but what choice do I have?

Damn, it’s cold, and there’s a great game on.

Nothing would be better than sitting in my living room, watching said game with a beer in my hand, but that will have to wait. My coach’s smart-mouthed daughter is too busy languishing on my sofa and poisoning my thoughts for that to happen. Besides, she’ll want to talk about the shower incident and the idea of talking about what I saw seems lethal.

So potential death it is.

Chapter 6

Bella

My eyes flick around the living room as I twiddle my thumbs, looking for something to do. Drew’s been gone for so long that I’m starting to feel claustrophobic in this room, since I don’t feel like I have the right to go anywhere else. I’ve watched every episode ofBaseball Wives, losing several brain cells in the process, but hoping that would give us something to talk about since we’re going to be stuck with each other for the foreseeable future.

Or at least I thought we were going to be stuck with each other, but he’s been gone so long, I’m starting to get worried.

The snow is thick and heavy against the glass. It’s only early afternoon, so I have nothing to worry about, and Drew is a big boy. He’ll be fine out there. I have no idea what stores would be crazy enough to be open in this weather, but Drew’s tenacious. He’ll find one. That’s probably why he’s taking so long. He’s probably walking all over Hope, looking for the one open store, so he has an excuse for being out there instead of in here, talking about my cooch.

And yes, after replaying the moment in my head a thousand times and denying it to myself for the first hour of being alone, I can’t fool myself.

Drew saw everything, and his reaction was to leave me for the cold. He’d rather freeze to death than look at me. Talk about humiliation.

I didn’t want to talk about it either, but we needed to talk about it to agree never to talk about it again. We’re stuck together for at least another few days, and I’ll still see him around campus. I don’t want things to get more awkward than they already are.

I take one more look out the window, and there’s still no sign of Drew. So, it’s still just me and the TV. There’s literally nothing else I can do except watchBaseball Wiveson repeat until he gets here, and I’m getting particularly tired of this one chick who’s definitely only trying to get herself a baseball husband, but none of the guys are stupid enough to take her on.

Placing a pillow on the coffee table, I rest my leg on top of it, hoping a different view might give me a new perspective on things. In the move, my cast accidently knocks a controller off the table, smacking my other leg and landing on the floor next to me.

The TV screen goes dark for a second, switching to a cartoon go-karting game. I pick up the controller, pressing a few buttons, hoping it will change back to the reality show, but it doesn’t work.

The screen stays on with an ape bouncing along in a 4x4 that looks a lot like Drew’s G Wagon. A countdown begins, and cars whoosh in front of the ape, but he stays still.

Pursing my lips, I look at the TV and then the controller. I haven’t played on a console in years, but how hard could it be? I might as well play a game or two. It’s got to be better than another episode of fake baseball drama. The guy they’ve got pretending to look for love is so unbelievable; it’s almost comical. Besides, there’s only so much base stealing I can watchin one day, and who knows, maybe playing a few races will take my mind off the cooch talk I need to have with Drew.

Unsurprisingly, I lost the first few races, but I’m getting better by the fifth race. As I drive over a bridge, a mushroom man drives beside me, and he tries to veer me off the road by pushing me to the side, but I don’t let him. I use my giant wheels to make him lose balance and fall off the other side into the ditch.

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