Page 55 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“How did you get here?” Not that I care.

“I drove. It took me nearly two days with the snow.”

My brows crease. “Then why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

He sighed. “I did. I guess you didn’t bother to check your phone in the last twenty-four hours.” My gaze drifts to the couch, my makeshift bed for the last week, knowing that my phone is probably shoved somewhere in its cushions and that I still wouldn’t want to check it. Not having that phone around forced me to talk to Drew. “Luckily, I always know Drew will answer when I call.”

That flicker of annoyance burns hotter in my stomach because he can’t be serious, can he?

Of course, Drew would be there. Always answering his call like the faithful side kick he’d become.

An insidious thought comes to mind. Was Drew planning on letting my dad find me naked in his room? Was this his revenge for all those comments I made before?

No. That’s not Drew. It can’t be. All those things he said… He didn’t know. I felt his gaze on me, burning hottest where he whacked me with a football all those years ago, and I didn’t know what to feel.

“Glad to see he was a gentleman and slept out here.” My dad gestured to the makeshift bed.

“Yeah,” I say quietly. Those sheets weren’t crumpled because of Drew sleeping there. We’d screwed on that sofa at least three times.

No one speaks. What else is there to say? My dad claps his hands together and looks between the two of us.

“Now that I’m here, do you want to thank Drew and pack your bags?”

“My b-bags?”

Dad clears his throat. “Yes. I’m back for the semester, so you’ll come and stay at my house until that cast is off your foot.”

“The semester?” I ask confused. Before leaving London, he promised I’d have my own space. I wouldn’t have to live with him, and I wouldn’t get special treatment because I’m the coach’s daughter.

“Where else are you going to stay until you heal?”

“My dorm?”

“You can’t get up the stairs.”

The same reason I was here in the first place.

“Makes sense,” I drawl out, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice because I should be happy I can spend the holidays with a family member, but I’m not. I was happy here.

“But what about Drew?” I can’t look at him. The boy that spent most of his Christmases alone was about to suffer that fate again because of me. I really was a fuck up, wasn’t I?

My dad draws his attention to Drew, and then looks at me.

“What about him?”

“Well, he’ll be here all alone.”

“Actually.” Drew cleared his throat and I finally dare to look at him. His jaw is a little ticked, but besides that, there’s no visible emotion across his face. No sadness that I’m leaving. No glee that I nearly got caught sleeping with him. Nothing. He walks over to my crutches perched on the sofa and brings them to me like the gentleman he is.

“My roommate, Jacob, has decided to come back. He’ll be here tomorrow.” I try to keep it cool as he hands me the crutches, but I’m sure my face gives it away. “He had an incident with his ex, and he wants to get away from it all.”

“Well, that’s just fantastic news.” My sarcasm is lost on both of them. “I guess I’ll just go and get my bag ready.”

Without another word, I walk down the hallway, and head to Drew’s room. When I get in there, I quickly shut the door and lean against the wood.

Drew’s scent doesn’t calm me for long.

It’s over. My dad’s here. The realization that Drew and I can’t do this again settles in my bones because how could I ever date someone that my dad likes so much more than me?

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