Page 106 of The Wrong Quarterback

It was all I could do to try and play it cool and not scream. By the amused glances Parker was giving me, I was not doing a good job of it.

Once Walker came out, we went up to a quieter lounge in the arena, and the four of us hung out for a bit, laughing and trading stories. Olivia filled me in on all the team gossip, and Walker made sure to tease Parker constantly, clearly enjoying my reactions every time he let some embarrassing detail slip.

The moments flew by, and I almost forgot that I hadn’t known the two of them for my entire life.

All too soon, Walker and Olivia had to leave. Olivia gave me a huge hug. “I’m so happy he found his person,” she murmured, winking at me after she’d let me go.

Her words made my heart ache in a weird, unexpected way, and as they left, I had a pang of sadness. I’d only just met them, but somehow it felt like saying goodbye to family.

“Told you they would love you,” Parker murmured as he wrapped me in a hug before we walked out of the arena to the truck.

“I—I loved them too,” I murmured, and his answering grin was almost heart-stopping.

As we drove home, all I kept thinking was how perfectly our pieces seemed to fit and that maybe…soulmates really were real.

CHAPTER 27

PARKER

The second I walked into Professor Hendrick’s history class, I could feel the chill in the air—and it wasn’t just from the air conditioning. She barely looked at me as I took my seat, but the rigid set of her shoulders and the way her eyes flicked coldly in my direction said enough. Something was off. I didn’t have time to dwell on it before she launched into her lecture.

“Ms. Larsen, what’s the significance of the Battle of Actium?” Her voice cut through the classroom, icy like a winter’s wind.

Casey’s head snapped up, eyes wide. She stumbled over a couple of words, clearly blindsided, the professor never did her lectures like that.

“Uh…the…Octavian—um…defeated Mark Antony?”

Professor Hendrick arched a brow. “Barely a complete answer,” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “Try reading the assigned materials next time, Ms. Larsen.”

I clenched my fists under the desk, trying to keep my cool. I didn’t like anyone talking to Casey like that. Hendrick moved on, but her gaze kept drifting back to Casey, tossing her another question every few minutes. Each time, Casey looked more flustered, her face reddening.

“Mr. Davis,” Hendrick finally said, her voice dripping with authority as she looked straight at me. “Do you plan on staring daggers at me the entire class, or do you have something to contribute?”

I leaned back, giving her a calm smile. “Just interested in the lecture, Professor. You’re…keeping it lively today.”

There were a few snickers in the class, and her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she threw another question at Casey, who barely managed an answer before the professor dismissed her with a wave of her hand, as if she were bored.

When class finally ended, Hendrick’s voice rang out over the noise of shuffling papers and closing laptops. “Mr. Davis. A word.”

Casey shot me a worried look as she packed up, but I gave her a nod. “I’ll be fine,” I murmured. She hesitated but walked out, leaving me alone with Hendrick in the now-empty classroom.

“Take a seat,” she said, her tone still frigid. I dropped into the nearest chair, watching her fold her arms, her stare as hard as granite.

“Is there a problem, Professor?” I asked, keeping my tone polite.

She tapped her fingers against her arm, each one landing like a metronome, and then she went right in for the kill. “Rumor has it you’re seeing Ms. Larsen. I think we’ve had enough conversations about why that’s a bad idea…have we not?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Rumor has it? Didn’t know you kept up with campus gossip, Professor,” I responded lightly.

“Careful, Mr. Davis,” she snapped, her voice dropping to a steely whisper. “I’m not here to banter with you. I’m here to warn you.”

“Warn me?” I asked, leaning back, crossing my arms. “About what, exactly?”

She sighed, leaning closer, her gaze piercing. “You think you’re untouchable right now. But you’re sorely mistaken. You think fraternizing with a freshman isn’t going to come back to bite you?”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

Her lips pressed together in a tight line. “You’re a talented quarterback, Mr. Davis. You have a bright future. But if you keep this up, your record will be tainted.”

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