Page 31 of The Wrong Quarterback

“Am I pregnant? I feel pregnant,” Nat said, shaking me as we both watched Parker. “Oh my gosh,look. We’re up there on the screen. Holy Fuck, Casey!” Nat screamed as she took advantage of the screen time to do a sexy little dance that would no doubt stay in some guys’ heads for the rest of the day.

I, for my part, stood there awkwardly, counting down the seconds until the camera panned away—something that seemed to take forever.

“What’s he doing?” Nat said, eyes still on the screen.

The stadium screen showed Parker staring into the camera then, and as we watched, Parker blew a kiss and then pointed at it.

“Has he ever done that before?” I asked. Nat’s family were die-hard Tennessee football fans, and she’d watched every one of Parker’s games since the first time he’d started.

“No, never,” Nat said, her voice confused. She side-eyed me, a sly little grin spreading across her face. “What if that was for you…since you were just on the screen?” she asked, an edge of hysteria in her tone.

I looked at her like she was crazy. I’d mentioned we’d had a strange moment after class, but I hadn’t said anything for her to take such a giant leap as that.

“I think the sun is getting to you,” I responded, gently pushing on her shoulder as we both glanced down at the chaos on the field as the game ended and the teams combined to shake hands and do post-game interviews. “We should get you some water.”

“I’m just saying…it’s possible,” Nat sing-songed.

I scoffed, but didn’t say anything else.

Because there was no way that’s what he’d meant…right?

CHAPTER 8

CASEY

Istood in the corner of the room, the bass from the speakers threatening to burst my eardrums. The party whirled around me, people laughing, yelling, dancing, everyone celebrating the game and seeming like they were having the time of their lives.

Except for me.

My gaze cut to Gray across the room, leaning against a pong table with some of his frat brothers, drink in hand…surrounded by girls. There were three of them in particular that seemed obsessed with everything he had to say. I’d just left to use the restroom, but Gray didn’t seem to be missing me at all.

I squeezed the red cup in my hand, the drink inside barely touched. My eyes narrowed as one of the girls placed a hand on his arm, her laugh a little too loud, a little too close. And he just smiled, completely unaware that I was standing twenty feet away.

Or maybe it was that he just didn’t care.

I should go over there, right? Put myself in between those girls, show them who he belongs to…

I’d just never thought love would be like that, having to prove that someone is yours.

And when I’d imagined being with Gray…I’d never imagined him putting me in a situation where I’d have to do that.

A memory came then…

I was sitting on the concrete steps behind the gym, arms wrapped around my knees, fighting the hot tears that refused to stay put. Marcie Evans was such an asshole! She’d called me a big, ugly nerd in front of everyone in the hallway after sixth period, and it had seemed like the whole school was there, laughing and agreeing with her.

“Hey, Case, what are you doing out here?”

I hurriedly wiped the tears from my face, startled to see Gray standing there, hands stuffed into his pockets, eyes narrowed with concern.

“It’s nothing,” I muttered, looking away.

He didn’t move for a second. “Alright, let’s go. You’re coming with me,” he said, nodding toward the parking lot.

“What? Where?” I asked, frowning.

“Doesn’t matter. Just get in the car,” he said, and his easy smile had me immediately following him.

Just like it always did.

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