Page 75 of Once Upon a Fake Date

Sam followed me out to the parking lot. “Last semester, you were quiet. But after Halloween, after you found your girl, you’ve been different. I know you’re juggling a lot, but you’ve been playing good, Maxwell. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks. I—” I ran a hand through my hair. “It was hard for me after last year. Things with my last team didn’t end great. I guess I just forgot what it was like to rely on other people.”

He nodded. “We’re here for you, man. And if you want to talk about it…” He patted me on the back. “I’m here.”

“Thanks, Sam. You’re a good guy.”

My teammate tilted the brim of his baseball cap. “See you at home.”

“Yeah.” I smiled. Because it really felt like home. “See you later.”

It was time to go find my girl.

Stepping into the bar,my eyes immediately narrowed onto my blond-haired beauty giggling around a table, surrounded by a few other girls I recognized from her sorority. They had a round of shot glasses in front of them, all blushed cheeks and shouted whispers.

I headed over to her, her eyes lighting up as she caught sight of me.

“Hey!” she shouted. “It’s my boyfriend. Look, everyone! My boyfriend is here.”

God, she was beautiful. She’d pinned back some of the front pieces of her hair, and she was wearing a tight fitting pink tank dress and a pair of heels that made her legs look a million miles long. There weren’t enough words to describe how gorgeous she was—tonight and every night. Even in leggings and no makeup, I thought she was the most stunning woman in any room.

“Hi, baby.” I leaned in, kissing her cheek.

“Why are you here?” Audrey tilted her head. “I thought you wouldn’t be back until tomorrow?”

“Change of plans. The bus came back tonight. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Oh.”

“And then mygirlfriendwas drunk texting me, so…”

“Oops?” She gave me a guilty smile. “Sooorryy.”

I bent down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

She hummed. “Mmm. Hi.”

Laughing, I brushed her hair back behind her ear. “You said that already.”

“Oh.” She giggled again. “Maybe I had a little too much to drink.”

“Come on, Rosie Girl. Let’s go home.”

She leaned against my shoulder, her eyes drooping sleepily. “Home?”

I kissed her forehead. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” She turned to her friends. “Parker’s taking me home. Night.”

“Night, Audrey.” Suzie waved at us, Peggy leaning against her side. I didn’t know the other two girls, but I tipped my head at all of them before wrapping an arm around Audrey’s waist, heading outside of the bar.

She yawned as she got into my car, letting me buckle her seatbelt. I rounded to the other side, the two of us driving in a comfortable silence towards the lacrosse house.

By the time I had pulled in and put the car in park, Audrey had fallen asleep. A smile curled over my face as I took in her sleeping form, curled up in my car. I closed my door quietly, rounding the car to open hers. Unbuckling her, I picked her up in my arms, closing the door behind me and locking my car before heading into the house.

Some guys were still downstairs, but I didn’t pay them any mind. No, my only thoughts were on the sleeping beauty curled up against me, her face nuzzled against my chest. God, she was beautiful. So perfect and right andmine.

She stirred as I opened the door to my room, closing it behind us. Her violet eyes blinked open, staring up at me. Audrey’s hand reached up, brushing against my jaw.

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