Page 14 of Stalked By the Cornerback

“Hey,” I said, but she didn’t look at me. Her attention was laser-focused on my hand. “Shortcake, look at me.”

“Why?” she asked, not doing as she was told.

My sweet little morsel had a bratty side, and fuck me, every part of me loved it. Loved that she felt safe enough to let me see it.

“Because I said so,” I quickly answered, knowing very well how much of a dick it made me sound like. When she didn’t do my bidding, my free hand moved between us. The pads of my fingers lifted her chin, and when our eyes locked, I knew there would be no one else for me. She was it. She was mine. Forever.

“Want to have dinner with me?” I found myself stupidly asking. Her eyes widened, and then these cute little lines formed between her brows before she started to laugh. “Are you serious right now?”

“Like a heart attack,” I answered, not picking up on her vibes.

“No.” She shook her head, and I blinked.

“Excuse me?” I asked, not believing she turned me down.Could I have read the vibes between us completely wrong?

“No.” She shook her head. My girl stepped back, and I sat straighter.

“No?” I repeated, my confusion clear in my voice.

“Why would I say yes? Why would I agree to go out with you?”

“Matt—“

“You haven’t bothered to say hi to me all summer. Not out on the field or when I’ve seen you around.”

“Matt—“

“Not to mention the way you acted all assholey after finals. It was like you couldn’t get away from me fast enough! Like you were afraid to bee seen with me.”

“Shortcake—“

“And what’s with the nickname? Did you forget my name already? Is that what you do to keep all the girls on your roster from getting mixed up?” Jesus Christ, I was sick in the head for loving the fire in her eyes. “I don’t know what that was all about”—she waved towards the house— “in there, and right now with the wholeno one is going to disrespect you,”she mimicked my deep voice. “But the facts are that when someone shows you who they are, you should believe them, and you, sir”—she poked my chest, but I’d had enough.

She was a magnificent sight to behold all riled up, but I needed to clear up this little misunderstanding, and fast. I stood and reached for her quickly, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into me.

“What are you doin?—“

“Shut it,” I clipped.

“Excuse me?!” Her eyes widened, and I smiled. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because you’re fucking sexy as hell when you get pissed. But then again, you’re always sexy as fuck.”

“Dylan—“

“I fucked up,” I blurted. “I got nervous with you after finals. But let me tell you something. I wasn’t running away. I don’t think I could ever run away from you,” I admitted, and relief hit me when her body relaxed in my arms before I was done talking.

“Dyl—“

“And I’m sorry if I’ve been…” I hesitated, trying to figure out how the hell to explain to her what I’d been going through. I had a feeling if I admitted I’d been following her and stalking her, itwouldn’t go over well. “I’ve been in my head the last couple of weeks, but you need to know something.”

“What?” She scowled at me, but I could tell from the way her eyes dipped to my mouth and then back up to my eyes that she was just holding on to being pissed to make a point.

“I like you. I like you a whole fucking bunch. I’ve liked you from the moment you walked into that damn class and suddenly, a course I really didn’t fucking wanna take became a hell of a lot more interesting.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry for being quiet these last couple of weeks. And I’m sorry about that scene inside. He called you…” I shook my head and exhaled roughly, trying to let go of how pissed Tucker had made me. “That wasn’t cool, but I shouldn’t have punched him and freaked you out and make you scared of me.”

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