Page 7 of Stalked By the Cornerback

“Hey! Don’t throw that kind of juju my way, man. I was just trying to be your friend and remind you to think with your head and not your dick when you go wherever you go.” I flipped him the bird, but Jason was far from offended. Instead, the bastard laughed again before picking up his bowl and taking it to the sink. “For reals, though, just don’t do anything stupid.”

“Why do you think I’d do something stupid?”

“Because a guy lurking outside the showers isn’t doing something on the up and up.” He laid it out straight for me. I opened my mouth, but he shook his head. “I don’t wanna know. Honestly. I’m just telling you to be smart. I know it’s summer and the building has a hell of a lot less people living in it, but be smart. If I caught you lurking, someone else could, too.”

“Why were you by the co-ed showers?”

“Want me to ask you the same thing?” My lips thinned, and I jerked my head no. “Right. Well, look, I gotta go get ready for batting practice. Wanna meet up at the wine bar tonight? Karaoke night. Heard some Kappa Sweets will be there.”

“Fuck no.” I laughed. Kappa Sweets were cool chicks to hang out with, but they got rowdy sometimes. Add in Karaoke, and that didn’t sound like my kind of night whatsoever. Plus, I was hoping to catch my girl before she headed to bed. “I got an early practice,” I shared instead of telling him I had a night of following Mattie aground planned.

“Good luck with that.” He patted my back and headed to his room. I did the same, and the moment I shut the door, I frowned.

Fuck a duck! Jason had caught my stupid ass lurking around the showers. He had an idea but didn’t want to know the details. He was a good friend trying to warn me to be stealthier. I didn’t think I could follow her into her showers tonight, but as my hand slipped into my front pocket, I touched the key I’d copied. It looked like I would be sneaking into her room instead. Again.

CHAPTER 5

MATTIE

“See,”—thetrainer smiled at me—“nice and tight.” She gently patted the leg of the football player she’d just wrapped. “Now, if you can make him a bag of ice and tape it to the calf, he will be ready to go.”

“Of course.” I hurried towards the huge ice machine and started to make a bag before returning to the player.

“The trainer got a call,” he shared.

“Oh, okay.” I reached for the tape and started to tape the bag of ice around his calf like my boss for the summer had instructed.

“You’re new here,” he pointed out the obvious. I nodded, staying focused on making sure to do a good job on the ice bag. It was important for his recovery.

“New to the school, too?” he implored. I wanted to roll my eyes. He wasn’t the first player I’d had to ice, and he wasn’t the first one to try and hit on me. Though, the other ones didn’t give off a creeper vibe like he had from the moment he walked into the room.

“No.” I shook my head, keeping things short. There was no need to engage with him. I found it better to give quick and easy answers because if you were too chatty, they got the wrongidea. Too bad Dylan hadn’t been that way. Or maybe he had and used the attraction I’d felt to his advantage so we could study together?

“What’s your name?”

“Mattie, but?—“

“Mattie. That’s pretty. I’m Tuck. Tucker Pearson.” He extended a hand, making me look up at him. He grinned with a boyish kind of smile I might have found attractive if I had met him before Dylan.

Dylan Macabee and his stupid handsome face, who had ruined me for anyone else. Now he just looked like any other guy on the team. One I wanted to watch play and help when he got hurt, but nothing else.

“Nice to meet you.” I nodded, ignoring his hand. I could tell by the look on his face that he either didn’t like to be turned down or wasn’t used to it. My guess, being a first-string football player, it was the latter.

“What’s your deal?” He retracted his hand and rested it across his chest with the other. “I’m just being friendly?—“

“Hey, how’s it going in here?” The trainer walked back in, saving me from having to try and not bruise the stupid guy’s ego. “Good work, Mattie. Now, Pearson, keep that bag of ice on for at least three hours, understood? I’ll see you tomorrow morning, and we will check how it feels.” The trainer simply looked at me and motioned for me to follow her, ignoring the football player behind her.

“You okay?” she asked, her gaze trained on me. I nodded. “If any of these guys get weird, you tell me, okay? I got your back. I know it’s not easy being a woman in this industry.”

“I’m okay. I just don’t think he liked me not fawning because he was talking to me.” She snorted.

“Yeah, some guys will be like that. But in any instance, always trust your gut, and if you need me, don’t hesitate to call for me,okay?” She pushed the matter, making me feel safer and more welcome than I ever had at any job.

“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed politely, and she nodded.

“Alright, kid, you did good today. Any plans this weekend?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Not really. I might read a book I’ve been eyeing. Thanks again for this opportunity.”

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