Page 18 of Stalked By the Cornerback

“Don’t be.” His hand squeezed mine. “If word gets to the coaches, which I doubt, but if it does, they will want to have a meeting and then probably a shitty practice, but I’ll be fine.”

“And Tucker?”

“Tucker is already on thin ice with them,” Dylan shared. It didn’t surprise me from everything I had seen out on the field. “He’s been half-assing it out on the field, and this wouldn’t be the first fight he’s been in at a party. It’s not even the third. The guy just knows how to shove his foot into his mouth.”

“I don’t know what to say about that.”

“You don’t need to say anything. Life is all about choices and the consequences of those choices.”

“Wow, I didn’t know you were a philosophy major.” He chuckled at my little jab.

“Ready to go?” I nodded.

“Yeah. You still sure you want to have a movie night?”

“More than ever.” He winked and smiled, even though my eyes dipped to the ground. We stood, and I patted down the swishy skirt of my dress.

“Where we going?” he asked.

“I’m living in the Remington Building.”

“Really?” His brow rose and his lips quirked up. “That’s where I live.”

“Small world,” I muttered because I felt a little breathless when he took hold of my hand. I looked down at our hands. Our fingers were intertwined, and my heart fluttered in the most beautiful way. I liked how our hands looked connected. My tanned skin and his lighter yet sun-kissed one from years outside playing a lifetime of football.

“What floor are you on?” he asked, and when I shared I was on the third, he stopped and laughed.

“Are you serious?” His voice was a little deeper, but something in his eyes flashed, something I couldn’t really make out.

“Yeah, why?” I asked, my head tilted

“We live on the same floor, shortcake.” I smiled.Small world.

We started to walk right over, and never, not until a week later, would I realize that he had ordered my coffee exactly how I loved it without asking.

CHAPTER 10

MATTIE

My knee bouncedwith nerves as he settled down, sitting right next to me on my bed.

My laptop was on a nightstand he had pulled over, and10 Things I Hate About Youstarted to play. I breathed out slowly, trying to calm the excited nerves that were wreaking havoc throughout my body.

It was a little after eleven. It wasn’t late, but it was hardly early. We had already watchedThe Avengersand were on to the next movie because neither of us wanted him to leave. We hadn’t done anything but sit by each other. He hadn’t even held my hand since we stepped foot into my dorm.

His hands resting on his thick muscular thighs, and when I glanced at him, he seemed almost relaxed. Just chilling, sitting and watching the movie next to me. He wasn’t being pushy or anything, but having a guy in my room, regardless of the building, was not my norm.

Not only that, but this wasn’t justanyguy.

It was Dylan!

The one guy who had piqued my interest in a way I couldn’t explain. He shifted, and when his thigh touched mine, my eyesmoved to his. “Sorry,” he rasped and cleared his throat. “You getting tired?”

“No,” I breathed, swaying in a little closer to him.

“That’s good,” he mumbled. His eyes dropped to my mouth, and I felt that gaze like a caress. My lips tingled for his. I wanted him to kiss me more than I wanted to take my next breath. “Mattie.” He used that warning prayer tone again that made me go all warm.

“Yeah?” I breathed, noticing just how close we were. His hand slipped behind me as we both shifted closer.

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