Page 52 of The First Play

“Sienna Erling.” His reprimand is softened by the fact that he’s fighting a laugh.

“Well, I’m sorry, but they are. They ride him so hard, Dad!” I flick my hand in the air. “They got this call on Friday afternoon from one of his teachers, complaining that Zander’s grades are slipping, and they’re on the warpath.”

“Yikes.”

“And they’re not even slipping. It was one test. He didn’t even bomb it. He just didn’t get his usual high scores, and they’re acting like he’s not going to be able to graduate. It’s so insane. I hate how much pressure they always put on him,” I grumble.

“Is that why you’ve been so grumpy all weekend? Because they won’t let you see him?”

A flush of heat travels through my body, and I hug my backpack to my chest. “Uh, yeah. I’ve missed him.”

“Aw. Young love.” Dad starts laughing. “It’s okay, sweet girl. You can see him today. Just don’t be hauling him out of class to make out in the bathroom.”

“Dad!” I give him a horrified gasp, and he starts laughing again.

“Oh, you don’t do that? So that was just my thing, then?”

“Dad, stop it. Please.” My expression buckles. “Gross. I don’t want to think about you making out in the bathroom.”

His laughter grows louder, and he tortures me the entire way to school, telling me stories about what he and his various girlfriends got up to in the back of the library… and down in the utility closet behind the gym.

Braking outside the school, he gives me a mischievous grin. “Of course, don’t you do any of that stuff, okay? You just keep being my good little angel.”

I turn to him with a wicked grin. “Thanks for all the ideas, Dad. This trip has been very informative.”

He shakes his head with another laugh. “With the amount of squirming you were doing, I’m pretty sure I don’t have anything to worry about.”

My smile suddenly feels too tight as I lean across to kiss his cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you, too, Blue.”

I jump out of the car and wave him off, once again flooded with relief that I can joke about this stuff with my dad, because if I didn’t have my period right now, I probably would have burst into tears and confessed all.

I couldn’t think of anything worse than having to tell my parents I was pregnant. They’d be so disappointed in me… for me. I know they’d support me and everything, but still… I don’t want to let them down.

Which is why Zander and I will not be having unprotected sex again.

“I have to tell him.” I spin on my heel and run into school, ignoring the curious looks I’m getting as I race down to the gym.

I’m not really supposed to go into the workout room. It’s for athletes only, but I check that the coast is clear and am stoked to find the space empty… except for one sexy football player who’s pumping iron in the back corner.

He’s sweaty, his shirt sticking to his refined body, and I drink him in, admiring his muscles as he finishes two more reps, then sets the bar on its hooks.

“Hey,” I whisper, not wanting to scare him.

His head jerks in my direction and he sits up. “Sen. Are you okay?” He looks worried, worn out… cautious.

Guilt rips through me, and I start blubbering before I can stop myself.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been a really shitty girlfriend this weekend. I know I was distant and hard to talk to. I was just freaking out, you know? And I shouldn’t have gone quiet on you. I just didn’t know how to deal. And I know it was shitty, and I’m sorry. And I?—”

“Sen,” he quietly stops me. “It’s okay. I was just worried about you.”

Oh man, he’s the sweetest! My heart is contracting and expanding for him with these marshmallow beats that make my legs weak.

I stumble across to him, dumping my bag and quickly straddling his lap. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I cling to him, not even caring that he’s sweaty and kinda smells. I need to be near this guy.

His arms loop around my waist, and I squeeze him against me, brushing my fingers through his damp hair and murmuring, “I love you.”

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