Page 32 of Replay
“People probably saw us leave and if we walk back right now together, it won’t take a genius to figure it out,” I argue.
He laughs and grabs my jaw between his fingers. “Fucking let them. You’re not a dirty secret, Emmarys. You’re mine. We start right now and there is no ending for us. Believe me when I say, you are never getting away from me again.”
He releases me and steps back, allowing me to straighten my clothes and fix my hair. I watch as he bends next to the stack andpicks up something hot pink and it’s only then that I realize what he’s holding.
“Those are, mine, Hawke.” My cheeks flame red.
He holds my panties in front of him, dangling from his finger, a smirk on his face, eyes glittering icy green. “Were yours, sweets.” I watch as he shoves them deep in the pocket of his sweatpants, before rearranging the bulge in his front.
“But–”
“Let's get out of here,” he interrupts me, leading me out of the dark corner and back to where my table was set up. The whole time he keeps my back to his front and while my mind whirls with everything that has happened, I can’t help the satisfied smile that pulls on my lips. I can feel him, still hear his words in my mind. I shouldn’t be so enthralled with Hawke’s obsession with me, any other girl would be running scared, but all I feel is cherished. Hope blooms in my chest, and for once my first instinct isn’t to stomp it down. I just wish I could trust him.
hawke
. . .
The ball sailsthrough the air, perfect arc and right into the arms of the waiting receiver, just as I called the play. He runs a few yards before being tackled, but the play worked and that's all that matters. After reviewing hours of tape on our opponent for this Saturday’s game, I am confident this play will work against their defense. Coach is on board, having complete faith in me. The team, however, is struggling.
The rumors circulating around campus aren’t helping matters. Riggs delighted in telling me this week I’d earned the reputation of being ruthless. Selling out my old team, abandoning them in order to get here, and then stole the girlfriend of another athlete. No one seems to understand that he cheated on her or that essentially, she was mine first. Emmarys has been mine for the past six years, since the first time I saw her. Our time apart doesn’t diminish the fact that I will always come back for her, and now that she is starting to come around to accepting our relationship, I can finally lay down the groundwork to keep her forever. I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it.
After practice I make my way to the locker room and for once the buzz in the room quiets when I enter. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what they’re all talking about. My brow rises and I let all emotion leave my body. The hard, unyielding man I used to be takes over as I face off with my new teammates.
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
A few of them look at each other, some shake their heads and go back to minding their own business. The only person who decides to grow some balls, surprisingly, is Parker.
“It just doesn’t seem right, to walk onto campus and steal another man’s girl,” he says while shrugging his shoulders.
I stare at him before letting my eyes wander over everyone who is now silently watching the drama unfold. “What happened between me andmygirl is no one's business. I don’t owe anyone an explanation. Kellan is a big boy and he knows what he did.”
“Still, a man swooping in and stealing what doesn’t belong to him. Turning your back on a team that worked hard for you. Just wondering what kind of man does that, you know?”
“You must have some big kahunas, Parker, to be making accusations about something you have no idea about,” Riggs jumps in.
Parker scoffs and rolls his eyes. “I’m not so sure you should talk, Griffin, since you practically rode his coattails here.”
Riggs busts out laughing, almost doubling over. Despite the jovial mannerisms, his eyes are burning with murder. “Is that what you were told? Did daddy coach have to hold your hand and feed that line to you?”
Parker snaps and charges at Riggs who stands, ready to take him on. Intervening, I rush Parker and push him back until his shoulder blades connect with the lockers.
“If you want to spout off shit, then be prepared for the consequences, Parker.” I get in his face before letting his jersey go. His body slumps. “Texas didn’t give me anything. We playedas a team under my instructions. You want to have a winning season too or do you like being done before bowl season? That's up to you. I’m here to win. Win a championship and win my girl. Tell Jax Kellan if he wants to own up to his screw up, he can come talk to me. His loss is my gain. Keep Emma out of this.”
Turning, I grab my bag and meet everyone’s waiting eyes. “This episode of Gossip Girl is over. If you have something to say, do it to my face and we’ll deal with it. Anyone who wants a ring this year better get with the program and get on board.”
I head out of the locker room, leaving my words to sit with the team. I don’t have time for their shit. If they want to cling to the past they can. The present is now and I have everything to fight for. They can call me ruthless and question my motives, but my actions are speaking loud and clear.
Riggs’s feet hit the pavement behind me and he’s wearing a grin by the time we get to the lot. “So we’re not making more friends?”
I scoff and throw my bag into my truck. “I don’t have time to babysit idiots who want to live in the past. My record will speak for itself come game time.”
“First home game this weekend,” he reminds me and I nod in response.
“We’ll be ready.”
The season is in swing and while we’ve managed to pull it together for an out-of-town game, there's something different about a home crowd. I’ve barely noticed though with fighting to win Emmarys back and making sure everything she needs is taken care of. Unlike in high school, I don’t have to hide my infatuation with her. Taking care of her, though, is almost like a full-time job, one I’m gladly taking responsibility for. It doesn’t matter that she’s paying me in snarky comments or eye rolls because I see the blush she tries to hide or the way her lips almost give way to a smile before frowning. She wants myattention, but she’s been afraid to show that she does, probably fearing it will go away again. For me to keep showing up, everyday, that is how I prove to her that she can depend on me.
Riggs bumps my fist before getting into his car and I head to my apartment. Once I’m there, I check my phone and look for a response to my dinner request text to Emmarys. Once again, she’s turned me down. I need to up my game. It's time to play dirty again, seems to be the only way to get her to open up to me. Fuck, I can still taste her on my tongue and I need more of that tangy sweetness. I want more though than her body; I want her heart and in order to get that, she needs to know I’m committed. So I’ll wait and give her another day.
