Page 23 of Topping the Jock
“I should head to my classroom,” I said to Monty, taking yet another step away from him. “The first bell’s about to ring.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “See you later, Quinn.”
I felt his eyes on me as I walked away.
Chapter Five
Monty
Face flushed and eyes avoiding mine, Quinn quickly turned away and went down the hall, disappearing around the corner moments later. With him out of sight, I sharply exhaled and rested my hip against the wall, trying to calm my racing heart.
The man made me weak in the knees.
I doubt he even realized it.
Dean walked out of the weight room, running a hand through his blond hair. Droplets of water clung to the ends. “Practice is gonna be fun today in the rain.”
“I think I want to watch more game footage this afternoon,” I said, walking with him down the hall and toward the gym where everyone else waited before class. “The team we’re going against is pretty good, and since our team lost to them last year, we need to be on top of our game this time.”
“Good plan,” Dean responded with a sharp nod. “They didn’t just beat us last year. They kicked our ass. Er, I mean butts.”
I laughed at the horror-stricken look on his face. “Don’t worry. I’m not gonna write you up for that sailor mouth of yours.”
He blushed. “Sorry.”
“Big D!” Trent said from the end of the hallway as he spotted Dean. The nickname cracked me up, mainly because Dean was a whopping five foot ten, whereas Trent had not only height but weight as well.
“See you later, Coach,” Dean said to me before jogging toward his buddies.
Our first game was tomorrow, and the boys had been working their asses off for weeks. Since they’d lost to the school last year, it was a sort of redemption for my team. I hadn’t coached them last year, but I felt that same drive to win. To prove ourselves.
I continued to my classroom, passing Quinn’s history class on the way. And, of course, I looked inside at him. He sat at his desk, hair disheveled and appearing as though he’d been running his fingers through it, and he read over highlighted passages in a textbook. He pushed his glasses farther up his nose before turning a page.
I rapped my knuckles on the door, causing him to look up.
“Hey,” I said, momentarily forgetting how to speak as his green eyes focused on me. I had literally just seen him five minutes ago, but that dizzying effect he had on my brain hit me again full force. “I was, uh, gonna make a pot of coffee in the teachers’ lounge. I know you already have some, but you’re welcome to get a refill when it’s done.”
“What are you up to?” he asked, his brow narrowing suspiciously. “Why are you being so nice?”
“In typical villain fashion, I was gonna sprinkle some kryptonite into your coffee.” I shrugged.
Quinn scoffed. “I knew it.”
I grinned. “I’ll save you a cup.”
I turned to leave his room, but not before I cast another look in his direction. He smiled as he focused back on the textbook.
Was he smiling because of me?
God, I hoped so.
I brewed a pot of coffee in the lounge and poured a cup before heading to my classroom, passing students in the hall as they stopped by their lockers and visited with friends before class. It was easy to spot the cliques. Football guys nodded to me before being rowdy in the halls, and the quiet kids held their books to their chests and kept their heads down as they hurried to class.
Were any of them being bullied?
Did kids still do that shit?
I’d hate to think any of the guys on my team would behave that way. They all seemed too nice. Then again, I’d seemed nice too when around my friends and my coach. I reallyhadbeen a villain back then.
