Page 87 of Steeling Her
“He didn’t deserve the ball!” I spit out and turn away from them.
“Deserving or not, he was open! You pass the fucking ball to an open man if you want to win, Nick! It’s simple!” He walks over to me and turns me back around to face him. I nod, knowing he’s right. “You’re on the same team.” he tells me with a low tone, and I shut my eyes. “If you boys were my players, I would’ve suspended you for the next few games until you get your act together.” He raises his voice at both of us not looking away from my stare. “So, your little petty fighting needs to not involve my daughter, are you understanding what I’m saying?” We both nod as he waves his finger between the two of us. Papa bear is out again, and he needs to be put back inside the cage right now. Also, little psycho Ryan needs to be put down.
“Good, because if I hear from her that either of you hurt her, I will catch the next flight down here and do unspeakable things to you,” he says with a snarl. “Now, get him back inside.” He waves Ryan off so we can finish our conversation. He turns back around to face me and grips my shoulders hard, his finger tips going white. “You hurt my little girl, Nick,” he says to me calmly, and I’m not sure whether to be worried or not?
“I know, I didn’t mean to Mr. Steel, I really didn’t. But I promise you, I didn’t do it. And I’d be stupid if I did. I would never want to hurt her.” I sigh, knowing that this is going to be a long process. She’ll make me work for it, but all I want is for her to hear me out.
“I believe you, but give her time. She’s a little weak at the moment, so don’t push her.” I nod in understanding. She just got out of hospital, and I can’t make her stressed. I’ve got to wait to talk to her about this. “Look, I know it’s eating you up because you look like shit, but it’ll work itself out. She’s stubborn, I know, but she’ll understand eventually.” I laugh at how true his words are. He smiles back at me. “She’s like her mother.” He chuckles through his nose. Stepping away from me, he stares down at the ground and then twists his ring on his finger.
“Son, if you keep hurting her, I will have to ask you to keep your distance from her. She’s a sensitive girl and she wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s my little girl, and I won’t let her heart get crushed because of some boy who can’t keep it in his pants. So, consider this a warning; if you fuck up again, I will tell you to walk. Not temporarily, but for good. I mean it,” he warns me.
I sigh, understanding what he’s saying. I don’t want to walk away from her. I’m so drawn to his daughter, it’s beginning to scare me. I want to be around her, I enjoy her company. But I get heart palpitations wanting to see her, and when I do, I’m just a mess.
“I understand, Mr. Steel, but if you wouldn’t mind, can you keep this between the two of us?” He understands that we’re both taking things slow. “I don’t want her hearing about me and Ryan constantly fighting. She’ll get stressed, and I don’t want that.” Austin smirks over his dad’s shoulder at me, and I give him a stern look, communicating that I mean him too. I don’t want her to know that Ryan and I keep fighting over her.
Leaving it at that, they get into their truck and drive back in the direction of her dorm. Sighing at what a mess this has all become, I stay outside longer, walking around in circles in the heat. It’s not as intense as it has been. It’s getting closer to winter anyway; closer to exams.
Walking back inside, the guys have gone back to playing Xbox. TJ is sitting on the counter in the kitchen talking to Reggie. I decide to join them because Ryan scowls at my entrance. I can’t be bothered talking to that idiot anymore.
“ ’Sup, man!” Reggie clasps my hand as a greeting and I stand over near him.
“Hey,” I huff out. I’ve lost all my energy because I was on edge outside with the three Steels. I have lectures later today, but I think I might skip them. I have one with Reggie, so I’ll ask him for notes.
“How are you, man?” Now it’s TJ’s turn to talk. He knows what went down anyway, but he wants to hear it from me first. Ryan said some bullshit to him.
“I’m good; drained though,” I reply while my shoulders sag. I’m tired of all of this. I just want her. That’s all.
I just want her.
They both stare at me, silently telling me to expound, and they both smirk at me. “They want me to give her some space. Even though she’s out of the hospital, she needs her strength back. And right now, I’m causing her nothing but stress. So, I’ll give her some space; I’ll give her time to rest and then I’ll talk to her about that FUCKING PHOTO!” I yell out, making sure Ryan heard me loud and clear. He’s a fucking asshole for doing that just so he could have her. He’s not getting her, she’s mine and mine only.
“Man, I saw it! So did Cas!” Reggie winces at the thought. No doubt his girlfriend will eat my head off the next time she sees me. I spoke with her for a while when I bumped into her outside of my class the other day and we talked about how Carter was. I knew she and Carter would get along great. “You’re in her bad books right now, Jackson.” He chuckles heavily beside me.
“Which girl?” I roll my eyes at them putting me on their shit list. They both laugh, knowing exactly how it’s going to go with the two headstrong women we know.
“Haha! Both, buddy!” Reggie pats my bare shoulder, pushing and pulling my body. “So, you coming to class?” I shake my head and he copies me, not accepting the answer. “Ohhh no! You’re coming with me! You’re not going to skip class and sulk about her. Nick, come on, get your shit. We’re going.” I groan loudly and make my way out.
“I’ll call Lynn!” TJ shouts down at me as I grab my stuff to leave with Reggie, walking back to meet him in the hallway.
I nudge TJ’s shoulder and tell him, “You do that, I’ll make sure you don’t get any chocolate cake ever again! Along with my foot lodged up your ass!” I point at him as we leave out the door. Reggie pulls me by my neck and rubs my skull with his knuckles, playfully laughing with me to cheer me up and pull me out of my funk that I’ve been in since the day she saw the picture.
“How is your mama?” he asks me as we both get in his small car.
“She’s good, still on my case though. What’s new, huh?” I click the belt in beside me and we make our way to class.
“Oh yeah? Still up your ass about a girlfriend too?” He chuckles, looking at his side mirror for oncoming cars.
“You know it.” I shake my head from side to side and drop it back with a bounce on the headrest. It’s all she ever talks about, although she’s met Maya multiple times and hates her. Mainly because Haley talks nothing but negative things about her. So my mom has heard all the crap she’s done to others through Haley; Maya’s number one fan. Safe to say, my mom doesn’t want her as even a consideration. But I knew she wasn’t fond of her the first time they met at the grocery store. I knew by my mothers face that it was a no-go area.
“Any candidates?” he teases me, and I know where he’s going with this. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.
“Reg, shut up.” He parks up his car. Immediately, I bolt out of the door, trying to leave that question behind. But much to my displeasure, he continues to tease me. We got all the traffic lights, and there was barely anything on the roads which made for a quick trip. Just over a minute actually. It usually takes about five.
“Dude, come on, you’re meaning to tell me that you have no potential girls lined up?” I shrug my shoulders as he falls into step beside me. We both look around the campus, making our way to the building our class is in. I see some people hustling around, laying on the grass and sitting at the picnic tables. “I mean, seriously man? The amount of girls on campus that are dying to go on a date with you is enormous! You’re the first string quarterback for Ole fucking Miss! You pretty much have an NFL career in your hands! Any girl would want to be the one beside you on that journey!” He laughs.
He’s right, but it doesn’t mean I want that. Any girl would drop what they have for me in this college, even if they weren’t single. But that’s exactly what I don’t want, I don’t want them to like me for my name. There’s only one girl that I’ve come across who’s like that, and she’s upset with me.
“That’s the problem dude, I don’t want just any girl.” He smirks as we open the door to the building.
