Page 171 of Jocks

Trick Play 5

ASHER

HerdadandFrank are extremely into the Clemson-South Carolina game. Potato chips have flown through the air, threats have been made, and for a moment, Magnolia forgot I was here when she jumped off the couch we’re sharing and cheered when Clemson threw a fifty-three-yard touchdown.

She’s fucking beautiful in her element and my cock has been hard and on the ready with just wanting to pull her in my arms and feel her move around against me.

Magnolia isn’t like the other girls here. She’s an undefined entity because you can’t put her in a box. She speaks to everyone, she’s smart, and can actually throw a football—I’ve seen her. She doesn’t like to do cliques, and she’s on everyone’s team. She gives a shit. She loves unity and peace. And when it comes to obsessions, they, unfortunately, don’t include me, but donuts and Mountain Dew.

Clemson scores again, causing Mags to vault off the couch and jump up and down. She snakes her body side to side with her arms in—I have no idea what you’d call it—a victory dance, and Frank actually throws a handful of peanuts at her.

“Gloating,” he hollers out. “That’s a flag and penalty on the play.”

Magnolia glimpses over her shoulder at him. “Yeah, like the one you did when Carolina intercepted the ball?”

Frank shakes his head. “You didn’t call it, and”—he lifts the plastic blue bowl that was sitting between him and Magnolia’s father, Jimmy—“we’re out of snacks.”

Magnolia scoffs, but she walks over and plucks the bowl from Frank, then heads to the kitchen before I feel Jimmy’s gaze pull from the TV and land on me.

“Why don’t you go help her out, son.” He jerks his head to the kitchen. “She tends to get lost in there.” I don’t know what that means; however, he doesn’t have to ask me twice.

Rising from the couch, I stride toward the room and quickly realize what her father meant. Sitting on the counter with one leg propped up into her chest, Magnolia has her phone in one hand and her other deep in a bag of Lay’s chips, dunking it into a dip before putting it in her mouth. She’s completely ignorant of me, scrolling with her thumb as she browses whatever’s on it, completely content in her little moment to herself.

I’d hate to ruin it.

But this is one of those rare moments that she’s not running from me or finding any excuse to get away from me. And I’m quite aware of how I might not get another one. Her father, Jimmy, inviting me into their home is the golden ticket that I’d like to cash in on.

“So you eat half the chip bag before bringing it out to the others,” I vouch right before she jolts in surprise. “That’s savage, Burrows.”

Her hazel eyes immediately flick up to me, big and wide, before they narrow with irritation at me for discovering her little secret. “Asher Clark, didn’t your momma teach you not to sneak up on a woman?”

I push my lips out in thought and rock my head back and forth. “Nope, don’t believe she did.”

Entering the kitchen, she intently watches my every move, dropping her leg to dangle along the edge when she says, “What are you doing? I was only grabbing chips.”

“And your daddy asked me to help you because he said it’s like you’re heading across the pond to get them before coming back.”

She scoffs and pops another chip in her mouth. “It’s called taking my time.”

“Is that what the kids are callin’ it these days?” I stop when I’m directly in front of her and place both of my large palms on top of her knees, spreading them wide for me to step between. “Whatcha lookin’ at on your phone?”

“Nothing.” The answer is too quick, but I’d never breach her privacy to call her out on her lie.

“Well”—the pads of my fingers glide up her sweats—“continue doing nothing while I do the same thing.”

“Asher, what are you doing?” I feel her eyes bore into me, but nothing within her body tightens that I’m making her slightly uncomfortable. I’m starting to believe this whole loyalty to Harrison and not flashing around another man is just out of kindness and not because she finds me repulsive.

“Exploring,” I deadpan.

“Asher,” she warns again, her voice hardening. “My dad is in the other room, and I’m sure he told you to keep your hands to yourself.”

“He didn’t. In fact, I think he’d like the idea of me and you together.”

She actually scoffs at it like it’s the most incredulous thing in the world. “Why, because you’re a football star?”

“Think so?” I lift a curious brow. “We’ll see what the scouts think.”

“Are they coming soon?”

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