Page 35 of Front Runner

I’d turned in A-level homework for weeks, but a second D on the test brought my grade right back down. Professor Declann had tried to look sympathetic, but she didn’t put a lot of effort into hiding the smug surety that I was going to fail.

We had two more tests and a final in addition to the homework. I had time to bring the grade up to a B, but the damn paper informed me I wasn’t meeting the classroom requirements for participation either.

Red hot rage made me want to punch something, but I knew better than to use anger to fuel aggression. Another lesson from my dad.

Instead, I started the hike to my apartment, hoping Eva wasn’t home so I could sneak off to the weight room without her giving me the judgy eyes. Technically, I didn’t have training today, but I needed a release.

Besides, Parker and the others would be crowding onto our tiny couch for movie night soon. I wasn’t angry at Parker. Despite pushing the boundaries of friendship, our study sessions had helped.

I’d been the one who stupidly decided I didn’t need them anymore. My steps slowed as I approached our hallway. The real truth was I’d given in to my fear. This last week I’d pulled back from Parker because I looked forward to my time with him all day. More than practice. More than playing.

No matter how much I told myself we were just friends, my heart didn’t believe it. I’d had two weeks of no studying, no cuddling, no comfort, and I hated it.

I needed his help, but I was afraid I’d make a stupid decision if I spent enough time with him alone—like asking him to stay the night, in the naked, non-friend zone way.

The apartment was dark when I entered, but something thumped in Eva’s room. Either we were being robbed, good luck there, or Eva was home. I tried to sneak through the living room, but she burst through her door before I could make it to safety.

“There you are. Come on, we’re going to be late.”

I sighed and dropped my backpack on the couch. “I’m not in the mood to go out tonight.”

“Good. We’re going in. Mac insisted on hosting movie night because they got some new streaming service they wanted to try out.”

“I don’t do movie night.”

She crossed her arms. “There’s a first time for everything. That douchey professor probably got your panties in a twist again, and you need something besides lifting weights to release steam.”

“Can a female professor be douchey?”

Her mouth snapped shut for a second and her head tilted. “I’m not sure, but you’re not changing the subject on me. We’re going across the hall to spend time with our friends.”

“I spend time with them all the time,” I muttered.

Eva hooked her arm through mine. “Well, I don’t, and I want you there too. It’s more efficient to see all my friends at once.”

I groaned. “Fine. Give me two seconds to change.”

She studied my leggings and tank top, then shook her head. “Nope. If I let go, you’ll try to escape through the window.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, but she didn’t relent. Despite her creepily accurate prediction—yes, I was considering crawling through my window—her presence was taking the edge off my anger. It was hard to be mad around Eva or Mac.

“Can I at least grab my phone?”

She hauled me to my backpack so I could shove my phone in the thigh pocket of my leggings. I could always use it as an excuse to leave if I needed to get away. Not that she wouldn’t follow me, but at least the others would probably stay put.

Eva beamed up at me. “Okay, let’s go. I’m starving, and Mac promised pizza.”

To no one’s surprise—at least not mine—movie night was awkward. The guys’ place smelled like bacon and burnt popcorn, but it wasn’t too bad. The giant couches were a nice touch, as was the giant flat screen on the wall, but I couldn’t focus on the movie.

Stuffed with pizza, I sat stiffly in one corner of the couch next to Parker, trying not to inadvertently make sex noises every time his fingers brushed my hair. He’d stretched his arm out behind me, and I wanted to curl into him the way we had countless times before in my bed.

By the time we made the halfway point in the movie, I’d given up and let myself relax against him. A slow burn warmed me from the inside out, reminding me why I’d distanced myself from him in the first place.

I liked him too much. My mind jumped from memory to memory of Parker in my room, insisting on a montage of happy moments I’d thrown away just to tank my grade again.

In the middle of my internal struggle, my cell phone buzzed against my leg. I fished it out and frowned down at the unfamiliar number with the Wisconsin area code. There were a few people back at SWU that I’d consider friends, but they were just as busy as me during the season.

I thought about letting it go to voicemail, but I’d feel guilty if I blew off my old coach. He’d taught me a lot about how to deal with the haters. The movie was loud, so I slipped past everyone to find some quiet.

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