Page 87 of The Art of Falling

“K.I.S.S.I.N.G.” Higgins picks up where he left off.

My gaze instantly slides to Tyler. “Say a word and I won’t throw you a single fucking ball on Saturday,” I warn, turning on the other two. “The same for both of you.”

“You can’t not throw to all three of us.”

“You understate me then. I also have a running back and a tight end on the field. Not to mention my own two fucking legs. You wanna test me?”

All three fall silent, each wearing the same stupid fucking smile, like they find immense amusement in being able to tease me.

“For real, though, Arch, seems like things are getting a little serious.” Higgins is the first to speak again. “First the away game, then the party last night, which I heard through the grapevine didn’t end at Anderson’s house.”

“Say what?” Ryder snorts out a laugh.

“Oh yeah, I heard that too,” Tyler jumps in. “Enz said his girl caught you and Rory in her dorm room and one of you was naked.”

I’ve never been one to discuss my sex life with my buddies and I’m not about to start now. No disrespect to them, but some things are meant to be kept private. I don’t care that they know that I was with Rory in her room. In fact, I’m proud of this fact. But I won’t be giving them a single detail, no matter how hard they push. They’ll just have to use their imaginations.

“Damn!” Tyler presses a fist to his mouth.

“Are you fuckers about done?”

“Oh, come on, we’re just having fun with you, Arch.” Higgins bumps my shoulder. “I think it’s awesome that you’re finally going after Rory. Fuck, you’ve pined after her in secret for how long?”

“Not helpful,” I murmur under my breath loudly enough for him to hear me.

“Well, for what it’s worth,” Ryder injects, “I think you two look good together. It’s nice to finally see you enjoying yourself. You work way too fucking hard.”

“Ryder’s right,” Higgins agrees. “You deserve to have something in your life that isn’t football.”

Funny enough, I used to reject things purposely because theyweren’tfootball related, including Rory. Anything and everything that could potentially keep me from my goals. Now I’m starting to see the flaws in that logic because as of now, Rory has only made me better, not worse.

“So then you won’t mind fucking off tomorrow night and giving me the room?” I take the opportunity to ask. I mean, since we are on the subject.

“Oh shit. Now you’re getting kicked out of your room.” Ryder snorts.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing, asshole. That means I’m coming to stay with you,” Higgins fires back, his shoulders vibrating with laughter. “And yes, you can have the room for the night. You’ve done me that solid more than once. It’s about time you let me repay that favor.”

“I appreciate that, man.” I give him a nod. “Now, can we please get back to work? Or do you pussies wanna stand around gossiping like teenage girls all night?”

With that, all three of my receivers head back up the field, all three of them laughing as they go.

“Would you stop?” Roryscolds, having to get onto me more than once about keeping my hands to myself.

It’s her own fault. Today, for our last session, she wanted me in a different location than my normal stool, forcing me to sit so close to her that our knees are practically touching, not that I’m complaining. She’s also not using the easel today, opting for a large sketchpad balanced in her lap, allowing me to watch the entire process as she works. How she outlines my face. How she smears the colors just so with her fingers. How her nose crinkles in concentration as she tries to focus on getting my eyes just right.

“It’s not my fault.” I smile, retracting my hand from the outside of her thigh. “You can’t ask me to sit close enough to touch you but then tell menotto touch you. Do you realize what an impossible ask that is?”

“Somehow I think you can find a way.” She tries to hide the smile that tugs at the corners of her mouth, but it doesn’t do her a single bit of good.

“Then you don’t know me very well.” She jumps when my hand slides up the other side of her leg.

“Archer.” She stops mid-motion to give me a pointed look. “Today is the last day to get this done. I have to turn this in tomorrow, and we’re already behind schedule because we had to reschedule this session and you are making it very difficult to concentrate.” She taps the end of her pencil on the paper. “You realize that the sooner I get this done, the sooner we can get out of here.” Such simple words and yet the way she says them, the way she looks at me, there’s so much fucking promise in them.

“You promise?” I smirk, having to resist the urge to slide my hand farther up her inner thigh.

“Only if you keep your hands to yourself and let me work. Keep distracting me and we’re liable to be here all night.”

“Fine,” I finally concede, pulling my hand away with an audible sigh as I slouch back into my chair. “Are you at least going to ask me some questions like before?”

---