Quarterback Sneak (Red Zone Rivals #3)(51)

I couldn’t hide my emotion any longer. A smile split my face, but before I could respond, Coach held up one thick finger and pointed it right at me.

“This is a probation period,” he warned. “If we see any signs of your shoulder injury flaring up, you’ll be out, and I don’t want any arguments over it.”

I nodded emphatically. “Yes, sir.”

“And I also don’t want any of that attitude you were throwing me at the beginning of the season,” he added. “Russo takes instruction. He learns quickly. And I hate to say it, son, but he’s shown he can step up and do the job in your absence.”

I couldn’t swallow down the knot in my throat.

“I know you’re a leader,” he continued. “And I like that about you, I do. The whole team looks to you, and that’s a sign of a good QB1.” He paused. “But that doesn’t mean you can override me as coach. There’s a level of respect I am due, and sometimes that means shutting up and doing what I tell you to do even if you think you know better. Understand?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.” My voice was weaker this time.

“We did fine without you, and we can do it again,” he added, rubbing salt in the wound as he sat back. “So don’t push me.”

I sat there for a long moment, unsure of what to say, what to do.

“You’re dismissed,” he finally said. “Check in with the training staff in the morning to see what they want you working on before and after practices now that you’re full out.”

I cleared my throat, standing, and headed for the door. When my hand reached for the handle, Coach said, “And Moore?”

I turned.

“I’m not an idiot. I know you have feelings for Julep.”

Ice swam in my veins, but I managed to stay calm, to blink and neither confirm nor deny.

“Snuff them out now, son,” he warned. “Because if you think I won’t pull you off this team and blame your shoulder injury whether it’s acting up or not, you don’t know me at all.”

“Julep and I are just friends,” I said.

He set his jaw, giving me a pointed look. “And it better stay that way.”

Coach turned back to his computer, and I saw myself out, heart thumping in my ears as I did.





Julep



“God, I miss summer.”

Riley balanced her chin on the heel of her palm, eyes glossing where they stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the stadium cafeteria. It was sleeting, an ugly mix of snow and ice that I was not looking forward to driving in after my last class on campus.

“Not me,” Giana chimed in, cracking the top on her Mountain Dew. She opened her bag of Cheetos next, and I marveled at how someone as tiny as her could put away processed sugar and salt like that. “This is perfect reading weather. Just me, my book, maybe a crackling fireplace and some cozy socks.” She sighed happily, as if she could picture it all. “Heaven.”

“Where do I fit in this picture?” Clay teased, housing a bite of his chicken sandwich with a brow arched at her.

“You’re adding logs to the fire,” she said, as if it was obvious. “And then pulling me into your lap once you’re done. And then we’re there cuddling as we both read.”

“Clay, reading a book? That’s rich.” Leo snorted, and Clay smacked him upside the head with his napkin.

I smiled as they continued, but they no longer held my attention — because Holden had just taken the seat right next to Clay.

He sat down without looking at anyone in particular, his long legs straddling the bench before he turned toward the table fully. He wore dark gray joggers this time and a white hoodie, one that illustrated how ridiculously tan he was for this time of year. Days and days of working out in the sun were evidenced in the bronze glow of his face, his forearms where he’d shoved the sleeves of his hoodie up a bit. His jaw was set as he shrugged off his hood, his hair still damp from the showers.

He reached for his fork, and then his eyes shot up to mine.

A flash of that night at the pool struck me like lightning, the sound of his heavy breaths, the feel of his hands pinning me, of him burying himself inside me.

I tore my gaze away, looking down at my own plate as I reached for a French fry and popped it into my mouth. It was bland and hard to swallow with how dry my mouth was.

I didn’t even recognize myself anymore, not since Saturday night. I didn’t know the girl who’d danced with Holden Moore, who’d found him at the pool and — instead of turning around and going right back to her room — had stayed and watched him, instead.

Watched him, and then teased him, and then surrendered to him completely.

My cheeks flamed at the memory of his head between my legs, even more so at how I’d dropped to my knees and quite literally begged for him.

“What about you, Julep?”

I blinked, mouth hanging half open with another fry between my fingers. “What?”

Riley smirked. “Are you a crazy person who loves this weather like Giana and Zeke, or do you miss summer, too?”

I set the fry down, shrugging. “I don’t know, this isn’t so bad if you’re inside. I don’t necessarily want to be out driving in it later, though.”

“Ugh, driving in it is the worst,” Leo agreed.