I Bet You(58)

But…

Archer doesn’t respect me. He’s the one who should be sitting in here. Not me.

“Life isn’t fair, Voss,” he says, as if he’s reading my mind.

My fists curl. “I didn’t start the shit—”

“No excuses.”

“Or what?” I say.

His eyes harden. “Don’t make me have to decide.”

Oh, I know what he’s insinuating. That he’ll replace me with the backup, Dillon.

Screw that. I respect the hell out of him, but I won’t be forced into a corner to behave when I’m not the one who needs an attitude adjustment.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, sir.” I stand up and stalk out the door even though he hasn’t dismissed me.





Penelope



“Sine, cosine, and tangent are the main functions used in trig,” I explain to the small study group I meet with each week in the library, pretty much my favorite place on earth. In fact, I make sure my study section always meets on the floor right smack next to the romance section. Sometimes I even think if the whole writing gig doesn’t work out, I can always be a librarian and live around books forever.

My phone buzzes for the third time, and I set down my notebook. “Guys, my phone keeps going off. It must be important.” I smile at them. “Let’s take five then meet back here.”

They nod and stand up to stretch as I grab my purse to retrieve my phone. I read the text.

Want me to rescue you?

I grin. Ryker. I didn’t see him last night, and he missed class this morning, but he hasn’t been far from my thoughts.

Being apart from him has given me a chance to catch my breath. Our night together, the memories of it, still swirl in my head. I can’t wait to see him.

From what? I say.

You look bored as hell. I can make that look go away.

I look around the library, but all I see are tall stacks of books and a few study tables. He isn’t at any of them. Where are you?





Next to some books.


I shake my head and smile. There are books everywhere.

Just know that I’m watching you. ?

Are you a stalker?

Maybe. You look pretty by the way.

I blush.

Nice shirt, he sends.

I look down at his practice jersey. I wore it on purpose.

I’ll give it back to you.

Keep it. It looks better on you. I have a surprise for you.

A couple of the students are tapping their pencils against the table, and I send a quick look at them. One of them gives me a questioning look. “You ready?”

Time to get to work. I have to go, I text then tuck my phone away.

Half an hour later, most of the students have left, and I’m packing up my things.

I push the chairs up to the table and lean over to wipe it off.

“Hey,” comes Ryker’s voice from behind me.

I flip around, and there he stands, his broad shoulders leaning against a tall bookcase, half of his face in shadow.

It doesn’t lessen the impact of him.

I wonder if he’s been waiting for me this entire time.

“Hey,” I reply softly. I’ve replayed our conversation from when he dropped me off at my car a hundred different ways, trying to decipher where we stand.

“I missed you in class,” I say. “We covered differential equations.”

“Nice. Did you take notes for me?”

“Not a jersey chaser or your secretary.”

He laughs. “The claws are out. I didn’t expect you to. We can plan a study session at your place if I get behind.”

I toy with the straps of my backpack. “Yes, we could.” I’m already picturing him in my bedroom, spreading me out naked on my bed while I recite math facts.

“No more work tonight?”

“All done.” I walk over to him, and he steps forward out of the dimness of the shadow. “Ryker! What happened to your face?” I scan his features, taking in the purple bruise around his right eye. Moving closer, I wince at the puffiness and the worn look on his face. “A fight?”

He sighs, looking away from me. “You could say that. Archer and I…” He shakes his head. “There’s some bad blood between us.”

I inhale sharply. Ah.

He rakes a hand through his hair. “It’s nothing you have to worry about.”

I frown. “Was it on the field?”

“Yes.” His lips tighten and he rubs his jaw. “Blaze told me about him showing up when your tire was flat. But that wasn’t the main reason we got into it. There’s…a history there.” He gets a weird expression on his face, one I can’t read. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something that happened at practice…” His voice trails off as I lean in and brush a kiss across his cheek. I’m not quite sure how to maneuver this new…thing we have.

“Is it that you missed me?” I smile.

He stares at me and opens his mouth but then closes it, a shuttered expression on his face.

“Ryker? What’s wrong?’

He swallows and looks down. “Nothing. It can wait.”

“I see.” But, I don’t. He’s being very tightlipped, which means he isn’t ready to talk about what’s on his mind. “Is everything with Archer okay now?” From covering the games, I know tensions run high among players. Sometimes a good old-fashioned fight can settle things down.