Jockblocked: A Novel (Gridiron Book 2)(45)

Hammer and I were in the same Lit class, and we happened to be reading Moby Dick. We took that book with us everywhere, not because it was a great read, but because it was so frickin’ boring. We had to force ourselves to finish it. Coach caught us one day and dragged the public relations person in.

We were told to wear our football pants and team workout T-shirts for the article so the outside world would believe we were something more than dumb jocks. As if we sit around the locker room with pants on. What a crock!

“What’s your favorite book?” she asks.

“I don’t have one favorite book.” I try to keep the triumph out of my tone. Don’t know how successful I am.

“Name one and don’t be so smug.”

Not very successful.

“It’s a series. Harry Potter. I grew up reading that series.”

“What’s your Patronus?”

“Ah ah ah,” I say. “You’re not getting that out of me. I’m not near drunk enough.” Tell her the spirit animal I picked out at the age of eight? No.

“I work at the Brew House. If you tell me what it is, I’ll make your Patronus out of foam.”

“That’s tempting, but still no.” I lean against the door, thinking this is probably the least sexual but most interesting conversation I’ve ever had in my bedroom before. “Can you really do that? Make pictures out of milk.”

The door opens and Lucy appears in skinny jeans and an oversized off-white sweater that hides all the good parts, including her ass. But she still looks sexy as hell. It’s like the wrapping on a present. I can’t wait to peel it off her.

“Actually, no. The most I can do is a leaf and a heart.” She drops her folded pajamas into her bag and picks up her insulin case. “I’m not quizzing you anymore, so you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but favorite character of the series?”

“Snape,” I answer immediately.

“Really?”

“You think I was going to say Ron?” I’m slightly offended.

She laughs. “No. I don’t think Ron is anyone’s favorite character. But don’t most guys like Harry or, I guess, Draco?”

“Nah, Snape was the best. He had a big heart and was courageous.”

She chews the corner of her lip. “Also a bully, but I can see where you get the other characteristics.” Lightly, she tosses her case from one hand to the other. “So no class for you today?”

I shake my head. “Nah. I attended last week. I don’t want my professors to keel over in shock by going too often. Besides, this is my break. I don’t get a fall break, Thanksgiving break, and only about three days off at Christmas. Even Spring Break is out because we’re in the middle of spring ball, so I don’t go to class full-time until after Signing Day. All the professors know this and deal with it.” It’s a perk of being on the championship winning team, and I take full advantage of it. “What do you have?”

“Policy and Prose, which is about writing persuasive legislative works.”

“You interested in politics?” I ask in surprise, halting in the middle of clearing away the breakfast shit. She just didn’t seem the type—not that I really know what that type would be.

“No, I’m interested in policy. I’d like to get a job at a think tank and just write all day. That’d be my dream job. It’s one of the things I like about mock trial. It forces you to look at one problem from both sides. We have to present both defense and plaintiff sides of the case.”

“Cool.” We need smart people writing our laws. Her black case catches my eye. “Do you need to give yourself a shot? I assume you can do it yourself, but I’m here to help if you need it.”

“Yes, but I’d rather not while you’re here.”

“Gotcha. I’ll take this stuff downstairs. You have everything you need before we leave?”

“Before we leave for where?” Her forehead crinkles.

“Before we leave for class.”

“I thought you weren’t going to class.”

“I’m not. I’m walking you to class.”

As I exit, she’s still sputtering.





16





Matty




In the end, I let her go by herself. I know full well she doesn’t want to be seen with me because of Ace. Isn’t that a kicker? I’ve never had a problem with someone—girl or guy—wanting to be seen with me. Where the hell did he think she was going to sleep? Shit, that he just kicked her out and didn’t make sure she had a safe place last night really rustled my jimmies.

Even if I did have a friend like Luce whom I hadn’t tried to bone a hundred different ways, I wouldn’t have made her sleep in the living room of a house that saw more action than a brothel in Reno.

“You want to tell me what the hell that’s about?” Hammer questions when the door closes. “When we gave you all that information, I thought you’d use it to, like, persuade her to help our cause. Not into your bed.” He stops and glares at me. “Are you trying to use your dick to convince her that Ace needs to move?”

“I don’t know whether to be chuffed or disturbed you think my dick is that powerful.” I scratch my chest, debating whether I want to go over to the athletic facility for something to eat or just rustle up a mid-morning snack here. Five pieces of bacon and a piece of toast aren’t enough to keep a bird alive.