Page 98 of Return Policy
“That isnothappening.” He kisses me softly on the lips, slipping his addicting tongue into my mouth before pulling away. “But more study sessions, sure, we can do that.”
26
ELIJAH
I’m doing my typical pregame routine. Stretching. Listening to my playlist. Leaving Dino a voicemail. Thinking about Sophia.
The only problem is, the last part usually calms me, but instead it feels like every inch of my skin is crawling with unknowns.
The more time passes since Halloween, the more my curiosity grows.
When we’re together, I still feel like she’s the girl I’ve been falling for this whole time. I just hate that she’s hiding something from me.Something she’s also hiding from the police?I thought she had things she just wasn’t ready to share with meyet.A defense mechanism I understand all too well. There’s so much I want to tell her, but I’m just not ready…Will I ever be ready?
Our reality is so much worse. She’s activelyhidingsomething from me. I’ve never once judged her—always being entirely open and understanding.
So why won’t she share this with me?
Thisthingher ex knows and holds over her head like a bucket of freezing cold water, eager for the chance to ice her out.
Man, I hate that guy.
I don’t know what else to do to show her she can trust me. Can she tell I’m hiding something too?
Thankfully, the game distracts me the rest of the afternoon. After scoring an easy victory and taking showers, Julian, Theo, and I walk out of the stadium, heading straight for the girls.
“Hey there, Honey Bee,” Sophia says, greeting me with a long, hungry kiss. My lips curve up halfway through. Regardless of my doubts, I still crave to be around her.
“Miss me that much?”
“Just wanted to show the world who the star quarterback belongs to.”
“I played for one quarter.” I laugh, pecking her again, thankful for the ego boost.
“And you made a touchdown.” She waggles her eyebrows at me. “A win is a win.”
“Fine, a win is a win.” I kiss her again. “But you know…” I rest my forehead against hers. “I’d much rather you stroke my cock than my ego.” Her cheeks flush pink, and someone clears their throat.
“Okay, on that note,” Theo says, ruffling his hair, “can we head out? I told Stella I’d meet her at Noah’s party.”
I chuckle. “Sure, let’s go.” We head to the parking garage outside the athletic student dorm. Julian and Sage ride with Theo, and Sophia rides with me.
“Wanna go for a run in the morning?” I ask, pulling onto the main road.
She groans, throwing her head against the headrest. “Can you just let me have one hangover day where I’m not forced to do physical exercise?”
“All kinds of physical exercise?” I glide a hand up her leg, and she clenches her thighs together, trapping it between them.
“Fine,” she says, mock annoyed. “Where you don’t make meruna half marathon.”
I chuckle. “Running is the best way to sweat out a hangover.”
“I think I’d rather keep in the sweatandthe hangover.”
“Maybe lay off the tequila tonight and you’ll be able to manage our morning training regimen,” I suggest, wiggling my fingers between her legs, causing her to laugh as we stop at a red light.
“How about I only drink abitof tequila and we think of more creative ways totrainin the morning.” My truck jolts forward, causing my head to snap hard against my seat. “Shit!” My eyes flick to the rearview mirror to see Theo’s Range Rover kissing my back bumper. “Are you okay?” I ask Sophia, looking over, but she doesn’t appear to have any visible injuries. “Theo just rear-ended me.”
“I think so,” she says quietly as I pull the car off the shoulder, pressing the hazards button, with Theo following my lead. I take a deep breath to refrain from killing my best friend—for the fourth time this semester—and hop out of the truck.
