But not mine.
HAYES is printed across the back in bold letters, his number stitched onto the sleeve.
I exhale through my nose, trying to shake the irrational irritation creeping up my spine. It's just a hoodie, just a piece of clothing. It's not like she's wearing it to make a statement.
Still.
The sight of her in another man's clothes—in Carter's clothes—sits like a stone in my gut. It makes me wonder if I've been reading everything wrong, if the moments between us have been one-sided.
I shove my hands into my hoodie pocket as I cross the street toward her. She doesn't see me at first, too focused on whatever's on her screen, but when I stop in front of her, she finally looks up.
Her eyes widen slightly before she gives me a small smile, a real one that reaches her eyes. "Hey, Montgomery."
I smirk, pushing down the jealousy still clawing at my insides. "Montgomery? We back to last names now?"
She shrugs, taking a sip of her coffee. "Figured I'd change it up."
I tilt my head, taking her in. "Didn't peg you as the type to be up this early on a Saturday."
She rolls her eyes. "Believe me, I'm regretting it, but Lyla had a study group, and I couldn't sleep, so…" She gestures to her coffee. "Here we are."
I nod, rocking back on my heels. The past few days have been...easy. We've been texting back and forth—not anything serious, just random shit. She asks what I had for dinner. I ask what her current favorite song is. She sends me a picture of some weird snack combo she's obsessed with, and I pretend to be disgusted, even though I know I'd probably eat it.
It's simple. Normal, even. Progress.
I shift my weight. "You ready for the game?"
She raises a brow. "You're asking me if I'm ready when you’re the one who has to play?"
I smirk. "Yeah. You're the one wearing a football hoodie and everything." I say it casually, like I don't notice whose hoodie it is,like it doesn't cut me to see her in it, but I think she catches something in my tone anyway.
She glances down at it, her brow furrowing. She looks down at the sleeve before her eyes go wide. "What the hell? I just grabbed this sweatshirt out of the back seat of Lyla’s car this morning. I didn’t expect it to be so cold and assumed this was just one she got oversized.”
I gape at her. “Lyla? As in your roommate who happens to be the football coach’s daughter…had the quarterback's hoodie in her car?”
Madison shakes her head, complete shock still on her face.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” My voice dropping to a whisper.
“If you’re thinking Carter is fucking his coach’s daughter, then yes. Yes, I am.” A smirk is slowly growing on her gorgeous face. “Damn, Ly. I hope she enjoys her study group, because I have a lot of questions for her once she’s done.”
Even though I know she didn’t wear another man's sweatshirt on purpose, my fingers twitch slightly at my sides, and I have the sudden urge to see her in my hoodie instead.
Trust me, I've fantasized about her with my last name across her back many times, in many places that definitely included her in my jersey. In nothingbutmy jersey. Simply recalling that little fact makes my cock twitch, but it's more than that—more than just physical. I want to see her wearing my name because it would mean something. It would be a declaration, a statement that she's finally mine.
I clear my throat, swallowing the yearning that threatens to choke me. “Here.” Pulling my hoodie over my head, I hand it over to her, a small blush working its way up her neck and onto her cheeks. “Just in case you need a new one once you returnthatone to your roommate.”
“Always such a gentleman.” Madison laughs as she takes the hoodie from me.
I’ve never been so glad she can’t seem to read my thoughts. Chuckling, I change the subject. “So, you coming?"
She hesitates, biting her lip like she's considering it. "I don't know, Jax."
I sigh, tilting my head. "Come on, Mads. We both know you don't have a real excuse. What else are you gonna do, sit at home and pretend to study?"
She groans, shaking her head. "You're so annoying."
I grin, taking a step closer. "And yet, you still talk to me."
