I chuckle at that. “None taken. I’m going to help her pack up. We’ve got an early morning tomorrow. Are you ready?”
“Fuck yeah,” he hollers, scooping me into his arms. “From diapers to dorms. Look at how far we’ve come.”
Shaking my head, I reply, “You’re such a dork. Now get packed so we don’t miss our arrival time.”
The next morning comes faster than I had imagined. Carson, Katie, and I each rode in separate vehicles due to the sheer amount of stuff we had packed. Carson rode to his dorm with my dad while I rode with my mom. Katie rode with her dad, but Griff’s Jeep pulled in behind them, packed to the hilt with bins, bedding, and more clothes than Katie would ever need this year.
Today is move-in day for athletes on campus. From what I’ve heard, the fall and winter sports are the only teams moving in today. We were one of the earliest move-in times.
Katie and I requested to be roommates, and our dorm room is on a floor full of jocks, most likely because it’s the closest to the practice facilities. Our dorm is co-ed, but from the sounds of it, only the men’s basketball, golf, and wrestling teams are in ours. Carson’s dorm is just across the road and houses the football and hockey teams.
“Are you planning to ever wear the same outfit or pair of shoes twice? I think you packed your entire closet. You do remember we live like fifteen miles away, right?” I ask her after taking the fourth trip full of just her clothes up the two flights of stairs to our dorm room.
A few girls from the soccer team are across the hall when we round the corner. Griff is in front of me and Katie, giving me the best view of his bubble butt in his athletic shorts and form-fitting T-shirt.
As we passed the girls in the hall, I heard one of them ask, “Oh my god, is that Griffin Turner?”
Then the girl next to her says, “He’s easily the hottest college hockey player.”
Finally, the third girl chimes in. “Didn’t he get drafted? Wait, do you think he’s transferring here?”
Great. As if I wasn’t already nervous about when Griff goes back to school, now the last three weeks we have together are going to be filled with girls hitting on him whenever he visits me.
The NIL rules that were passed a few months ago have already allowed Griff to make a few lucrative deals with major sporting brands. He’s made deals with Bauer, Gatorade, and Lululemon already. Which means his face is all over social media and ads. Therefore, Griffin Turner has turned into a poster boy athlete for women to fawn over.
I know he would never cheat on me, and the heightened notoriety hasn’t gone to his head. But I’d be a liar if I said it didn’t add to my nerves about our long-distance relationship. My ex, Drew, cheating on me while we were long-distance doesn’t help either.
Once we get to our room, Griff sets down the bins he’s carrying, grabs the hangers from my arms, and tosses the clothes on Katie’s bed.
“Come here, Sunshine.” He pulls me in for a hug, wrapping his arms around my waist. He bends his head to whisper in my ear. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, Kenna. I’m crazy about you—some might say obsessed.”
I smile at his attempt to reassure me. “I know you are, and I am, too. I know you’d never cheat on me, Griff. But I’m not going to lie and say I won’t be jealous of the fact that other girls get to ogle my man when we’re long-distance. But I’m sure that’s nothing a little FaceTiming can’t fix.”
He sighs in relief, most likely because he’s used to drawn-out fights with Emily over other girls. “What kind of FaceTime calls are we talking about?”
I pull away and innocently respond, “Oh, you know. The kind where you show me the goods no one but me gets the pleasure of seeing.”
Griff chuckles and pulls me back into his chest. “Mmm—I think I can do that. As long as I get to see my girl like no one else does, too.” He brings me in for a kiss that is far from innocent.
“Ahem!” Katie interrupts, breaking us apart. “G, I think we’re all done with your muscle services for now. Why don’t you lend me back my bestie for the rest of the day so we can get our room set up and do some girlie shit.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll take your not-so-subtle dismissal and leave,” Griff replies before bringing me in for another quick kiss and a tight hug. “FaceTime me later, Sunshine?”
I laugh at his lack of subtlety—it’s just as bad as Katie’s attempt. “I’ll call you later. We’ve got to figure out plans for Jackson’s party on Friday, too.”
Once he shuts the door behind him, Katie grabs my hand and sits on my empty bed.
“Can you fricken believe it?! We’re freshmen in college. We’re rooming together. And we’re both starting training camp in a few days as college volleyball players on the same damn team. What a time to be alive, Mack!” Katie squeals with excitement.
I turn my head to look at her. “You’re more than my best friend—you’re like the sister I never had, Katie. Of course, we’re doing this together!”
All of a sudden, and out of nowhere, Katie bursts into laughter. “Remember yesterday when you thought Carson and I were hooking up? That shit was hilarious.”
I want so badly to tell her I know she and Carson kissed, but I’ll let her come to me with that when she’s ready. Instead, I suggest, “We could save a ton of money if we did a double wedding.”
“Dear god, Mack! The only wedding I foresee happening between a Turner and a Wilder is you and my brother.”
If that ever happens, I have no doubt it will be the best day of my entire existence.
