My stomach twists at the mention of my advisor, but apparently anger is stronger than fear in the heat of the moment.
“What part of broke don’t you understand? My savings are gone, and I maxed out my credit card just to be here today.” I glare daggers at him, wishing the heat of my stare could melt the flesh from his bones. “I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
“Come on, Piper.” He cocks his head and an oily smile spreads across his face. “We both know there are other ways you could pay for my silence.”
Bile stings the back of my throat, trapping my words.
“I’ve seen your channel.” He leans in close, bracing his left arm against the wall beside my head as he cups my chin with his right hand. “I know exactly what you can do with this body.” He drags his thumb across my lower lip and revulsion crawls across my skin. “And I wouldn’t mind having my own dirty little slut on speed dial.”
37
BRADY
It’s go time.
I sling my bag over my shoulder and follow Parker into the hall, pulling the door to our hotel room shut behind us. Reid and Coop are waiting, and as we make our way to the elevators, we’re joined by a dozen other Waverly players.
The bus to the stadium leaves in five minutes and Coach made it crystal clear that if we aren’t on it, there will be hell to pay.
“Fuck.” Parker shoves his fingers through his short hair. “Am I the only one who’s nervous as hell?”
“Nah,” says Smith. “I’ve had the shits all day.”
“Dude.” Coop shoots him a disgusted look. “TMI.”
“Just be glad you’re not his roommate,” Williams chimes in, not bothering to look up from his phone as he taps out a message.
“Anyone know where we’re partying tonight?” Parker asks. “I want to give Sutton a heads up.”
My chest tightens and I tune out as Reid rattles off a few places he’s vetted.
No matter how badly I’d like to celebrate with Piper tonight, it’s not going to happen.
By the time the game ends and we get cleaned up, it’ll be after midnight, and I can’t catch a flight out until morning.
It sucks, but with the season ending, things will be easier when I get back to campus.
Unfortunately, the knowledge doesn’t make it any easier to stave off jealousy when my roommates mention their own girlfriends, all of whom are here in Miami. After months of sneaking around, my boys have finally gone official and I’ve never seen them happier.
We huddle up at the elevators and Reid calls the first car.
Being friends with the team captain has its perks.
It’s a quick ride and when the doors slide open to reveal the lobby, no one moves.
The place is a madhouse.
When we came back from lunch, the lobby was a graveyard, but now, a horde of blue and red clad fans fills the space as they indulge in pre-game libations.
“Shit just got real,” Coop deadpans.
Reid rolls his shoulders, stoic as ever. “We go straight to the bus. No chitchat. No autographs. No interviews.”
We all agree and follow our team captain as he cuts a path through the crowd.
I make it all of five yards before I spot a woman who’s the spitting image of Piper.
The fuck?
