Chapter Forty-Eight WILLOW

It’s after school and I’m doing something I’ve never done before.

Going to football practice.

Thankfully, I’m not going alone. Iris is tagging along because of course she is. She and Brooks are basically out as a couple. He sat with us at lunch today and they walked to classes together holding hands. If that isn’t telling the world that you’re together, I don’t know what is.

I wish Rhett and I could do that. Maybe we will here soon. He needs to show up for class though first.

One step at a time, I guess.

We climb the bleachers and sit about halfway up, right on the fifty-yard line. There aren’t as many girls here as there were when school first started and I’m relieved. I don’t want to fight for attention amongst the Rhett Bennett fan club, but I do have the advantage of being the only girl he’s interested in, so I try my best to remember that.

Even if there are a couple of girls surrounding us who are cheering him on. I can’t get mad or jealous.

Okay, I’m not mad, but I am the teeniest bit jealous.

Iris kicks back, propping her arms and back onto the bench above us and stretching her long legs out as she keeps her gaze focused on the field. “I can’t believe I’m dating Brooks Crosby. I used to draw monster pictures with crayon in elementary school and then name them Brooks.”

I burst out laughing. “You did not.”

“I so did. He drove me bonkers. He still does.” Her smile is soft, her gaze going hazy. “He’s such a good kisser though. Who knew?”

Shaking my head, I scan the field until I find Brooks, who’s currently doing some sort of weird dance that looks extra goofy considering his size. “He’s silly.”

“He makes me laugh.” Iris is watching him too. “I like that he’s silly.”

“You need silly. Sometimes you’re a little too serious.” I pause. “Well, serious isn’t the right word. You’re too …”

“Dramatic,” she supplies for me. “He takes me down a notch, which I need. I like that about him. I like a lot of things about him.”

I make like I’m going to cover my ears with my hands. “If you say anything about particular body parts or how good he is with them, I’m going to scream.”

“Ha! I won’t torture you out here in public.” She glances around at the smattering of girls and guys sitting in the stands. “I don’t want anyone knowing how good I’ve got it. He seems to cruise under the radar. Unlike your guy.”

My heart warms at hearing Rhett referred to as my guy, though I don’t love everything she said. Not like she’s lying though. Rhett definitely brings a lot of attention on himself. He’s the current face of the athletic department. Feels like everyone is watching him at all times, and I wonder if he hates that.

I’m sure he does. It’s a lot of pressure.

“Where is he?” Iris asks when I remain quiet. “I figured he’d show up to practice. If he doesn’t, those quit the team rumors will really gain some legs.”

“I’m surprised there aren’t more people out here to see if he’d show up,” I mumble.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

A sigh leaves me and I lean in close, lowering my voice. “He had a meeting with Westscott and his parents. Oh, and someone from the board of trustees.”

Iris’s brows shoot up. “I wonder if it was your uncle Grant. He is the president, you know.”

“I’m not sure.” I didn’t even think about that. Uncle Grant is just as grumpy as Iris’s dad. Together those two are a force most don’t want to reckon with.

“I bet Westscott gets fired.”

“I would feel bad if he did.”

“Look, Willow, you’re not responsible for his behavior. He’s the one who threatened you. Who butted into your personal business and tried to tell you what to do. He has no right to do that, and if he gets in trouble and gets fired, then that’s on him. Not you.” Iris’s eyes blaze with anger, and I can’t lie, I’m shocked by her outburst.

But I’m also realizing she’s just speaking the truth.

“Fine. You’re right.” My gaze goes to the sidelines, wishing Rhett was standing there. I need to see him. I go a couple of hours without him and I feel like a junkie needing her fix. “He’s a jerk.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“And if he gets fired, I have nothing to do with it.” I’m saying this like I need to hear it, which I do. “He brought it on himself.”

“Exactly.” All the boys on the field start yelling and we both turn our heads to see what’s going on.

My heart trips over itself when I see who’s joined them out on the field.

It’s Rhett. All of his teammates surround him, celebrating his return, even though he never really left, and I can’t help but smile as I watch him. He’s smiling and laughing as they all crowd him, one of their coaches eventually blowing his whistle to get them to break up and get back to practice.

Within minutes he’s out on the field, throwing the ball to Brooks, who catches it with ease. I watch them, impressed with how far he can throw the ball, and how Brooks catches it every time. They’re good together, which is kind of fun.

Me and my best friend have fallen for best friends. How convenient is that?

“I love watching them play together,” Iris murmurs, like she’s in my head and knows what I’m thinking.

“I do too.” I send her a quick smile. “They’re good.”

“So good.” Iris nods. “You going to talk to Rhett after practice?”

“Definitely.”

“I’ll distract Brooks so you can have Rhett all to yourself.”

“I think you’re making that offer because you want Brooks all to yourself.”

Iris giggles. “Busted. You caught me.”

“I don’t blame you.” My gaze returns to the field.

I want Rhett all to myself too.

***

I wait for him by the stadium gates alone. Iris and Brooks already left together, and Brooks let me know Rhett was talking to the coaching staff, but he’d be out soon.

Girls study me with curiosity in their eyes as they reluctantly leave the stadium, and I know they’re wondering why I’m here, and why I’m waiting. They have no idea how important Rhett has become to me in such a short amount of time, and I can’t wait to let everyone know we’re actually together.

Hopefully, Rhett wants the same thing. I’m pretty sure he does, but there’s always that hint of doubt that lives inside me. I worry a lot about everything, and most of the time, it’s like I can’t help it.

Leaning against the chain-link fence, I check my phone, bored. Anxious. Eager to see him. And when he finally appears, clad in a pair of navy sweatpants with the Lancaster Prep logo stitched on it and a gray T-shirt that says Lancaster Lions across the front, the relief that floods my body at seeing him leaves me weak.

And excited. So, so excited.

When he spots me, a slow, confident smile spreads across his handsome face and I don’t even think. I just run toward him, breathless when he pulls me into his arms and holds me close, his hands landing on my butt and hauling me closer. I’m laughing, and then he’s kissing me, not caring if there are people around, not giving a crap who might see. I return the kiss with all of the emotion I can pour into it, wanting him to know how much I missed him, even though I saw him only a few hours ago.

It still felt like a long time, with uncertainty hanging over us, and I hated that.

“Someone’s glad to see me,” he murmurs against my lips once he breaks the kiss.

Reaching up, I touch the corner of his mouth, unable to resist. “I could say the same thing.”

He squeezes my butt, somehow pulling me even closer to him. “Felt good to be out there, knowing you were watching me.”

“Did it? You saw me?”

“Baby, I couldn’t miss you. My eyes go to you every time we’re near each other. Don’t you realize that?”

His words make my heart feel like it’s going to take flight straight out of my chest. I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his skin, breathing him in. “You say the best things.”

“Just telling the truth.” He kisses my cheek and then pulls away. “Want to get out of here?”

I frown. “Where do you want to go?”

“I was thinking your room.” He shrugs, playing it cool. “If you want.”

I want, I want, I want.

“Sure.” I pull out of his arms and grab his hand. “Let’s go.”

Much like Iris and Brooks walked around campus hand in hand, Rhett and I do the same. It feels good, having his fingers curled around mine, occasionally bumping into each other as we walk like we can’t help ourselves. Which I can’t. I want to be close to him always.

By the time we’re walking into my dorm suite, I’m full of anticipation, dying to feel his hands and mouth on me again, but instead, he starts wandering around the room, checking everything out.

“You’re not messy,” he observes as he studies the top of my desk, where everything is neatly in its place. Much like the rest of my room.

“I leave that up to Iris.”

He goes to the window and stares out at the view of the caretaker’s cottage and gardens in the distance. It’s a great view—not that I’m trying to spy on the caretaker, but I love all the roses that bloom there. They’re as beautiful as the ones in the garden behind the library.

“I bet you’re sad you can’t see any statues out there,” he says, turning to face me with a big smile on his face. “You miss Ezekiel?”

“Absolutely not.” I lunge for him like I have no control over myself, throwing myself at him and tugging his head down so his mouth is on mine. “I missed you though.”

“I missed you too.”

We lose ourselves in the kiss, our tongues sliding against each other. He groans. I whimper. His hands are everywhere, mapping my body, trying to touch actual skin. Without hesitation, he slips his hands beneath my skirt, palming my panty-covered butt and I end the kiss, trying to catch my breath.

“Sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry at all. “I get you alone and this is all I can think about.”

“What exactly are you referring to?” I’m pretty confident I know what he means. I just need to hear him say it.

“Getting my hands on you. Stripping you naked.” His smile is sheepish. “But if you’re not ready for any of that …”

I step forward, clapping my hand over his mouth and silencing him. “I’m ready for it.”

When I drop my hand from his face he asks, “Are you sure?” Nodding, I go to my nightstand and pull open the top drawer, pulling out a box of condoms. “I’m fully prepared.”

The expression on his face tells me I shocked him. “Where did you get those?”

“Brooks. Well, Iris got them for me. When she told him they were for us, he gave her an entire box.”

Rhett doesn’t come closer. It’s almost as if he’s keeping away from me on purpose. “Are you sure, princess? We can do other stuff if you want.” His grin is wicked. “I’m always up for the other stuff too.”

I am as well, but …

“I’m ready.” My voice is soft. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. “I mean, we need to lead up to it. I don’t think I want you to pounce.”

He smiles. Kisses me.

And then he pounces.