Chapter 24

chapter twenty-four

Quinn

Watching Gavin at the animal shelter is better than watching him on the football field. He is a natural.

I got home and thought about him all evening. By the time Ava came back from visiting her parents, I was giddy with excitement.

"What about Collins?" She asks, "Remi said he was at the gym talking about you."

I shake my head, "I've made it clear that we're done."

She growls, "Why does it seem like he's the type that won't take no for an answer."

"Because he is. The guy is used to getting his way."

Worry floods her expression, "And what happens when he doesn't get his way?"

I shrug, "Guess we will find out."

She claps excitedly, "I love this version of you. It's cute and also kinda scary."

"I'm just sick of being lied to."

She falls back onto her bed dramatically, "Why are guys such jerks?"

"Not all guys," I grin.

She rolls onto her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows, "You totally like him!"

"He's very likable."

She groans, "So is his bestie."

"Why are you groaning like that's a bad thing? Remi totally has the hots for you."

She pouts, "He has said multiple times that he doesn't want a girlfriend. He literally mentions it in every single conversation we have."

I wiggle my brows, "Maybe he's deflecting."

I truly believe that because I am a master at hiding my feelings and guarding my heart. Maybe Remi is doing the same thing. Maybe he's just afraid.

I don't blame him.

Her lips tilt into a curve, "It's alright. I have a plan."

I toss a pillow from my bed to hers, "Poor Remi, don't seduce him. Maybe he's not ready for a full blown Ava in lingerie at his front door moment."

She holds her hands up in surrender, "That was one freaking time! I'm never telling you anything ever again. I'm not gonna show up at his door in my panties. I'm just… going to show him how good we could be together."

"I understand," I say. "Gavin and I could be it. End game. One hundred percent."

Her head whips up, her mouth wide open in surprise. "You know that already?"

I know it seems crazy, but it's true. I just feel a connection with him that I've never felt with anyone else before. He's my calm.

I try to explain myself, "Well, of course I haven't told him that, but yeah. I feel like there's just something there."

She shrugs, "When you know, you know… I guess."

I've only been here for a few weeks, and I'm already feeling so many emotions it's hard to express them, let alone put them into words.

A faint knock at the door sends my heart into a panic. The last time I opened that door it was Grayson, and I don't have the energy for another conversation with him. Ava pads to the door and pulls it back, instantly slamming it closed.

"Oh my god!" She squeals, "It's Remi. I look like Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Please for the love of God, get rid of him!"

She buries herself in a mound of pillows and blankets on her bed, so I open the door back up. "I'm sorry about her, she's…"

Remi looks past me over my shoulder to the moving mound on the bed. "Hi, Ava!"

His voice is sweet and tantalizing, but I only hear Ava groan under the mess.

"Wanna go to the library?" He asks, "I was out on Friday and I wanted to see if I could borrow your notes."

"Sure," I agree, turning back to Ava. "You wanna come with us to the library?"

Remi smirks, watching the pile move, "Yeah, Ava, wanna come?"

She's silent for a minute before groaning, "Goodbye, Wilson!"

I burst into a fit of laughter, while Remi stands there thoroughly confused. I grab my backpack and follow him out the door. "Don't ask."

When we make it across campus to the library, it's completely empty. Sunday evening library meets have sort of become our thing, and I love the fact that it's not very crowded.

"Why didn't Ava want to come?" He asks, pulling several books from his bag.

I shrug, "She thought she looked bad."

"She's right, she's so hideous " He emphasizes. "That girl kills me."

I smile softly, but try to hide it. "Kills you, eh?"

"Yes. She's infuriating."

I tilt my brows inward with confusion, "Infuriating?"

"What's with the questions?"

I shrug and grin, "I'm just saying, it sounds like you guys might like each other."

"No," He deadpans. "I can't like her."

"Why not?"

He presses his lips into a fine line, "Because I don't wanna do the whole talk and not date, accompanied with trying not to catch feelings so I don't get hurt thing."

I smile, and I can tell he's getting aggravated with me. "Who's to say you'll get hurt?"

"Who's to say I won't?"

That's fair.

I understand the hesitancy, and honestly, a relationship can be exhausting. Especially a toxic one, so I don't blame him for guarding his heart.

He looks down at his notebook and continues scribbling a copy of my notes. I want to ask him about his previous relationships, see why he's got his walls up to the clouds, but I don't.

It's none of my business.

"I saw Gavin in the driveway as I was leaving to come here. He was jealous that I was coming to see his girl."

The way he says his girl makes my stomach flip.

"We hung out today," I blush. "Then he had to go meet with Levi at the training facility."

"Yeah," He sighs. "Gavin doesn't seem to be as interested in playing receiver as Levi wants him to be. It drives him crazy."

I blow out a breath, "It's a lot of pressure."

Remi nods, "Yeah, Gavin gets it more than anyone. He doesn't want to admit how good he is because he doesn't want to upset Levi, but he could easily get drafted."

I've never even entertained the idea that this is college and the pro scouts start looking at athletes here. The fact that they could want Gavin? That's impressive. No wonder he's so stressed out about football. I can't imagine.

"What happens if he doesn't want to get drafted?"

Remi snorts at my question, and shakes his head, "Gavin eats, sleeps and breathes football. I figured you'd know that by now."

I know more than anyone, I think to myself. Gavin just doesn't want to disappoint anyone, especially his family and friends.

"It's crazy y'all met over the summer and both ended up here," he says, never looking up from his notebook. "Makes me look like a jackass for talking about how awesome and pretty you are right in front of him on that first day of classes. "

His comment doesn't feel as awkward as it probably should. Instead, it just feels like two friends talking.

"He'll be really happy to hear what I think about you then." I tease.

He smiles, "He's a good dude. I approve. I think you should go for it."

I wince, "We kinda already went for it."

He tosses his pen down on the table, "You guys hooked up didn't you?"

I shrug him off and pass the notebook I'm writing in over his way with YES scribbled in the corner of the notebook paper.

He tsks, "Little lady, you have stirred up quite a mess with the Golden Eagle football team."

I know, Remi. I freaking know.