Chapter 13

13

Benji

I about lost my shit when Grace picked up the photo of Ava. I wanted to say something— I wanted to tell her, but I froze. Miles and Grace have both mentioned on more than one occasion about what a deadbeat dad they had. I couldn't get myself to tell her. I keep putting it off and the longer I put it off, the worse it's going to be.

The school schedule continues its intensity as the first weeks of classes roll on. Our first home game is only two days away, and the team is pumped and ready. It's the first home game of the season and it's against a rival team. We're excited to play in front of our hometown crowd.

Grace and I have both been busy with classes and homework. Between that and football practices, weight training, and reviewing film, I haven't seen much of her since the night of the storm when I took her virginity.

Our schedules do allow us to see each other most mornings in the kitchen. We're able to sneak a few quick kisses, but we have to be careful of Miles.

That's the thing. This whole thing with Grace is going in a different direction than I ever expected. I scratch my head most days and wonder how we got where we are. My feelings for her are different than feelings I've had in any other relationship. Not sure what I can even call it. A relationship? That scares the crap out of me.

My last relationship was with Rachel and although we both thought it was forever, things changed quickly— especially when Rachel told me she was pregnant. It is forever in the sense that we'll be co-parenting our daughter. Thinking of Rachel and Ava only reminds me I need to tell Grace about my daughter. I've tried a few times, but I always lose my nerve and chicken out.

With Grace's history and her complaints about her unavailable father, I'm worried how she'll feel about me. When she looks up at me with those trusting eyes, I crumble inside.

In Saturday's game, we end up winning by a field goal. Talk about a close game, but a win's a win. So, the coach and the team are happy to put this one in the wins column.

After the game, the team, along with our adoring fans, gather at a house known as the 1800 House —because it's located at 1800 University Drive— it's a three-story home nestled near our campus. Our teammates Chance, Abe, and Cogan always have the best game day parties at the 1800 House.

I'm taking it easy tonight, exhausted from the game, I'm nursing my first beer with Cogan at my side.

Cogan points to the front door where two girls dressed in tight dresses enter the living room. Cogan lets out a whistle. "Wonder what they're after tonight." He chuckles.

I take a pull from my beer bottle as I admire them.

Good looking girls, but Grace seems to always be front and center in my mind.

"Aren't you going to go talk to them," Cogan asks as he empties his beer bottle.

I shrug. "Nah."

The girls spot us and make their way over.

"Looks like you don't have a choice now." Cogan says as he pokes me in the rib with his elbow.

A tall busty blonde in a red dress bumps into me and rubs her chest on my arm. "Hey there." She flops her long hair over her shoulder. "I'm Cassidy."

Same thing every weekend.

I hold up my beer bottle to her. "Hey." I take a pull.

Normally, this kind of thing might entice me, but not tonight. I have absolutely zero interest in anyone other than my sassy little blonde that I share a house with.

"Gonna buy me a drink?" She bats her long eyelashes at me.

Her friend, with dark hair and a pink dress asserts herself in between Cassidy and I. "Hi. I'm Jen."

I nod. "Jen."

Cogan cuts in and starts a conversation with Jen and eventually they move away from us. I'm stuck with Cassidy glued to my arm. "I know you're Benji."

"I am."

"You're in my economics class and I sit behind you."

My eyes travel around the room and my heart picks up a notch when I spot Grace by the stairway.

How'd I miss her coming in?

"…and I barely passed chapter four. What about you?"

"What about me?"

Cassidy's shoulders drop. "Weren't you even listening to me? I asked you what grade you got on the chapter four test." I look down at her— she's like a foot shorter than I am and her bottom lip juts out in a permanent pout.

"I don't remember," I mumble.

Cassidy blathers on about economics class and maybe even about her cat, but I block her out. I'm only interested in my blonde beauty across the room.

She's with two girls I don't know— a girl with long chestnut hair and a curvy blonde with braids. The girl with long hair says something and Grace's face lights up with amusement.

If only I were the one putting that smile on her face.

"We could go back to your house."

I turn to Cassidy. "What now?"

"I said we could go back to your house. I can show you a few of my party tricks."

I raise my eyebrows. "Party tricks?"

She points toward the stairway. "Or we could just go upstairs, and I could give you?—"

"Sorry Cassidy, but tonight's not gonna be your lucky night."

"But it could be your lucky night." She licks her brightly colored lips.

"Sorry." I shrug. "Not happening tonight."

Cassidy lets out a huff of annoyance and leaves my side.

Grace looks around nervously and she smiles when she spots me. She gives me a small wave and mouths hi .

I give her a wink.

She's beautiful tonight. Is she always this beautiful?

She's wearing a red tank top and a denim skirt. She has her hair loose around her shoulders.

I pull out my phone and shoot her a text.

Benji: Meet me outside behind the garage in five.

I tuck the phone back in my pocket. Grace pulls her phone out, reads my message, and grins.

She gives me a beautiful smile and nods.

I slip out the sliding door and wait behind the garage. I hear footsteps and I grab Grace around the waist and pull her into my chest.

She clutches her ribs. "Oh my gosh. You scared me."

I slam my mouth against hers and I melt like an ice cube when her warm tongue meets mine. I groan.

"Missed you," I say between kisses.

"Me too." She gasps for a breath.

Kissing behind her ear, down her neck, onto her collar bone, I can't get enough.

"Benji," she gulps.

I pull her shirt up and slip my hand under her bra. "We can't do this here," she hisses. "What if someone sees us?"

I take a quick look around. "Who's gonna see us?" I run my tongue down her neck. "It's dark," I mumble between kisses to her neck and jaw.

"Hey Miles," someone on the other side of the garage calls out. We break apart.

A football rolls to us and hits my foot. Grace scurries away from me and Miles shows up at my side to retrieve his football. He looks around.

"Whatcha doing out here, man?"

I shrug. "Nothing."

"You out here alone?" Miles looks around again.

"I am now ." I chuckle.

Miles laughs. "Oh no. Did I interrupt something?"

"You could say that."

Yeah, I was just feeling up your little sister.

"Sorry I broke your magic. Carry on," he says and disappears around the garage into the side yard.

The second Miles disappears, all the tension releases from my body.

That was close. Too close.

Fear and doom course through my veins. Not just because Miles almost caught me with his little sister, but because his little sister means more to me than I'm willing to admit.

Grace

I hurry home from the party. When I heard my brother's voice behind the garage, I about had a coronary. Thank goodness I got away in time.

When I get back to the house, it's empty. I pace the living room for a moment as I wait for my heart to slow its pace.

That could've been a major disaster.

I jump when the front door opens.

Benji.

He grabs me around the waist. "I'm sorry about that. Close call."

"Well, who knew he was going to pop out of nowhere like that."

"No one's here. Everyone's at the party. I made sure before I left."

I nod and let out a breath.

Benji takes me by the hand, leads me to his bedroom and closes the door. He undresses me slowly and worships every inch of my body. He quickly loses his clothes, and we collapse on his bed. He's sweet and considerate as we take our time. When he slips into me, I cry out with pleasure.

My release is mind blowing— Benji takes his time to make sure of that. My fingernails dig into his back when he loses control.

He pulls me close and we lay under the quilt— both of us work to catch our breath. We're wrapped in each other's arms— like our own cocoon and safe from the world outside.

"Grace, we need to talk."

Oh no. I thought we were safe.

"Yeah?" My stomach rolls and my palms are damp.

Benji holds me closer. "I don't know where to start," he whispers and lets out a ragged breath.

My heart pounds in my chest and I hold my breath as I wait for his next words.

He's decided this is a bad idea after all. He's getting ready to break my heart.

"This has turned into something," Benji starts. "Something that I never saw coming. Something that I never expected."

I focus on his every word and take short breaths, my heart nearly ready to explode.

"Oh Grace." He kisses me softly. "I care about you so much. I don't want to be with anyone else." He takes a breath. "I only want you."

I turn to him. "What are you saying?"

"I guess I'm saying I want to give this a try." He lightly touches my chest. "I like you." He kisses me again. "I love you."

I'm breathless. "You do?"

"I really do," he says as he runs his fingers down my arm.

I swallow hard as the whole world stops turning on its axis for just this moment. My stomach erupts with a kaleidoscope of butterflies and the feeling of him —of how much I care about him— is so overwhelming I can barely breathe.

But quickly my joy turns to concern.

A player will always be a player … is what Devyn always says. But she loves the players anyway.

"What about the girls at the party? I saw them hitting on you." My stomach clenches and every muscle in my body tightens like a taut rope. "I was jealous."

He shakes his head. "That's the thing— I don't want to be with anyone but you." He takes a deep breath. "I want you to be my girlfriend."

"What about Miles?"

"Haven't figured that one out yet."

We cuddle and talk for hours. We decide to tell Miles when the time feels right.

"There's something else you need to know about me, Grace."

I bite my bottom lip and I close my eyes. "You sound so serious."

"Grace, I have?—"

The front door slams. I gasp and sit up straight.

"Oh no," I whisper.

I hop off the bed and quickly slip into my clothes. I tiptoe to the door, quietly open it, and check the hallway.

The hallway is clear.

I can hear someone in the kitchen. I turn and give Benji a little wave.

"See you later," he whispers with a grin. "Get to your room and I'll talk to you later."

Once I'm safely in my room and the door is closed, I let out a shaky breath.

That was close. Too close.

I collapse on my bed and close my eyes.

He loves me. He wants us to be together.

A wide smile comes over me and I let out a small squeal as I think about everything that just happened with Benji. I'm falling for him, but the thought of my brother finding out makes me worry.

There's no way Miles is going to accept me having a relationship with Benji.