Chapter 15

“These are interesting seats for someone who's apparently the special guest of the football team.”

Pursing my lips, I held off screaming at Dash because what use would that do? He caught me in a lie and was now gloating over it.

With his thick brow raised, he was waiting for me to answer. My lip curled and I was two steps away from growling at him. This entire situation was my own fault. I shouldn’t have goaded him into a reaction at the hockey dorm, but I couldn’t help myself. Watching him grumble was one of my favorite hobbies.

“Are they worried that if you sit too close, you'll be a distraction, or did you only get relegated to these seats after you told them you were bringing the hockey team? Are we too much of a distraction for them ?”

Was Dash trying to be funny? Wow, things had gotten really bad for me if Dash was smug enough to think he could crack a joke.

I folded my arms in a vain attempt to stop from snarling, but it was hopeless. He knew he'd gotten to me, and if I didn't want to sit on his face so badly, I'd choke him out right now.

Tonight was not going to plan. I was supposed to be in my dorm right now. Relaxing and watching The Baseball Bachelor while I texted Dash obscene things, assuming he'd come to his senses and barge through my door and claim me as his, like in those old-fashioned romance novels. I was not supposed to be freezing my ass off at a football game, and I certainly was not supposed to be at this game with Dash.

“I can't believe you're here,” I grumbled under my breath as I looked to the ground and scuffed the concrete with my sneaker. A chill ran up my spine and it wasn’t because Dash’s arm brushed against mine. It was because it was a little breezy tonight, but I refused to wear my sweatshirt since I was wearing the free T-shirt I got with the ticket purchase.

What could I say? I’d paid an extortionate amount for nosebleed tickets for everyone so that I didn’t have to come clean and admit no one invited me.

“You and me both,” he grumbled, back to his old ways. The only saving grace of this entire thing was that at least I wasn't the only one having a miserable time.

Cade barked out a laugh from the other side of Scotty, which only served to annoy me more.

“I also can't believe you brought my brother along.”

That was an extra sixty bucks down the drain that I could have used on a manicure.

“That had nothing to do with me. He invited himself. He thinks you’re sleeping with one of the guys on the football team. Although, I'm guessing these seats have made him realize what a ridiculous assumption that was.”

I was going to kill him. Straight after having sex with him one more time, I was going to wrangle his neck and make sure no one could look into his pretty brown eyes ever again.

I sounded as unhinged as I felt.

“Did it ever occur to you that I might have agreed to a little fun with them? That maybe I was here to surprise them, and that you ruined that with your giant ego and not so giant nether regions?”

I glanced down at his sweatpants, lying through my teeth because I knew how big he felt when he was inside me; and although I hadn’t been brave enough to look at the time, I could clearly see the bulge in his pants from here.

“Them?”

“Well, I do have more than one hole, don't I? Figured I’d make use of them all.”

Thank goodness Scotty was in between me and Cade, so he didn't hear that, but honestly, Dash's reaction would have almost made it worth scarring my brother for the rest of his life.

Even though his jaw was clenched, and he was doing everything possible to tame his reaction, his face was turning red. Almost like he was going to explode.

“Stop it, Madison.”

“Stop what?” I replied innocently. “My sexual awakening? Because I guess I should be saying thank you, Dash. You opened me up to new things, literally. Now, I'm ready to explore.”

Stone-faced, he didn't find me funny, but that was good. He wasn't supposed to.

“Speaking of exploring.” I leaned forward, looking between the three hockey players that came, surprised that I didn't also see another with dirty-blonde hair. “Where's Alex?”

“You scared him off last time,” Dash replied bluntly.

“Did I? He seemed absolutely fine sitting next to me earlier.”

“I’m guessing he didn’t have a choice in seats.” He’d be right. I plopped myself right next to Alex the minute I saw him in the hockey dorm, knowing full well it would annoy Dash the most.

Dash could be cold when he wanted to be, but I could see through it. He was going to keep pushing me away, and I was going to keep teasing him until he came to his senses.

“Besides, do you really think a guy like Alex could handle a girl like you?” He was staring at his phone, barely paying attention to me as he flicked through the Chally Sports app.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re too good for any asshole in this college, and the sooner you understand that, the better my blood pressure will be.”

It was the most casual declaration of love I’d ever heard. Okay, declaration of love might be a little strong, but it did sound like he was giving a coffee order instead of telling me I was too good for anyone else here.

Blowing out a breath, I subtly glanced over my shoulder to Cade. I wanted to push Dash more, but I didn’t know how far I could take it with my brother around. I respected him enough not to kiss his friend in public, but that didn’t mean I could get away with some other things.

“Dash.” I purposely drew out the ‘a’ in his name because that was what I did when we were in bed together. Then, I looked back at him and batted my eyelashes.

That got his attention. So, with my back to Cade and Scotty, I gripped my neck and let my nails dig in ever so slightly. Taking in a sharp, almost moaning, breath, I said, “I'm so thirsty.”

Dash’s eye flicked to my throat, and his jaw tensed, but he refused to act like I was getting to him.

“Tell me about it.”

Oh, he could act like I wasn't getting to him all he wanted, but his eyes gave him away. He was staring at my hand like it was wrapped around something else. Granted, it was a heck of a lot girthier than a dick, but Dash was getting the point loud and clear. So, I pressed the pads of my fingers down and let out the softest of whimpers. One I knew only Dash could hear.

His Adam’s apple bobbed, but again, there was no change in his facial expression.

“Are you thirsty too, Big Man? Maybe you could get us a drink.”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” I said innocently while stroking my neck. Up and down. Down and up.

“I'm just so thirsty,” I said again, licking the corners of my mouth before biting at my bottom lip.

“Fine,” he grumbled, and I stopped myself from smirking because I could hear it in his tone. I’d definitely gotten to him. “But I'm only doing it so I don't have to suffer through the boredom of watching Aiden continually miss throwing a ball to Adam.”

“I doubt he misses much. I’ve heard some stories about him. Have you? ”

“Yes, and he misses all the time. Particularly with the one girl he’s actually interested in.” Those words. Why did they sound so menacing, and more importantly why was I getting a little aroused at his surliness? “What do you want to drink?”

“A Crushie Slushy please.”

“Those are only available at the rink.”

“What? Why?”

“Clue is in the name, sweetheart. Crushie. They're the Covey Crusher's drink.”

“But we're in California. It's always hot outside. Wouldn't it make sense to have them available?”

“I'm not standing here and debating Covey U's marketing strategy with you. You either tell me what you want right now, or I'll choose.”

I raised my hand flippantly. “Fine. You can choose because if there isn't something to turn my tongue a different color, then I don't want it.”

“I’ve got something that could do that for you.”

His eyes were dark, and he hadn’t stopped looking at my neck. My fingers were still clutching the skin there, and I frowned because I wasn’t sure how to take that. Was he flirting? I must have been dreaming because this was Dash. He didn’t flirt. But, then again, he was dressed, and that rarely happened in my dreams.

With his brows creased, he was still glaring at me, so I looked to my other side noting that Scotty and Cade were still in their own conversation, completely uninterested in ours.

Well, I guessed we could keep playing this game, then.

“Oh, yeah? Have you got something that could paint my tongue, Big Man?” I swiped my bottom lip and tucked it under my teeth.

“Yup. It’s same stuff that could quench your thirst.”

Did I just wet my panties?

“Uhh.” Shit. I wasn't used to this. Yes, I was asking for it with all the flirting, but I had no idea what to do once Dash started flirting back, and in front of my brother, no less. It was so un-Dash-like.

“Are you propositioning me?” The thoughts going through my mind were obscene and I was finding it hard keeping it cool when all I wanted to do was jump his bones .

“No,” he said plainly. “I'm merely suggesting that you get a Wildcat juice drink. It's purple, so will do the same thing that slushie thing does. Change the color of your tongue.”

My shoulders slumped. Was I really this much of a horn dog that Dash could say anything, and I'd take it as a sexual innuendo?

His gaze swept over me, stopping at my crossed arms just below my chest. “You cold? Do you need my jacket?”

My nipples were no doubt poking out because I was freezing, but I was also stubborn and refused to get any help from a guy who was teasing me.

“I'm good,” I quipped, and turned my attention back to the field. I hadn't been watching the game, but even if I had, it wouldn't have mattered. It wasn't like I knew anything about football.

“Great. So, Wildcat juice for you. Does anyone want anything from the snack bar?” Dash asked, getting Scotty and Cade's attention. I glared at the floor, too embarrassed at how riled Dash got me to look at my brother.

“I want something, but I don’t know what. Let me come with you,” Cade said before taking Scotty’s drink order.

When they left, it was just me and Scotty. Scotty and me. I'd never been alone with him like this before, and it wasn't a bad thing. He was a nice guy, after all. It was just kind of weird. Something about being around him made me feel unsettled. It was probably because he was perceptive, and I had a feeling he knew there was something going on with me.

As we sat there, the quiet began to eat away at me. I was a nervous kind of girl. I didn't like sitting silently with someone I knew well, let alone a guy that was considered the star of Covey U. Why did he even come to this tonight?

Blowing out a breath, I leaned into Scotty, brushing his arm, and asked, “Got any idea what’s happening down there?”

He turned to me, the first time since we got here, and looked confused. “With what?”

My smile was still forced, and I tilted my head toward the game below me. Was I supposed to be able to read names from here because it felt like I was watching an army of purple ants take on some red ones.

“You can't be serious.”

“Yes, I can. I've been hanging around ice rinks my entire life. I've never had time to stand by a field and watch people in spandex grunting while throwing balls.” I crinkled my nose, knowing full well that this answered the eternal question in my mind. Hockey or Football. I definitely wasn't a football girl. That much was clear. There was just too much stopping.

“Why are you trying to date a football player if you know nothing about the sport?”

“Do I need to know how to sing to enjoy music?”

“What does that even mean?”

I shrugged, acting casually. “Just making an observation.”

“That makes no—”

“Um, excuse me. I'm sorry to bother you, but are you Scotty Hendricks?”

As if on cue, Scotty's smile widened, and he was ready to talk to this fan as if it didn't bother him that he couldn’t leave his dorm without being recognized.

“Yes, I am.”

The girl's face lit up and she elbowed the friend next to her. “I told you it was him. Can we get a picture with you?”

“Sure,” he said, and I could almost hear the frustration in his voice, but they didn't notice. They didn't know him well enough.

“I’m happy to take it for you,” I offered, and for the slightest of seconds, Scotty’s smile dropped. He quickly pulled it back into a smile.

“You sure?”

I nodded.

“Thank you.” She turned to Scotty and grinned. “Your girlfriend is so pretty.”

“She’s not his girlfriend.”

A spike of pleasure ran through me when that grouchy voice filled my ears, and I instantly relaxed. Feeling his presence behind me, I tried not to swoon in front of these girls. Then, I felt him raise his arm, and it was getting harder to hold back my excitement. He was going to wrap his arm around me and claim me in front of everyone.

Only, that didn’t happen. His arm went above my head, and he pointed to Scotty’s other side. “She’s that guy’s sister.”

Urgh. All those swoony thoughts went away with that one sentence. Relegated to Cade’s sister again. Not the girl he slept with the other week .

After helping the girl with the Scotty selfie, I turned to Dash, refusing to look at him. I plucked the Wildcat juice out of his hand and slouched into my seat.

I hated it here. I couldn’t speak to Dash. I couldn’t concentrate on the game below, and as I took a sip of my drink, I realized that also tasted terrible.

When Dash took his seat, I immediately pulled my phone out, hoping I’d see some Baseball Wives spoilers so I could get lost for the rest of the night in an online forum.

“What are you looking up?” Dash asked, and although his face was staring straight ahead, his eyes were glaring down at my phone.

I brought it to my chest, clutching it tightly. “Why are you so obsessed with me?”

“Why are you always teasing me?” he muttered under his breath.

“Ooh, am I getting to you, Big Man?”

“No. One night, remember?”

Did I remember? Ha. It was all I’d been thinking about since it happened, but I was seemingly getting further and further away from my goal of making it happen again. Like Icarus, I’d played too close to the sun and got found out. Dash now knew I wasn’t being chased by the football team, so why did he need to chase me? I was essentially there for the taking if he wanted it, and I hated that for me.

I wanted to make Dash feral. Like he couldn’t live without me. I wanted him to realize that he didn’t want anyone else but me.

Suddenly, the fans around us started to stand, and I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness. It’s finished.” Two hours had gone by and I’d learned nothing about football except that I hated it. Even sitting next to Dash the entire time hadn’t made the experience worth it.

Cade, Scotty, and Dash all laughed at me.

“It’s only halftime,” Scotty informed me with a wince.

“Halftime? We’ve only watched half of the game? Does that mean I have to watch the same thing for another two hours?” I waved my hands at the field as I felt disappointment slither through my veins. This couldn't be happening, could it?

Another two hours ?

With Dash gloating.

Not going to happen.

I was tired. I had no idea who was winning, not that I cared, and I was cold. So very cold. I didn’t want to do this, so I needed to come up with an excuse to leave. The guys wouldn’t care. They had each other, and they got the tickets free, so they should be thanking me.

“You know what? I didn’t realize the game was going to be so long. I completely forgot that I have an essay to finish tonight.”

“Really?” Cade threw me a questioning brow, and I didn't blame him. It was completely out of character for me. I pretty much got my work done the night I was given it, but excuses needed to be made.

I nodded vehemently. “Yes, I completely forgot about it until just now.”

“That's convenient,” Dash said under his breath. I stepped on his toe in retaliation. He didn’t seem bothered. “I guess I’ll have to walk you home.” The reluctance in his voice irked me, and frankly, as much as I liked Dash, I didn’t want him gloating the entire time.

“You’re good. It’s still early.” I then turned to Cade. “If you need to see where I am, just check the app.”

That seemed to be enough to get Cade off my back, and as I stood, I purposely brushed the side of my body against Dash.

“See you guys later.” I gave Dash an extra-long look, knowing full well that I was going to get him back, and into my bed, if it was the last thing I did.