28. Chapter 28

Monday went off without a hitch. There's a new pep in my step. Finally telling Brynn I'm ready to go all in removed a weight I didn't know I was carrying. Tuesday was another good day.

Practices are tough, but it's November, which is clutch time in the season. It's where the best of the best start to stand out. It's the time to fight for our chance to head to Miami in January for the National Championship.

The team's hungry.

I'm hungry. This is my last season, and I'm desperate to bring home the hardware.

The first two days of the week might've been good, but nothing can compare to right now. Wednesdays are my longest days. Weightlifting, classes, watching game films, more classes, and a mandatory study session in the library. There's barely enough time for me to eat in between everything, let alone talk to anyone. I go into ghost mode on Wednesdays. This is why I'm surprised to see long, tan legs stretched out on the hood of my Tesla.

The boys and I are heading out of the stadium after a grueling meeting going over some game film and strategizing for our game on Saturday. Riggsby is clownin' around, making the guys crack up, but I can't take my eyes off the girl on my hood.

"Uhh, Q, you know you got a baddie on your hood?" JP interrupts my thoughts.

"Is that Brynn?" Riggsby asks. Letting out a whistle, he lowers his shades to get a better view.

I hear Grant chuckling beside me before he whispers, "Dude, you've got it bad."

"Shut up," I bark back, not taking my eyes off the goddess waiting on me.

Brynn is dressed in a loose pair of fleece shorts. The lime-green color makes her tan skin look even more bronzed. Pulling my eyes from her incredible legs, my breath catches in my throat.

Fuuuuck.

Her slim figure is on full display, as well as her voluptuous breasts in her tiny corset-style, cropped, athletic tank.

This girl is going to be the death of me.

A CTU hat is covering her face—wait, it's not just any CTU hat, it's one of mine. When did she steal that? She hasn't made any indication that she notices our presence.

"Are we interrupting a magazine shoot? She looks like sex sprawled out on your car," JP says as our strides carry us toward her.

"Yeah, like that Whitesnake video," Riggsby adds.

"How do I find a girl like that?" JP asks.

"Shower," I retort.

Turning to the guys, I tell them to fuck off as I close the distance between us and Brynn. Stopping at the front of the car, I notice she's got her AirPods in, which is why she didn't notice us. Pulling out my phone, I thumb a quick text, praying her settings will have her headphones reading her text.

The settings work in my favor because her eyes snap open, finding my eyes immediately.

Sliding the hat off her face, she pulls it back into its normal position. "Hey."

"Hey, baaaaby. Whatcha doiiiin'?" I drawl out.

My hands find my pockets to keep me from reaching for her and doing all kinds of wicked things that'll get us in trouble. Who can blame me? Isn't it every guy"s fantasy to have a half-dressed hottie on the hood of their car? Isn't that why most rap videos have half-naked women and sports cars? Sex sells, and my girl looks like she walked right off some kind of shoot.

Sliding off the car, she brings her body flush against mine, and I pull her into a hug. "Just missed your face. Thought I'd surprise you."

"You surprised me, that"s for sure."

Kissing the top of her head, I grab her hand, leading her over to the passenger side, wanting to get her in the car, knowing the guys are still watching us. Most of the guys don't know that we've made things official. But after our date on Thursday, I'm going to shout that Brynn is mine from the rooftop.

Opening her door, I watch her slide in, watching as her already short shorts slide up her legs. Tilting my head to the sky, I take a deep breath to keep from pulling her out of her seat and tossing her in my backseat to finally fuck her senseless.

"What're you thinking about, Q?" There's a hint of teasing in her voice as she asks me that question.

"You fucking know." Shutting her door, I subtly adjust myself, which seems to be a common occurrence whenever Brynn is nearby.

Throwing my bag in the back seat, I slide into my seat and slam my door, pressing the ignition button with a little more force than what was needed. Chuckling, Brynn leans over the dash, her hand finding my leg. Fingers slide up my leg slowly. Torturously slow.

With one last squeeze of the inside of my leg, Brynn sits back in her seat, slipping her seatbelt on. Reversing out of my spot, I head toward campus, thinking of anything to will this boner away.

It's a quick drive to campus since we only have to go around a couple of buildings to get to the student parking lot. Taking my time, I crank up the radio. It's a me thing. If I'm in the car, my music is on, and it's on loud. "Money in the Grave" comes through the speakers. Resting my hand loosely on the top of the steering wheel, I drive us the few minutes to the lot.

Climbing out, we both grab our backpacks, and I watch Brynn toss on some kind of jacket. A breath of relief slips out because I don't have to beat the shit out of anyone who looks at her body for too long. I'm not the jealous type, I just want what"s mine to be mine without having to deal with any pricks who try to make a move.

Okay, maybe I am a little jealous.

Laughing, Brynn turns to me. "Quinton, did you think I was going to class looking like that?"

"What the hell else was I supposed to think?"

Walking toward campus, she falls in line right beside me. She's laughing at my reaction, and I can't help but smile. I love hearing her laugh. It's like sunshine rising after days of cloudy skies.

"I was just soaking up some rays while I waited on you." Her body leans in mine, and she gives me a nudge.

Making our way through campus, we fall into a comfortable silence. Until I hear someone call my name. Looking for the voice, I spot Keisha—one of the girls I slept with after our first game—up ahead. Brynn slips into her resting bitch face mask, and a wall builds right in front of me. She's tense.

Nudging her shoulder, I try to get this facade off her. "You okay?"

She doesn't even look up at me, just grunts out a "no," keeping her eyes ahead as she watches Keisha approach us. I bring my eyes up and watch Keisha, hips swaying more than needed, a look of desire on her face, and that's when it hits me. Brynn is jealous.

Reaching out, I grab her upper arm, spinning her around. She whips her head up, but before she has a chance to spout off a retort from that sexy-as-hell mouth, I dip my head down and kiss her.

My lips find hers in a searing, possessive kiss.

I claim her right here in the middle of the quad.

In front of everyone.

My hand finds the back of her head, and I pull her into me as close as I can. Right there, with all eyes watching us, I let everyone who is watching—which everyone is—that Brinley Wilder is mine.

A huge smile spreads across her lips as she brings her hands to the back of my neck, running her hand up my short hair and pulling me down closer to her. She told me she loves the velvety way my hair feels since I'm always keeping my fade fresh. Letting her take the lead, I go with whatever she wants, since PDA isn't Brynn's thing. A small moan escapes the back of her throat, snapping her out of our kiss. A bashful grin spreads across her lips as she pulls away.

"I'm yours," I whisper so that only she can hear me.

We both turn, expecting Keisha to be standing in front of us, but we only see her retreating back,

I guess she got the hint.

Will is also standing in the quad with a dumbstruck expression on his face. I guess we killed two birds with one kiss.

I don't dwell on either one but find JP coming up to us with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"I knew y'all were fuckin'!" he yells, rubbing his hands together like he just solved a mystery.

"And with that, I'm heading to class," Brynn says, pressing up on her toes to give me one more, quick kiss.

"See you tomorrow," I shout at her retreating form, watching as she turns one last time and gives me a wave with a wide grin.

Pushing the door open, I walk in the front door of Grant's town house. He lives alone in a two-bedroom. The guest bedroom is set up for his dad in case he ever needs to crash on campus instead of making the half-hour drive home. A half-hour drive isn't bad on a normal day, but when we get back from a game at midnight, who wants to drive when you can crash three minutes away from the stadium?

Grant and Riggsby are sitting on the couch, controllers in their hands, both in a heated game of Call of Duty. Shutting the door behind me, I walk over to the sectional. Collapsing on the opposite end, my body is exhausted. Wednesdays just kick my ass. I just wanted to go home and crash, but Grant said he was ordering food and playing CoD. I'm not passing up a night of killing zombies.

A knock sounds from the door at the same time JP comes into the room from the hall bathroom.

"I've got it," he says, strolling past the couch to the door.

"Good, because I think I'm dead," I respond just as Grant shouts, "Cash is beside the door."

A few minutes later, the four of us are eating the best chicken wraps around campus.

"Alright, start talkin'," JP says around a mouth full of food.

Chewing my bite, I wait to speak. Unlike JP, I've got some manners, not a lot, but some.

Swallowing, I answer, "about what?"

Six eyes stare at me, eyes narrowing like ‘c'mon, you know about what.' And I do. I'm just dragging this out. I swear, my teammates are worse than girls with their damn gossip.

Letting out a small chuckle, I answer their question. "We're together. I'm taking her out tomorrow night."

JP whoops and Riggsby gives me an "atta boy."

"Only two years in the making," Grant says, turning back to his game with Riggsby.

But JP doesn't turn back to the TV, he's still watching me. "What's he mean?"

Grant's focus stays on his game, but that doesn't stop him from answering. "It means our boy here has been in love with Brynn since freshman year. Someone got a little too drunk at a party and spilled all his secrets."

"Shut up, asshole," I say, tossing the pillow on the couch at Grant.

He just laughs as the pillow bounces off his face.

"You're good for her," JP says, turning his attention to the game in front of us.

JP has taken Brynn under his wing. He's protective over his siblings, and he's always viewed Brynn as one of them too. It's nice to have the guys on board with the girl I love. And I love that girl fiercely.

Speaking of her, my phone lights up with her name and a picture I snapped one morning while she was lying in my bed.

"Hey babe," I answer, as the guys mock me in a high-pitched voice, repeating "hey, babe."

Her laughter fills my ear.

"Hey," she greets, as she yells louder into the phone for the guys to hear, "Hey boys!"

"Make it home from the library?"

"I did. I'm just walking in now, and thought I'd call to tell you good night."

I can hear her unlocking her front door and shutting it behind her. A click sounds and I know that she's locking the door behind her.

Red fills the TV screen as Riggsby's man is killed by a zombie. Grunting in frustration, Riggsby tosses me the controller.

"I'm down at Grant's. Want me to stop by when I leave?"

Propping the phone between my shoulder and ear, I thumb through my options on the screen.

"No, that's okay. I'm just going to call it an early night. Slip out of these clothes, curl into bed, and watch that new movie with Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller."

"Oh yeah?" I ask.

My girl has a thing for Hemsworth. And I'm not going to lie, I'm a little jealous that he gets to spend the evening with my girl while she's naked in her bed.

"Oh yeah," she answers. "Are you jealous, Quinton? It's just me, home alone, lying naked in my bed. Hands wandering up and down."

"Wilder," I grit out. "I'm sitting at Grant's with JP and Riggsby right now."

The guys' attention snaps my way.

A chuckle leaves her lips. And now I'm wanting to leave and walk the three buildings over to her town house.

"Hey Q?" she asks, voice taking on a more serious tone.

"What's up, baby?" Concern seeps into my voice. There's a long pause on the phone. "Brynn," I probe.

Grant's eyes dart my way, but I pay him no attention.

A sigh leaves her mouth. "I think I need to go home next weekend."

Those were not words I was expecting to hear.

"Okay," I draw out, not wanting to push, letting her control the conversation.

"It's time I visit my brother. You guys are in New York, so I thought I'd catch a flight Saturday and come back Sunday. Just a quick there-and-back trip."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay going alone? Should Chloe go with you? Or we can find a time when I can fly with you."

My mind is racing. I'm proud of her for wanting to go visit, but I worry about the emotional toll it's going to take on her.

"No, this is something I need to do. Alone."

"Okay, babe. I'll be waiting for you when you get back."

She exhales what sounds like a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Q. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Smirking, even though she can't see me, I add, "Let's not find out. I can be there in a few minutes."

"Good night, Quinton. See you tomorrow." She laughs into the receiver.

"Night, Wilder," I respond, ending the call.

Before I have a chance to set the phone down, a message dings. Clicking on the new text message, a photo fills my screen. Brynn is sitting in her bed, her white covers are barely covering her naked body, and she's chewing on her bottom lip in a way that drives me wild.

I can't wait until I get her alone tomorrow night.