So much for spending the day with her. We hadn’t even made it to practice. Her eyes lingered on my mouth, and I tried to will her to lean down and kiss me goodbye. It had to be her choice, her claim, in front of the others.

Her gaze slid to mine, and I saw the same longing there. Then her usual mask of amusement came down as the moment passed. She said her goodbyes and closed the door quietly behind her. The room exploded with noise as Mac, Noah, and Parker all started talking at once.

I scrubbed my face as the guys surrounded me, vying for the chance to give me shit about Nadia. Soren met my eyes and sighed, then made the absolutely ridiculous comment that he wasn’t sure about one of the plays for this week’s game. Mac and Noah jumped at the chance to argue football with him.

Parker crossed his arms and studied me. I couldn’t read him as well as the others, a trait that had served him well in his career along with his strong arm. He was only a sophomore, but he was crazy talented. When I graduated, the team would have a fantastic quarterback to take my place.

Maybe sooner than then. If I was totally honest, my play this year hadn’t been up to my usual standards. Coach demanded perfection, and until now, I’d done the same. Parker was the only one who’d noticed so far, but if it kept up, I might jeopardize my place on the team during my last year of college ball.

I shook my head, telling him I didn’t want to talk about it, and he joined in the conversation with the others. What was I supposed to say? After all this time, I wanted something more than a win.

Nothing had ever captured my passion the way football had… until her.

6

NADIA

Yes, I ran, but that didn’t make me a coward. It made me a woman with needs who wasn’t sure an audience would prevent her from trying to meet those needs. I sure as hell planned to take care of those needs as soon as I got home.

I shared an apartment close to campus with a mostly absent roommate. Abbey was nice enough, but we’d never had a conversation beyond organizing who paid what bill. As usual, the apartment was dark and empty when I closed the door behind me.

A note on the fridge said Abbey wouldn’t be home until late. Perfect. I dropped my bag in my bedroom, then thinking about the way Derrick and I had been interrupted in the film room, I locked the door. My body burned, and I was nearly panting as I tossed my clothes at the hamper.