Against the Rules (Even The Score #4)

10. king

CHAPTER 10

KING

NO ONE TOUCHES HER, NO ONE LOOKS AT HER

In eight days, I became the guy who my teammates scowled at during game play meetings. My eyes were firmly planted on my phone. Waiting for it to light-up. Counting down the seconds. Watching until she opened my messages.

My phone chimed again, and I scrambled for it.

The angel

Quick family thing and I’ll meet you there :)))

Me

Cant believe youre coming

There was an emergency team meeting, but it was okay, Willow was going to be late too. After that, I was taking her to Gianna’s, our best on-campus place for food. And then…

We exchanged test results and for the last three days, I deep cleaned my dorm, scrubbing and mopping every surface. Piper helped me pick nice sheets, and on the kitchen counter was a bouquet of flowers and twelve different types of lube.

I could hardly wait.

Eight days of messaging back and forth. Pictures and videos, the kind that made me buy a black out screen, and she taught me how to send her what she wanted.

Jerking off videos with the sound on.

I’d been embarrassed as shit, but it was worth it. I would’ve recited nursery rhymes for those videos with her hand between her legs.

I spent my morning messaging her. I spent my afternoons daydreaming about her. And I spent my nights fucked up over her.

It didn’t go unnoticed.

The moment I opened the door, the Rocky theme blared from Adam’s phone.

Exactly why we needed to have this conversation.

"King is getting pussy, " Adam sang in tune, throwing his fist in the air. "King is getting pussy! "

Piper snuggled up with him. "We’re so excited for you."

I motioned for Adam to wrap up the music. "You guys are my best friends. I’d take a bullet for you. But I’m asking for one hour where I don’t see any of you at Gianna’s and I don’t want her crowded at RV."

Immediately, everyone started arguing.

"If we shut up, are we allowed to go?" Adam tried to push.

Kassie snorted. "Adam, you’ve never been quiet a day in your life."

"If you want privacy, we’ll respect that," Piper chided the others but threw an obvious look my way. She wanted to be the one to meet Willow. Which wasn’t happening.

"Did you tell her you play ball?" Ryan asked.

I shifted uncomfortably. "Uh…no. Not yet."

"All lying does is create more issues, dude," Adam said. "What if you go to Gianna’s and someone has a ‘Long live the King’ shirt? You’re fucked."

"I’m trying to figure out how to tell her." I shoved my hands in my pockets. "That’s before the be-my-girlfriend conversation, right? That’s the correct order?"

"Saying hi or hello first would be better," Kassie warned, grinning.

"Don’t listen to her," Adam said. "Bring a ring."

Piper groaned. "Oh my god, don't do that."

"Bring printouts with her address and blood type. Make a list of every school she’s ever attended." Adam put his arms behind his head. "If you have her social security number, write it on a piece of paper and slide it over."

Ryan scoffed. "That’s stupid. No, write down fifty of your best qualities so she knows you’re a valuable asset. Remember, you have to do this right. If you fuck this up, she could be done with you, and you could die alone."

Someone knocked on the door and a sophomore offensive lineman leaned in. "Hey, King? Coach wants to talk to you at the front desk."

I nodded before turning back to my friends. "I’m never asking any of you for advice ever again."

Piper hurried up to me before I left. "King, ignore them. If you’re super honest with her, she’ll see you like we do, it’s all going to work out." She squeezed me tight. "Soul connection."

"Are you coming back to meet her?" Ryan said.

I paused, my hand on the door.

Her?

"Coach’s stepdaughter," Ryan explained.

When they said next semester, I assumed fall semester. I would’ve never guessed the coach’s stepdaughter was coming for the summer term.

I nodded, confirming I’d be there, and left for the front desk. Usually Coach Lawson was surrounded by a crowd of analysts and assistants, but now, he wore a nice suit, his beard clipped, and was all alone.

"King." He gestured me closer. "I want to talk to you, kid."

I nodded, taking my place next to him.

"I was wondering if you and June could give my wife’s daughter a little tour around campus, take her around."

I cleared my throat. "June’s a little…occupied, sir. But I’d be glad to. Today?"

"No, she’s got plans. Some big date going on." He straightened his suit. "You know, Cross can be a little…impersonable. And I’d rather feed my fingers to an alligator than ask Russell, he’d be smug about it until I keel over. But if you could, I’d appreciate it."

I nodded. No worries, I’d show her around campus.

He dismissed me but I stayed by the desk. "Do you want me to stay here, sir?"

"No, I don’t want to crowd them. I’ll see you inside. Thanks, King."

I gave a final nod and left for the team meeting, to the lines of football players waiting to meet Coach’s family.

Ryan assumed his role as our offensive team captain. He took a sweeping look at the team. "If I see anyone’s eyes stalling over his stepdaughter, you’ll have me to answer to."

I grunted in agreement.

"No one touches her. No one looks at her," he warned.

I glanced back too, making sure the freshmen understood I was serious as well.

When that retired cop came around my sophomore year, threatening to talk about what happened in high school, Lawson could’ve kicked me off of the team, but he didn’t. I could never repay him for that.

The least I could do was make sure my idiot teammates didn’t do something as stupid as fool around with his stepdaughter.

"I am here. " Cleo pushed open the door with a tray of coffees in hand. This was her last day before her big transfer sent her to the hockey team.

Adam sighed. "Cleo, you’re adding to my abandonment issues."

"It’s just for the summer."

"But with hockey ."

There was instant agreement from the room, and she waved away the well-wishes. "Don’t make me cry! I’m coming back ." She held out the tray. "Do me a favor, King? I need to fix my blouse."

I took the tray. "We’re going to miss you."

"I want to talk about something more fun. Are you bringing a date to my wedding?"

"That’s the idea." I grinned. "I’m meeting her after this."

"I better hear all about it. And don’t drop the coffee."

I chuckled. I wouldn’t drop the coffee.