31. king
CHAPTER 31
KING
GODDAMN INSANE
It was like a whistle blew for halftime. I pressed Willow’s body to mine, burrowing her head against my neck to hide her from whoever knocked on the window. Most days, the size difference between us concerned the hell out of me, but it was too easy to yank down her skirt and slide her to the other side of the seat, as far away from me as possible.
A security guard stood outside in a black slicker.
Oh, fuck.
I rolled down the window, trying to hide the fact that I had a raging boner and was five seconds from fucking my coach’s stepdaughter in my truck.
"Do you think this is funny? " the security guard demanded, whipping out her phone.
Neither of us were laughing. I didn’t understand the question.
"In front of the Robert H. Q. Lawrence Memorial Center? What’s wrong with you?"
Jesus fucking Christ.
Willow shot me a panicked look, and I fought to remain calm.
"Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?" the voice asked from her phone.
Holy shit—she was calling the cops? There was no fucking way. This was getting back to Coach Lawson for sure. Found at a memorial center, with his stepdaughter, and her tattered panties. After everything Coach Lawson did to protect me, this was a slap in his face.
"Ma’am," I said, careful to keep respectful. "Can I talk to you?"
"Oh, now you’re sorry?" she huffed and spoke into the phone. "I have two kids who decided the law doesn’t apply to them!"
"We didn’t know where we parked. We’re sorry."
"Oh, I’m sure you’re sorry!"
Willow’s voice broke from the side. "We’re really sorry, we really didn’t know. We couldn’t see in the rain?—"
The security guard propped her flashlight on her shoulder and lit up the cab of the truck. I pushed forward, hiding Willow. "You should be embarrassed. You think the rules don’t apply to you?" She swung the light directly at me. "You think you—you—King?"
Someone posed a question over the line, but the security guard finally lowered the flashlight, gaping at me.
I nodded and pointed at myself. "King."
" The King?"
"The King."
The security guard blinked, taking a step forward. She pulled the phone to her ear. "Uh—there’s been a mistake." Without another word, she ended the call. "You must be pulling my leg . The King."
Considering my past, this was another ironic fucking twist of the night but this one I was grateful for.
"Number seventy-two," she whispered. "I have your mug at home!" Her eyes flickered over. "Who’s this?"
I didn’t like the look on her face when she frowned at Willow, but I needed to keep my emotions in check. Slowly, I counted back from five and motioned towards the door.
"She’s a friend of mine," I said carefully. "Do you mind if I get out?"
I created as much distance as I could between the security guard and Willow. The last thing either of us needed was a photo going around. But all the security guard wanted to know about was June, same as everyone else. I had to dig up all the old answers Cleo fed me. Our schedules were too busy, we were still good friends, no bad blood, all of that.
The truth hurt a lot more. The June Basil I knew, my best friend, retreated into a shell. I’d been trying to help her out of it, but I didn’t know what to do.
"You’re one of the good ones," the security guard assured me. "I'm sure you’ll find somebody."
I stalked a girl tonight and punched out teeth at a party.
"It’s appreciated," I said, signing an autograph.
I got back in the truck and we drove away.
We were fucking lucky the cops weren’t called and if they had been, what then? Coach would’ve found out. Maybe we would’ve been pinpointed back to the bachelor party. Willow’s Jade the Architect secret could’ve gotten out. All of that would’ve been my fault.
When it came to her, I couldn’t think straight.
That wasn’t what she needed. Not by a long shot.
No matter how many times Willow tried to talk to me, I was silent on the drive. The rain ended as we took the turn to Coach Lawson's house. I’d only been once for an emergency meeting with his lawyers but I remembered the turn off.
I needed to end this. Now.
"June asked if I wanted to start up the fake dating thing again, her dad’s running for a big election." I felt so shitty, I could barely say the words. When June first texted me about it, I’d been adamant against it. But now? "I think it’s a good idea."
"Oh. That is a good idea."
I didn’t say anything.
"I don’t need my mom finding out that I’m dating a football player and my dad…well…" Willow shrugged. "Everyone will think you’re hanging out with June."
She didn’t understand.
"I’m not going to be a dick to you anymore, but this isn’t a good idea."
"What?"
"We need a clean break."
"I know that was bad, but that was just a shitty, weird coincidence?—"
"Willow, I lose control too easily when I’m with you."
"Oh my god," she muttered under her breath. "I knew this was going to happen."
I fished out my wallet. "I’ll give you cash for the underwear."
"They were a clearance pair from Ross. I don’t need the dollar. Are we really doing this again? I mean, look at us. Eventually we’re having sex. You have to realize that."
"I don’t want to hurt you."
"Got it. So, you want someone else to be my first?"
A metallic taste filled my mouth and I stared ahead, muscles bracing for impact like a tackle. The idea of someone else touching Willow was…
My jaw locked as I clenched the steering wheel.
"Yeah, you look really pumped about it."
I drove to Coach Lawson’s gated community. The tension in the truck could’ve been cut with a knife.
"The password’s all zeroes," she snapped. "Very secure."
I punched in the numbers harder than I needed to.
"King, is this your kink? Us being pissed off at each other? I’m not into it."
Irritation rolled off me.
"Stop the truck, I’ll walk the rest of the way," she commanded. I kept driving and she shot me a look. "When it backfires, it sounds like someone’s getting shot. Do you want the neighbors called down?"
Not happy about it, I slowed the truck to a stop.
"King."
" What? "
"Thank you for saving me tonight."
I was tense for a few seconds before my shoulders relaxed. I would’ve done anything to keep her safe. At least she finally knew that.
"You’re welcome."
"And I’m saying yes to Elijah."
What?! There was no way she said that. Before she could touch the door, I locked it from my side. "Yes to what? "
"You know what."
" No ."
"You’re going out with June. I don’t know why you think you get to be upset."
"That’s a fake relationship?—"
"So is this. It’s the same thing."
I stared at her, mouth agape. "Not the same thing."
"It’s a few dates, King."
" No. "
"See, I should be the one freaking out right now because you’re going out with a girl you’ve known for years . I could be denting your truck. But I’m not. Because I’m an adult who can process my feelings."
"That’s bullshit."
"You’re jealous." She flipped the lock and pushed the door open before I could stop her. "Jealous and you don’t know what to do about it."
Fuck, fuck, fuck .
I followed her, the single thing I shouldn’t have done again, because I must’ve been losing my mind. "Willow!"
"I can’t believe I’m saying this but shut up ."
I cut her off on the sidewalk. "Don’t do this because you’re trying to make me jealous."
"You admit you’re jealous?"
"I admit that this wouldn’t be good for you."
"Good for me?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "You and I are not dating. We’re not sleeping together. We’re not even friends, you’ve made that so clear. What right do you have to tell me what to do?"
Willow didn’t like Elijah like that, but hockey players were morons and I couldn’t stand the thought of him thinking he had even a molecule of a chance with her.
"Don’t try to make me jealous," I warned.
She jutted her chin. "Why not?"
"Because I’ll make you goddamn insane."
"You already make me insane! Nothing’s changed! What if I tried to get a football player’s number, huh?"
I stiffened. "That’s against the rules."
"Coach’s rules?"
"Fuck it, my rules."
"And I’m sure that rule wouldn’t apply to every other penis on campus. Huh? Off campus? Out of the continental United fucking States?"
I should’ve denied it. But that’d be a lie.
Not a day went by when I wasn’t reminding athletes in the training center to keep their eyes to themselves when it came to the coach’s stepdaughter. So what if those reminders came with threats? What the fuck could they offer her?
She glared. "This is ending one of two ways. Either you fuck me or shut the fuck up. Pick one. You can’t force me to admit all of that crap—to admit I have feelings for you—and expect me to bounce back to where we were. That’s insane!"
"Willow—"
"You have been driving me crazy. Now? I know you’re still into me and I know I can fuck with you. Congratulations, you fucked the fuck up. Good night! "
With that she whirled around and stalked towards the house.
I was so fucking hard, my cock ached.