Chapter 18
Theo
“
F uck,” I mutter, my shoulder in pain as I slide my backpack off and onto the floor.
I tweaked it at the away game on Saturday, and my trainers have me under intense physical therapy to get me ready to play as soon as possible.
My dad’s been calling more than ever to get on me about proper nutrition, rest, and post-game recovery so that this doesn’t happen again. I do all of that already, yet it still happened. I’m a human being, and shit happens. I know he doesn’t want me to have a career-ending injury like he did, but he’d be disappointed to know that I wished for one.
I’d love to have a reason to never play again.
“You okay?” Marcela whispers beside me as she sets up her desk for the lecture.
“Yeah, just sore.” I shrug, not wanting her to worry. “How was the rest of your weekend?”
“It was good. I got a lot of reading done,” she says happily.
I’m about to ask what happened in the book she’s been telling me about, when Professor Grum enters the room.
“Hello, my lovely earthlings. I hope everyone is ready for another night under the stars. Bundle up in your jackets and let’s get a move on before we miss the meteor shower.” She motions for us to stand, looking more excited than ever.
Everyone grumbles as they don their jackets. It’s a chilly fall night, the kind where you don’t want to be outside for too long.
Marcela and I walk side by side as we follow Professor Grum and the other students outside the building and up the hill to our spot.
Once we’re at the top, spread out onto the hill in pairings, and I slide my backpack off and onto the ground. I hiss under my breath as pain radiates throughout my deltoid, which is feeling so tender right now.
“It seems like it’s more than just sore. What happened?” she asks.
We’re standing close to one another, staring up at the sky as we wait for the meteor shower to begin.
“I pulled a muscle in my shoulder at the game on Saturday. It hurts right now from all the massages and exercises the team trainer has had me doing. They’re seeing me everyday, and on Friday, they’ll make the call about if I’m able to play in the next game. But it’s looking like I’m going to have to.” I sigh dramatically, trying to make fun of my situation.
Marcela’s lips press together, her expression sad. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s my crap to figure out.” I brush it off, not wanting to talk about it.
“Tell me something good, then,” she says with a soft smile, and I love that she’s trying to change the focus of our conversation.
“Hmmm,” I tap my finger against my chin. “Hunter has been avoiding me like the plague. I think our plan is working, which is good.”
“Really?” She sounds surprised.
“He’s definitely kicking himself for what he’s lost, but he’s never getting it back now.” I pause, looking to Marcela who’s staring up at the stars. “Right?”
Her eyes cut quickly to mine. “Do you really think I’d ever want him back?”
I shrug. “I’d hope not, because you deserve way more than he ever gave you, but I just want to be sure. People have been known to do crazy things.”
Her face drops, and a sad smile curves her lips. “I’m beginning to realize that now—that I deserved more. No need to worry though, I’m pretty predictable and boring.”
“What?” I nearly shout. “Who the hell has ever said that to you? Wait, don’t even tell me, because my patience with those two is already running very thin.”
“I mean, I’ve always followed the rules and I love staying home. None of that makes me very exciting.”
I shoot her a look. “You are far from boring. Getting to know you more is all I want. You intrigue me. And even when I figure you all out, I’ll still think you are the most fascinating person I know.”
My heart hammers in my chest when she brightens and a laugh bubbles out of her. “You are really cheesy.”
“And don’t forget that.” I wink as she shakes her head and turns to face the night sky.
I do the same, but I’d rather be watching her. I find her far more beautiful than anything in nature.
We stand in silence for a while, watching with excitement as the meteor shower begins. Flashes of white streak across the sky, and my lips part in awe as I watch.
Suddenly, Marcela’s pinky wraps around mine.
“There is something you don’t know about me.” She swallows.
“I’m all ears. No judgement whatsoever,” I tell her, my voice serious yet gentle.
I watch as she takes a deep breath, then says, “I love writing. As in, books. I’m writing a book right now, putting chapters up every few weeks on a platform online.”
As if I couldn’t be more into this girl, she goes and tells me she’s a secret author? Goddamn.
“Celly, that’s fucking amazing. Do you have any idea how cool that is? What’s it about?”
“It’s a romantasy novel set under the sea with two royal mermaid families at odds. It’s an ode to Romeo and Juliet , except my ending will be a happy one,” she explains, her eyes lighting with a passion I’ve never seen before.
“Can I read it once you’re done?” I ask excitedly.
“Well, I kind of need your help with it now …” she trails off as she finally turns towards me, biting on her lip.
Unsure of what she means, I tilt my head in confusion.
“ My help?” I ask, wondering what she would need help with. “Are the mermaids in your book playing football somehow? ‘Cause I can do that,” I add, excited about her needing me in any way.
“Um, no.” She chuckles nervously.
“What is it?” I ask, confused by her reaction. I don’t know what made her so nervous about asking for my help, so I gently pull us farther away from the class.
“No, I need help with something else.” She pauses, swallowing harshly and looking uncomfortable. “I’m … dealing with a mental block.”
“I’m sure that’s normal, so how can I help?”
Marcela closes her eyes for a beat, and I’ve never seen her more vulnerable. She opens them again and gives me an earnest look. “If it’s too much or it will make things weird, I get it. You can say no.”
Now she’s making me nervous.
“It won’t be. Just say it, Celly.”
She blows out a breath, and then ever so quietly says, “I need you to teach me about sex.”
My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as her words sink in.
I need you to teach me about sex.
“What?” I ask, thinking I must have misheard her. “Did you and Hunter never …?”
“No, no, we did. But there’s a lot we never did … and things I never got to experience. Now that I’m getting to writing the spicy scenes in my book, I can’t do it. I have anxiety around sex, after Hunter said I was bad at it.”
Anger pumps through my veins, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. He fucking said that to her? She’s the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. What a fucking prick.
“Marcela,” I grit. “I’m so sorry you ever dealt with such a lowlife of a human.” Taking a breath to calm the storm within me, I calmly ask, “What exactly do you need? It’s been a while for me, but I can try to do my best.”
Her head tilts at that. “Really?”
“I told you, I haven’t been with anyone since I started at RLU. In high school, I tried to live up to the playboy image of being the hotshot quarterback, but I got sick of it quickly. I craved something deeper than just meaningless sex.”
“Oh, wow,” she murmurs.
“What do you need?” I ask again as I step closer to her, and bring our joined pinkies to my chest, needing more clarity.
She visibly gulps, and with her eyes closed she says, “I want to explore the things I missed out on with him. I feel comfortable with you, and we clearly have chemistry. I figured if we’re already pretending to date, why not enjoy the benefits?”
Someone call 9-1-1, because I’m pretty sure my heart and brain are malfunctioning.
Did Marcela really say she wants me to teach her about sex? That she wants to hook up with me?
“I know it could make things weird, but because we started as friends, I figured it would be easy to go back to that. Almost like an experiment, and when it’s done we go back to normal. That way, I can get over this mental block to write these scenes, and in the future, I won’t be so nervous when it comes to sex.”
My mind swirls at what she’s saying, unsure what I’m feeling. On one hand, I’m in awe that she feels comfortable enough with me to even ask that, and to want me to be the one she explores her sexuality with. On the other hand, I’m devastated at the idea of me being an experiment, and her moving on to the next guy.
I want to say no, because that one kiss fucked me up more than I’d like to admit. It’s all I think about and crave. What the hell will happen if we have sex? I don’t know what the aftermath of that situation looks like for me, and that scares me.
But I’ve never been able to say no to this girl and I don’t see that changing. No matter how much more this is going to make fake breaking up at the end of the year hurt.
“I mean, that’s if you’re even attracted to me. And if you want to, of course,” she mumbles, her eyes still closed.
If I’m even attracted to her? Is she serious? More than half of my showers are spent with my hand on my cock, thinking of her naked in my bed with her legs spread as I feast on her.
That reminder alone, of how I get off to thoughts of her, has me getting hard.
“Look at me,” I demand softly, and she does as she’s told. “It took me a minute to process what you’re asking me, that’s all,” I begin, licking my lips as I lean in to whisper in her ear. I use my free hand to grab hers, placing it on my hardening cock. “Don’t ever question if I’m attracted to you. Got that, pretty girl?”
Her bottom lip drops open, and I’m tempted to take it between my teeth but I restrain myself. “Y-yes.”
“Use me however you want me. I’m yours.”
She shakes her head slightly. “I need you to use me, show me how good it can be. How good I can be at this.”
I smirk at that and press a quick kiss to her jaw. “You want to learn how to be a good girl for me, huh?”
“Yes,” she responds instantly, almost desperately.
It turns me on like nothing ever has before.
I slightly pull away from her. “You let me know when and where, and I’ll be there.”
“How about tonight? Do you want to come in after you walk me home?”
Am I actually about to go home with Marcela and teach her a sexual lesson? I’m not even sure what that is exactly, but I’m sure as hell up for it. Quite literally.
Never did I think any of our time spent together would lead to this, but I can’t say I’m mad about it.
I’m slightly nervous about the repercussions, but the need to make Marcela happy outweighs any of my personal concerns.
“If you’re ready, yes.”
“I am.” She nods. “We can call it lesson number one.”
“How many lessons are there in total?” I tease.
“I’m not sure.” She chuckles. “But I think the first thing I need is an orgasm. I’ve never had one.”
“Did he not go down on you? And you’ve never touched yourself?” I ask in disbelief. How the hell did he not want to feast on her every day? I know I fucking would—or will, now.
“No, he didn’t, and I haven’t. I’ve been too shy to try,” she admits.
“I hate him, I fucking hate him,” I groan, running a hand through my hair. “But I have an idea now.”
“What’s that?” she asks nervously.
“What fun would it be if I told you?” I wink.
“Alright,” Professor Grum yells, interrupting our moment. “Class is dismissed early. Go home and write about what you saw for this week’s discussion post. Remember internal or external findings, it’s all a part of the journey.”
Our classmates disperse from the top of the hill, while Marcela and I stay rooted to our spot, staring at one another. I have a feeling everything’s about to change between us, and I don’t know if I’ll survive the fallout afterward.
But I’ll be damned if I waste the opportunity to claim her as mine.