Chapter Twenty-Nine Gavin
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gavin
I wake up with a throbbing headache and a soft woman in my arms, wound all around me. Like a dumbass, I left the blinds open in my bedroom yesterday, and there is all sorts of sunlight streaming into the room, blinding me to the point that I don’t want to open my eyes. It hurts too fucking much.
That’s probably also my head.
Shifting, I rear back and squint at the bundle lying halfway on top of me. Sienna is out, her eyes shut and lips parted in sleep. I stare at the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. At her thick eyelashes and her rosy cheeks. We had sex twice last night, but I think I made her come three times. I was drunk and horny and pissed at the world.
No, pissed at my dad. He can go fuck himself for showing up at my game and ruining my mood. Taking me to dinner and ruining it further. I probably would’ve had a much better time if Sienna had gone with me, though there’s a part of me that’s glad she didn’t have to hear the things my father said. Knowing Sienna, she would’ve stood up for me, because that’s what she does. She believes in me like no one else I know.
I’m over pretending we don’t matter to each other. I know this was a mutual idea and we’ve made it work for quite a while, but I’m done. I needed her last night, and when she swooped in and rescued me at the bar, I’d never been happier to see someone. By the time she showed up, I was pretty drunk.
Maybe a mistake, but as I lie here, I remember everything that happened. Everything I said. The booze worked like truth serum on me, and I said some ... things that were definitely a choice. Whether that choice was good or bad, I’m still not sure yet. Guess all that depends on how Sienna is going to react toward me when she finally wakes up.
I slip out of bed and shuffle into the bathroom, taking a piss before I wash my hands and check my reflection in the mirror. Damn, I look like I went on a bender, which I did. There are bags under my eyes, which are tinged red, and my face looks haggard. Tired. I take some ibuprofen, splash some water on my cheeks, and dry off quickly before I stagger back into the bedroom. Only to find Sienna is awake and sitting up in the middle of my bed, the sheet tucked around her chest like she doesn’t want to be naked in front of me.
Well, fuck that. Not a good sign.
“Morning.” I clear my throat, trying to get rid of the roughness in my voice.
“Good morning.” She sounds amused. “How are you feeling?”
Hmm, well she’s not acting like she hates me.
“I’ve felt better.” I briefly drop my head to find that I’m naked, but I’ve got no shame, so I remain standing. “How are you feeling?”
“Considering I’m not the one who was a drunk fool in the Uber last night, I’m feeling pretty good.” That small smile curling her lips is cute. She probably thinks she’s real cute for what she said too.
“I was a drunk fool?” I’m pretending like I don’t remember, but I do.
“Oh definitely. You said some ... wild stuff.”
“Wild? Like what?”
Her cheeks turn the faintest shade of pink. Interesting. Does she not want to repeat to me what I said? Because I remember everything. I talked nonstop about how I love her. How I want to buy her a ring and marry her. Take her with me if I get drafted by the NFL, and start my career with her by my side.
And it’s all true. I meant every word I said.
Not sure she liked the part about her leaving school to come with me. I didn’t mean it. School is important to her, and I’m not going to snatch her personal dreams away like my father did to my mom. That poor woman.
Having dinner with them last night was like torture, and my dad seemed to relish giving me endless shit. Like the old man gets off on being hard on me. I’m pretty sure he believes that attitude is what’s made me into who I am today.
I didn’t bother telling him I got support from others and that’s what kept me on this path of success. My friends and former coaches back at high school. The current coaching staff and everyone else who works for the football team, along with my teammates. My best friends.
This woman right here, watching me with caution in her gaze, like she’s afraid I’m going to tell her to get the hell out of my bed and never come back. Like I would ever do that. I need this woman in my life too damn much to ever let her go again.
She’s mine. I’m gonna put this woman on lock, and soon. I want forever with her. Does she want me the same way?
God, I hope so.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs, and my gaze goes to her pretty shoulders. Once the headache clears, I think I’ll spend the rest of the day kissing every single one of Sienna’s freckles, which is going to take a long-ass time.
Sounds like a great plan.
“Come on, Sienna. Tell me what I said.” I go to the bed, slipping beneath the comforter and tugging it over me at the same time I reach for her hand and pull her into me. She gasps, her hands settling on my chest. “Was it that bad, baby? Did I embarrass you?”
“More like you embarrassed yourself a little.” She keeps her head dipped so I can’t look in her eyes. “You treated the Uber driver like your best friend.”
I chuckle. “That poor guy. I remember how big his eyes got when he saw me in his window.”
“He freaked a little,” she agrees, her head still bent.
I slip my fingers beneath her chin and tilt her face up, our gazes meeting. “Are you scared to tell me?”
She nods. “Kind of.”
“Because I said I was in love with you?” I raise my brows.
Her expression shifts into shock. “You remember?”
“I was playing with you.” Her face falls, and I rush to correct myself. “Just now, not what I said last night. I remember everything. And I meant every word of it too.”
Her eyes fill with tears, and holy shit, I didn’t want to make her cry. “You did?”
“Yeah. I did. Shit, Sienna. You’re crying.” I dab at the tears streaking down her face, and she closes her eyes, a watery laugh escaping her.
“Happy tears, Gavin. You ... you love me? Really?”
I nod, worried she might not feel the same. She never said it back to me last night. I definitely remember that and try not to focus on it too much. And so far, she hasn’t said it today either.
She’s making me nervous.
“I love you so much, I can barely think about anything else. Anyone else.” I cup her cheek, stroke my thumb over her skin. “You’re everything to me.”
Sienna stares at me with those big brown eyes, a trembling breath escaping her, and I brace myself. Preparing for the worst. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s probably too soon, and maybe I’m feeling needy after spending time with my parents last night. I refuse to believe that just because my parents aren’t great at showing me love means that I don’t know how to do it. But I do. I know I do.
And I know I love this woman.
“I’m in love with you too,” she finally whispers, and the ache in my heart eases. “I love you, Ga—”
I cut her off with my mouth, kissing her until the both of us can’t breathe. Until our bodies and our breaths and our hearts are so completely intertwined, you can’t tell who’s who.
Well shit. Who knew I could be so damn sappy once I found love? I sure as hell didn’t. I hope I never say this kind of shit out loud in front of my friends.
No. Scratch that. I don’t care if I sound sappy and lovesick in front of the guys. I am lovesick, and it might sound terrible, but I feel great. I have the love of my life in my arms, and she feels the same way I do. Life can’t get much better than this.
Well ... a national championship would be a nice way to end the season. But that’s coming.
I can feel it.
Sienna eventually pulls away from me, her hand going to her mouth, her eyes wide. “You made me forget I have morning breath.”
“How many times have I told you that I don’t care?” I reach for her again, but she rolls away from me, getting out of bed. She grabs her phone to check it, her face falling as she scrolls through what seem like endless notifications. She remains silent, continuously scrolling and reading, and unease trickles down my spine.
Worried, I sit up, scratching the back of my neck. “Everything okay?”
“Oh no,” she whispers, and my panic ratchets up.
“Sienna.” Her head jerks up at the serious tone of my voice. “What is it?”
“I think our Uber driver exposed us.”
“What?” I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“Look.” She holds her phone out, and I take it, frowning at the photo of me and her in the back of a car. I’ve got my head tilted back against the seat, and she’s watching me, concern all over her pretty face. I realize it’s a social media post, and the caption below the photo says
Santa Mira QB Gavin Maddox confesses his love for teammate’s sister Sienna Cooper.
I lift my head to find Sienna watching me, gnawing on her lower lip. “What the hell is this?”
“It’s that one profile that keeps tabs on the university gossip. Tales of UCSM —you’ve heard of it, right?”
I nod. Everyone knows about Tales of UCSM . Sometimes it shares serious info, but most of the time it spreads gossip around campus.
Guess the word is out now.
“That photo is from the back of the Uber we took last night. I don’t even remember him taking a pic of us.” She takes the phone out of my hand and sits heavily onto the mattress, her worry coming off her in waves. “I have all sorts of notifications because this guy tagged us, Gavin. I’ve got texts from my brother. Nico. Everleigh. Frank. Even Jonesie.”
I grab my phone and check it to find I also have a ton of notifications. Mostly social media ones, thanks to the photo tag, but there are plenty of texts, too, including some in the group chat I have with my best friends.
Nico: What the actual FUCK dude? You’re in love with Sienna and we’re finding it out on a gossip site?
Dollar: Were you drunk QB? Is that why you said it? Fucked up if that’s the case.
Coop: WTF
Dread coats my gut at Coop’s simple text. That’s all he said. WTF. Shit.
I bet he’s pissed.
There’s a text from Everleigh too. Hers almost makes me laugh. Almost.
Everleigh: It’s about damn time you got your head out of your ass if what that guy said is true! Sienna is the best thing that will ever happen to you. If you two are actually together, I can’t believe you kept this from us.
“I need to call my brother.” Sienna hits a button on her screen and brings the phone to her ear. It rings and rings, eventually going to voicemail, and I hear the rumble of Coop’s familiar voice asking to leave a message. She ends the call before the beep sounds, her wide eyes meeting mine. “We need to talk to our friends.”
“You think they’re mad at us?” I wince, scratching the back of my neck again.
“Mad? Um, yeah. From the tone of their various text messages, most definitely.” A sigh escapes her, and I haul her into my arms, not wanting this moment to end badly. We confessed our love for each other. We planned to tell everyone anyway; we just got scooped by our rat fink Uber driver. We can’t let him ruin everything.
“Some of the comments about us being together, they weren’t very nice,” she admits, her mouth moving against my neck when she speaks. “I knew this would happen.”
“I bet not all of them are awful.” She pulls away so her gaze meets mine. “Right?”
“There were a few positive ones.” Sienna shrugs. “I guess some people are just going to hate.”
I worried about that too—before. Now I don’t care what anyone thinks. “Haters gonna hate, baby. Fuck ’em. They don’t matter.” I touch her cheek. Smile at her, but she doesn’t smile back. “Come on, Sienna. It’s going to be okay.”
“I just don’t want our friends to be angry. Or my brother. They all matter to me. They’re like my family,” she admits, her voice soft.
“They’re like my family too. We’ve got this. They’ll understand.” I kiss her forehead. “I know they will. They’re our best friends. They’ll be happy for us. I’m sure of it.”
She tilts her head back, her gaze imploring. “You really think so?”
Shit, I hope so.