Stalked by the Cornerback (Obsessed Alphas #8)

5. Mattie

CHAPTER 5

MATTIE

“See,”—the trainer smiled at me—“nice and tight.” She gently patted the leg of the football player she’d just wrapped. “Now, if you can make him a bag of ice and tape it to the calf, he will be ready to go.”

“Of course.” I hurried towards the huge ice machine and started to make a bag before returning to the player.

“The trainer got a call,” he shared.

“Oh, okay.” I reached for the tape and started to tape the bag of ice around his calf like my boss for the summer had instructed.

“You’re new here,” he pointed out the obvious. I nodded, staying focused on making sure to do a good job on the ice bag. It was important for his recovery.

“New to the school, too?” he implored. I wanted to roll my eyes. He wasn’t the first player I’d had to ice, and he wasn’t the first one to try and hit on me. Though, the other ones didn’t give off a creeper vibe like he had from the moment he walked into the room.

“No.” I shook my head, keeping things short. There was no need to engage with him. I found it better to give quick and easy answers because if you were too chatty, they got the wrong idea. Too bad Dylan hadn’t been that way. Or maybe he had and used the attraction I’d felt to his advantage so we could study together?

“What’s your name?”

“Mattie, but?—“

“Mattie. That’s pretty. I’m Tuck. Tucker Pearson.” He extended a hand, making me look up at him. He grinned with a boyish kind of smile I might have found attractive if I had met him before Dylan.

Dylan Macabee and his stupid handsome face, who had ruined me for anyone else. Now he just looked like any other guy on the team. One I wanted to watch play and help when he got hurt, but nothing else.

“Nice to meet you.” I nodded, ignoring his hand. I could tell by the look on his face that he either didn’t like to be turned down or wasn’t used to it. My guess, being a first-string football player, it was the latter.

“What’s your deal?” He retracted his hand and rested it across his chest with the other. “I’m just being friendly?—“

“Hey, how’s it going in here?” The trainer walked back in, saving me from having to try and not bruise the stupid guy’s ego. “Good work, Mattie. Now, Pearson, keep that bag of ice on for at least three hours, understood? I’ll see you tomorrow morning, and we will check how it feels.” The trainer simply looked at me and motioned for me to follow her, ignoring the football player behind her.

“You okay?” she asked, her gaze trained on me. I nodded. “If any of these guys get weird, you tell me, okay? I got your back. I know it’s not easy being a woman in this industry.”

“I’m okay. I just don’t think he liked me not fawning because he was talking to me.” She snorted.

“Yeah, some guys will be like that. But in any instance, always trust your gut, and if you need me, don’t hesitate to call for me, okay?” She pushed the matter, making me feel safer and more welcome than I ever had at any job.

“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed politely, and she nodded.

“Alright, kid, you did good today. Any plans this weekend?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Not really. I might read a book I’ve been eyeing. Thanks again for this opportunity.”

“Nothing to thank me for. You earned this internship. Have some fun this weekend. Go to a party or something,” she suggested, and I laughed.

“I don’t think so. I’m not really the party type.”

“Summer is always a good time to get out of your comfort zone and go on an adventure.” An adventure and out of my comfort zone? As if.

“I don’t know about that,” I muttered.

It was a sweet sentiment, but I had already gone out of my comfort zone striking up what I thought was a friendship with Dylan, and look how that had ended up. I grabbed my bag and started to walk out, going across the field to watch a little more of the practice from the sidelines. The different teams were still practicing, and it didn’t take long for me to spot the big guy.

Standing off to the side, I watched him talk to the quiet linebacker who had been in the class where we met. Dylan was serious, almost stoic, as they spoke. The linebacker guy patted him on the shoulder and turned to get his water bottle. That was when he looked around, and despite being across the field, our eyes connected.

I’d seen him around over the last couple of weeks. It was bound to happen since I was working for the same sports department he played in. But we hadn’t locked eyes like this. I smiled and gave him a slight wave, when his brows bunched. That gaze turned intense. With his helmet in his hand hanging by his side, I could see the way his jaw clenched. Like he was irritated or annoyed.

What he didn’t do was wave or mouth hi .

And that was when what felt like the last shred of hope that maybe whatever I’d felt last semester hadn’t been one-sided died. I pushed my hands into the pockets of my joggers immediately turned around. Ignoring the disappointment I felt. He couldn’t be bothered to say hi. Damn. The rejection of the situation stung the entire walk to my dorm and even after dinner while I sat and watched Friends reruns.

I pulled up my phone, tempted to text him that he could go to hell. But I didn’t.

Instead, I was in bed by ten, still stupidly dreaming about the guy who couldn’t be bothered to say hi. A dream so real that when I woke up, I could have sworn I smelled his cologne in my room.