29. Zander
CHAPTER 29
ZANDER
I spend the afternoon studying. It sucks, and I’m so over the books by the time I’m finally allowed my phone back.
My first thought is to call Sienna. I miss her voice and that sweet laugh of hers. I want to make up stupid stories with her and watch her face on the screen.
But the second I turn it on, my screen lights up with a stream of notifications from the Kelsey U Titans. With a grin, I take a few minutes to react to them all, commenting back and sending stupid GIFs, then getting even funnier GIFs in reply.
It cracks me up, and I’m lying on my bed laughing when my phone starts to vibrate with a call from Sienna.
“Oh shit.” I wince, feeling bad for forgetting about her. “Hey, Sparky,” I answer with a grin, drinking in her pretty face.
Her blue eyes are so open and beautiful. And that smile. Shit, I can’t get enough of that smile.
“Hey.” Her dimple pops into place. “How was studying?”
“Yeah, good. My brain has officially melted, but I’m still breathing.”
She giggles and I bunch the pillow under my chin, lying on my stomach and watching her as she eats a cookie, licking crumbs off her lips.
I wish I could lick those lips too.
“I miss you,” I murmur. “I miss your lips.”
Her smile is sunshine. “I miss your lips too. And your hands and your body and your voice and…” Her eyes suddenly glass over. “I miss all of you.”
That pout of hers, normally so cute, is like a knife blade through the chest.
“Sen, don’t cry. Please.”
“I’m sorry,” she snivels, slashing tears off her cheeks. “Everything’s just so different now. You’re so busy and I never get to see you, and you’ll be going away soon and… it’s gonna be hard.”
“Yeah,” I croak, knowing how right she is.
I’m gonna be caught up with football and college. Having to stay in touch with her—as much as I love it—is gonna be another pressure. I can’t risk losing all the ground I made during that football camp. I’ve got to stay in good with my team and find a place in that college.
Will Sienna hold me back from doing that? Will my obligation to her be at war with what I want to achieve with this new team?
And how is that fair for her? Having a boyfriend she can’t rely on? Feeling like she’s being fit in rather than top priority?
My stomach twists into an uncomfortable knot as I try to comfort my girlfriend. “We just need to focus on one day at a time. We’ve got this festival coming up. That’s gonna be awesome.”
“Yeah.” She sniffs. “Only one month to go.”
“That’s right, baby. Then it’s you in a bikini and some little cut-off shorts and me rocking out to all my favorite bands.”
“ Our favorite bands.” She giggles. “And what will you be wearing? Can I expect some kind of ripped-off shorts or bikini from you?”
I snort and shake my head. “No point me wearing anything fancy. They’ll all be too busy checking out my hot girlfriend.”
She blushes. “But you’re not gonna let any of them touch me, right?”
“That’s right, baby. You are all mine.”
“Yes, I am.” She kisses the screen, and I grin back at her smile.
Shit, she is so fucking beautiful.
And she is mine.
That feeling should make me want to fly. I’ve got the prettiest girl in the world for a girlfriend!
So why does my heart hurt right now?
What’s with the boulder in my chest?