Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
ZANDER
“Now,” Professor Conley, my Principles of Financial and Managerial Accounting professor says, walking over to the board in the front of the classroom, “there will be a quiz next week on the material we went over today. Be sure you study, as this will be closed book.” Several groans of annoyance rend the air, mine joining in. Professor Conley smiles like he doesn’t give a fuck about our unhappiness. “Also, upload your paper into the plagiarism software when you turn it in.”
We’re released shortly after.
Thankfully, I got my paper done weeks ago, when I was stressing about the new, crazy feelings I was having about Kerian. Unlike most people who will probably be scrambling to get it written and turned in this weekend, I’ll be free to do what I want.
And I want to see Kerian. It’s been more than a week since I’ve seen him. Sending random pictures is not the same as seeing his grumpy face or smelling his scent or touching his hard body.
God, I’m losing my fucking mind if all I can think about doing this weekend is Kerian. If anyone had told me I’d be obsessed with Slade in a way other than hating his shitty attitude, I’d have told them to fuck all the way off. But here I am, obsessed with my biggest rival.
I’m not even ashamed.
Though I feel like it’s obvious I’m obsessed with him—or a man in general. One of the team’s groupies, Alec, was never touchy with me before, but the day after I fucked Kerian he was all over me like he could smell my bisexuality. I felt nothing when he touched me or spoke to me in a breathy whisper. I wanted to be polite, but he really laid it on thick.
I feel bad that he got jumped by his drug dealer and had his hand broken, causing his parents to put him in rehab a few states over. But I wasn’t upset that he was gone. I’m sure if he were still around, he would have tried harder to get me to fuck him.
Hard pass.
As I enter my dorm building and jog up the stairs, my phone rings. My heart does this little flip in my chest, hoping it’s Kerian, but then I tamp that shit down. Kerian doesn’t call me. He doesn’t always look that happy when I call him . The only time he called before was to get me off in my hotel room.
Just as I suspect, it’s not Kerian calling me, but Colson. I meant to call him a few days ago, but Russ came over and we hit the gym, then the caf, and I was exhausted when I got back to my room. I had just enough energy to wash the sweat from my limbs before I collapsed into bed.
He’s probably going to give me shit about not calling him back like I was supposed to.
Rolling my eyes, I answer the phone and say, “What do you want, dickbag?”
“Zander Michael Braithe! Do you want your mouth washed out with soap, young man?” my mother asks shrilly in my ear.
A flush of embarrassment washes over me. “No, Mom. I thought you were Colson.”
“Well, I’m not sure why you’d call your brother a dickbag. What did he do?”
I guffaw at my mother repeating the word. She rarely curses, so any time I hear one slip, I get a kick out of it. “Just being Colson. I was going to call you today.” I try to lie smoothly, but I’m sure she doesn’t believe me. My mom knows when Colson and I are lying, almost like a superpower.
“I bet you were,” she says sarcastically. I smile as I listen to her sweet voice.
My mother has always been an angel. So gentle and caring, never raising her voice or doing anything in anger, though she had two rambunctious boys to raise.
After my father passed away, raising us and caring for us fell solely on her shoulders. Our grandparents helped out where they could, but both sets lived out of state and passed when we were growing up. It was always just the three of us.
Over the years, my mother has worked hard, taking on odd jobs and sometimes having two and three at a time. When I was in high school, I tried to work so I could pay for my own football gear, but she wouldn’t allow it, saying, “It’s my duty as a mother to provide for you, so let me do it.”
It was hard watching her struggle and barely being able to make ends meet, but she did it. She’s such a strong woman. I can’t wait to make it to the NFL to take care of her. She’s done more than enough. Now she deserves her rest.
Everything I do is for her, for my family.
Pushing into my room—Luca would be proud that I have my key—I toss my backpack on the bed and sit down in my desk chair. “I was,” I lie again. “What are you up to? And why do you have Colson’s phone?”
“He’s here cleaning the fireplace for me. It’s getting colder outside, and I want to make sure it works and that there aren’t any squirrels up there like last time.”
I bark a laugh. Last year, my mother tried to light a fire and three or four squirrels scurried down the chimney. She called both me and Colson to come retrieve them as they terrified her. Since she rarely calls for anything like that, I drove the hour to her house and Colson and I wrangled them all.
I can see why she had him check first this time.
“Good call. How’s everything else?” I ask.
Her sigh sounds heavy and exhausted. “Everything is fine. I picked up an extra shift at the hospital so I could get ahead on the mortgage, but it’s in labor and delivery, so it’ll be fun being around all those babies.”
My mother is a phlebotomist, getting her degree when I was in middle school so she’d have a stable income.
I smile, toeing my shoes off. “I bet you love that.”
“I’d love it if you or your brother could give me grandbabies, but I’ll wait.”
I laugh, shaking my head though she can’t see me. “No kids for me, Mom. At least, not for another ten or so years.”
She lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Fine. I guess I can wait.”
We chat for a little while longer. I didn’t know I needed to talk to my mother until I heard her voice. I miss her.
“I’ll come visit soon, Mom. I miss your breakfast.”
Her light giggle washes over me and I close my eyes, missing hearing the sound in person. “You’re welcome home any time. Oh, here’s Colson. I love you, son.”
“Love you too, Mom,” I say past a lump in my throat, feeling oddly emotional after talking to her.
There’s some rustling over the phone, then Colson’s deep voice says, “You called me a dickbag to Mom?” His laugh is loud as Mom chides him in the background.
I grunt. “Yeah, I thought you were calling, not her. Did you get the squirrels?”
“There weren’t any this year,” he says with humor. Colson lives about ten minutes from Mom, so it’s easier for him to get home to help her on short notice. “How’s school? How’s your boyfriend?”
I growl, but a smile tugs up my lips. “School is good. Two more semesters and it’ll be in the rearview. I entered the draft, so hopefully I’ll get my degree and a team at the same time.”
Colson laughs. “Didn’t deny the boyfriend part.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“But he’s something,” Colson guesses.
Blowing out a long breath, I push my hands through my hair. “Yeah, he’s something.”
He laughs annoyingly. “I should have known something was going on from all that bitching you did about him after every game you two played against each other. Sounded a lot like a crush to me.”
“It wasn’t like that,” I tell him. “He’s… he made me go on a date with him, right? And after that, I don’t know, things were just… different.”
“A date?” I can almost see how Colson’s eyebrows meet his hairline. “Like you two went out to eat? In public?”
I can’t tell my brother that no, we didn’t actually eat. That Kerian jerked me off under the table at a pizza place, then I made him take me home so we could fuck. “Yeah, in public,” I lie. Thankfully, Colson isn’t a human lie detector like Mom.
He hums. “That’s actually kind of nice. When can we meet him? Gonna bring him home one weekend?”
That’s not a bad idea. I took Megan home only once, and she had her nose stuck in the air the entire time, like my house was beneath her. We weren’t rich or well off, but my childhood home was warm and welcoming, as was my mother. That should have been a red flag to drop her ass, but she’s hot as fuck—can’t deny that even if she’s a cheater—and the sex was hot.
I shrug, though he can’t see me. “Maybe. I’ll ask.” I probably won’t. Kerian would probably shoot me down with a “Fuck no, Dimples . ”
After we talk for a few more minutes, Colson says he has to go and we hang up.
I’m tired, my muscles sore from practice this morning, but I have work to do. I finished my accounting paper, but I still have Business Law homework. I hate that fucking class, but I needed something to satisfy my business elective.
Changing into a pair of sweatpants and a sleeveless muscle shirt, I put on a pair of slides and head out. Just before the door closes, I catch it with my foot and grab my room key. Not sure where Luca is, but he’d be pissed if I called him to let me in.
The library is across campus, but I don’t mind the walk. It’s getting cooler outside, the brisk air whipping around me, making goosebumps crop up on my arms. Still, I don’t want a jacket. This is ideal weather for me. Not too hot, not too cold.
As I walk across campus, I see people in the quad—some couples—studying together. My mind runs away from me, imagining Kerian and me sitting in the yard, doing homework or talking or just lying around.
“Fucking stop,” I grumble to myself. He doesn’t even go to Evergreen. Someone who knows who he is would give him shit for being in our quad, and Kerian would probably beat the shit out of them like he did that guy in the club. I enjoy hanging out with him too much to risk it.
The library is pretty empty, most people using their laptops instead of searching shelves. I like having a book for reference, something I had to use a lot growing up since we didn’t get a computer at home until I was a junior in high school.
I find the appropriate bookshelf and check out the options. There are a lot of books on business law that aren’t my textbook but will help with my paper. I hate when my professor goes rogue and makes us write scenario-based papers on shit he makes up on the fly. I’d rather go by what the syllabus?—
“Just the person I was looking for.” I close my eyes and count backward from five, giving myself some time to calm down before I turn around to face Megan.
Her arms are crossed over her chest, her lips twisted in irritation. While I can’t deny she’s still hot as fuck, she does nothing for me. She doesn’t hold a candle to Kerian, with his brooding face, hard body and ‘don’t fuck with me’ attitude.
Tucking a book I was looking at under my arm, I mirror her stance. “What, Megan?”
“I got the estimate for my tires. They’ll be five hundred dollars to replace.”
I give her a look. “Okay? I didn’t slash your fucking tires. Give it to the person who did.”
“It was you. No one else would?—”
“Megan, I don’t have time for this shit. I told you I didn’t fuck with your car. I’m not paying for shit. Get the fuck out of my face or I’ll talk to the dean about fucking harassment.”
Her eyes narrow. “If you weren’t so fucking jealous, I would?—”
I bark a laugh, making a few people look in our direction. “Jealous? Have I bothered you or Justin? Have I said anything to you two skanks about fucking behind my back?” I don’t wait for her to answer. “No, I haven’t. I’m not jealous. I’m focused on my fucking future. You did me a favor.”
“Skank?” she says, rearing back. “I’m going to tell Justin about this.”
I shrug, brushing past her. “Do what you have to do. If you fuck with me about those fucking tires again, I’ll contact the dean.”
With that, I exit the library. Belatedly, I realize I still have the book under my arm. Oh well, I’ll take it back tomorrow after I finish the paper. I’m not in the mood to go back to the library and run into Megan again.
She has some fucking nerve. Jealous? Not fucking likely. Justin can have Megan. I have someone ten times better.
I pull out my phone to text Kerian. He should be back from his game. A game that he fucking killed. Unlike me, Kerian rarely runs the ball, always able to find his receivers or tight ends. But he actually ran a touchdown. I don’t think I’ve ever cheered that hard for anyone not on my team before, let alone my fucking rival. Good thing Luca is used to me being excited about football and didn’t ask what game I was watching.
After my fingers fly across the keyboard, I smile before I press send.
Me: Hey wut are you up 2
He doesn’t answer back right away, so I send another.
Me: How does that win feel
My phone buzzes as soon as I hit send.
Kerian: You really texted to see what I’m doing?
Me: Uh, yeah. wuts wrong with that
Kerian: You’re weird, Braithe.
I grin, shaking my head as my fingers move across my screen.
Me: For asking about ur day? Sheesh Slade. nxt time I’ll just text and ask for a dick pic. get right down to business
My eyes bug out when, not even a minute later, I have his hard cock bright on my screen.
Me: Wut the fuck? I wasn’t serious
Kerian: You were. All you think about is my dick. You miss it?
I’m glad I’m so close to my dorm. I jog the few feet to my building—my erection making running uncomfortable—and dash up the stairs. After I push into my room and have my back to the door, I look back at my phone. Instead of answering right away, I scroll back up and stare at his beautiful dick.
It’s so big, so thick. I still wonder how I was able to take it. My mouth waters as I catch the small bead of precum on the underside of his shaft. Fuck, I know he tastes fucking delicious. I want to close my lips around his crown and suck him in, getting his flavor down my throat.
Shaking myself, I scroll back to his message and smirk.
Me: u know I do. But u been MIA for over a week
I sound petulant and I’m sure if I said it instead of texting it, he would have heard the whine in my voice, but he has . For ten whole days. Where the fuck has he been? Sure, we’ve texted and video chatted, but it’s not the same.
Kerian: Leave your door unlocked, Dimples.
Me: Why
Kerian: Just do it.
Me: What if I say no
I love getting under his skin. One thing I’ve learned about Kerian is that he likes when I push back. He might not admit it, but when I don’t easily give in, he gets all keyed up and growly. He likes getting his way, but I’ve noticed he likes it even more when he gets his way after I pretend I don’t want to do what he says.
My phone rings in my hand and I laugh at how predictable he is. My cock also twitches in my pants at the thought of hearing his growly voice.
With a raised eyebrow, I answer. I have to force my expression to stay in place after I lay eyes on him. God, he’s so fucking handsome. Those blue eyes flash as he looks at me, his mouth a hard slash. He might look angry, but I see the twinkle in his gaze. He fucking likes it.
“Do you want to piss me off, Braithe?”
I shrug and push off the door, going to my bed and throwing myself on it. “Why would I piss you off? I just asked a question.”
“You’re not going to say no.”
“No?” I ask, sitting up with a questioning expression. “Why would I say yes? You didn’t say please.”
“I swear to fucking god , Dimples. Leave that door unlocked.”
“Maybe.”
He growls and hangs up, making me laugh.
I stand to unlock the door, but Luca steps inside, looking disheveled. “Oh hey,” he says, pushing his brown hair behind his ears. “The wind is really gusting out there.”
“Gusting?” I ask with a chuckle. “Who says gusting?”
His cheeks pink as he looks down. “Remember, I was raised by my grandparents. My grandma used to say it a lot. Some old-timey thing.”
Luca has never gone into detail about why he was raised by his grandparents, though he never said if his parents were alive or not. I asked once, and he changed the subject. I know a dismissal when I see it.
My mind races as I try to figure out how I can get Kerian in here without Luca being around. He just came in, probably from the caf, so he’ll more than likely be in for the night.
Fuck it. If he’s around when Kerian gets here, Slade and I could always sneak off somewhere. Hell, Kerian’s car is large enough for me to get in the back and suck him off.
Thankfully, Luca didn’t lock the door behind him. So I settle back on the bed and wait for Kerian to show up.