Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Chrissy
“ W hat am I going to do?!” I ask while throwing Ash’s bedroom door open. “Oh, it’s you.” The disappointment is blatant in my tone.
“Nice to see you too,” Ash chuckles while closing his book.
“Where’s Gwen? Oh, shit. Did I walk in on something nasty? I should’ve knocked.” I backtrack out of the room.
“She has a shift at Tea and Kittens.”
Popping my head back inside, I can practically see the wheels turning in Ash’s head. “What the hell would we be up to? I’m reading a book.”
“I don’t know and don’t want to know.” I throw my hands in the air.
“What are you going to do about what?” Ash asks, returning to my first question.
“Uhh—”
Shit, do I tell him? Does he know? Can he keep a secret?
“Does this have anything to do with Rome?”
“Damn, you’re smarter than you look,” I say without thinking.
“Thanks?”
Walking over to his bed, I plop on the corner and sigh in defeat.
Ash swings his legs over the mattress and rests his elbows on his knees. “Want to talk to me about it, or do you want to wait for Gwen?”
Looking over at him, I come to a swift conclusion. “I’m going to bother both of you.”
“It’s not a bother.” Ash’s kind brown eyes meet mine, and he offers me a sweet smile.
“Promise not to tell Zack?” I offer him my pinkie, and he meets it without hesitation.
This boy has no idea what he’s getting himself into. I start from the beginning, explaining how my feelings grew from a simple nickname. I inform him that I tried to avoid it, but no matter what I did, Rome would always manage his way back into my heart.
“You remember how I had his shirt at the party?” I ask, and he nods. “I was ignoring him to see if he would respond, and then we almost kissed in the bathroom.”
Ash doesn’t respond. His face is zoned in on mine, listening intently.
“We didn’t because neither of us want to hurt Zack. He gave me his shirt because he was tired of the football team eye fucking me. Since then things have been weird, and it’s about to get worse.”
“How?”
“Remember my mentorship?” I ask, and he nods again. “We’re going to be evaluating the football team.”
“Oh, I see. And you’re afraid you’ll end up with Rome?”
“Bingo.”
My palms meet my eyes, and I rake my fingers over my scalp. Ash sighs, and his silence makes my skin itch.
His leg starts to bounce, and he clears his throat. “You two are more alike than you realize... listen, Chrissy, Zack would understand?—”
“I don’t want to chance it. He’s been through too much. He’s finally getting over Rosalyn, and I can’t ruin that. If he finds out I have feelings for Rome and that Rome might feel the same, he would have a heart attack.”
“Chrissy . . .”
“No, Ash. Please, tell me what to do tomorrow. I can’t end up as his partner,” I plead.
My voice cracks, and my eyes water.
With another exhale, Ash presses his lips together. “So, don’t. Do whatever you have to do to avoid being paired up with him. But let it be known that I disapprove of this idea. You two are adults, and so is Zack. This is a train wreck waiting to happen.”
“What’s a train wreck waiting to happen?” Gwen walks into the room with Pickles in tow.
“Chrissy and Rome,” Ash answers for me.
“Oh, that train wreck.” Gwen kicks off her shoes and picks up Pickles. “I don’t know what’s happening, but what’s the plan?”
“Avoid him at all costs,” I say, trying to summon as much confidence as possible.
“Brilliant, I see no flaws in this at all.” Gwen’s tone is coated in sarcasm.
I draw my eyebrows together and squint. “I find your lack of faith disturbing,” I say in a deep voice.
Ash chuckles in response.
I knew that would get a rise out of one of them.
“My faith in you is fine. My faith in your plan? Now that’s a different story.” Gwen smirks at me as Pickles launches out of her arms.
“Five bucks that my plan works?” I extend my hand, and she meets it without a second thought.
“Five bucks that you two fail in this whole ‘let’s avoid one another’ thing. And you end up together in the end.” Ash coughs, and I give him a nasty side-eye.
Gwen accepts my bet with a knowing look. “Easiest five bucks I’ll ever make.”
Little does she know, I have an ace up my sleeve, and her name is Raina Bennett.
Walking into the sports center, I scan the hallway for my first target. The sooner I find her, the better. Professor Clastis told us to meet near the large conference room in the back. So, putting my ninja skills to the test, I sneak down the hall and peer around the corner.
“Gotcha,” I whisper the moment I see her.
“Psst, Raina.” Nothing. “Psst!” This woman, I swear. “Raina,” I say a little too loudly.
Thankfully, only a few other students are lined up outside the room.
Raina grins when she sees me. I wave her over, and she follows suit.
“What are you doing?” she giggles when she reaches me.
“I need your help with something.”
“Okay.” Her smile grows in response.
“I need you to not let Rome Carter near me. He’s tall, has gorgeous green eyes, blond hair, and huge muscles.” I try not to sound swoony as I describe him, but it comes out nonetheless.
Raina’s eyes focus behind me, and she tilts her head. “Is that him?”
I glance over my shoulder and mumble a curse. “Yes, that’s him. He and I can’t be partners. I really need your help with this. I can explain everything later.”
“Oh, this is going to be fun. This is something I can totally handle, don’t worry.” Raina gives me a thumbs-up before linking her arm through mine and walking us back toward the conference room.
Professor Clastis informed us that this room hosts many press interviews and conferences, and I certainly believe her. The space is at least the size of two large lecture halls combined. In the front, an elevated stage with a long table, a podium, and the school’s tapestry are. Multiple tables are spaced appropriately throughout the room. The dust makes my nose tickle, but other than that, this room is spotless.
Rome’s voice filters into the room as Raina brings us to a table near the center. Thankfully, the space fills, and Rome hasn’t caught sight of me. Sinking in my chair, Raina leans forward to cover me.
“Give me an update,” I whisper while hiding my face with my hand.
“I lost track of him. Damn, I never noticed, but this team is hot. ” Raina swoons as more muscular guys fill the room.
“Focus, Raina,” I hiss while peeking through my fingers.
The familiar clack of heels sounds from the hallway, and Professor Clastis and an older gentleman with broad shoulders enter the room.
“Take a seat, everyone!” The professor instructs, and her students are quick to respond, leaving the players congregating in the center of the room.
“You heard the boss. Take a seat,” the man, who I’m assuming is the coach, orders.
“Oh, hello,” Raina utters.
Following her eyesight, I notice who has their eyes locked on me, and I groan. “Not him either.”
“How many players are you trying to avoid?” Raina snickers as Malik strolls toward us.
“Just two, him and, oh crap—” My voice falters when Rome jogs past Malik.
I scramble out of my chair, and Raina quickly follows suit. She trails behind me as I hurry farther down the table.
Finding two empty chairs, I glance around the room. “Do you see them?” I ask.
“No, I think we’re good.” Raina sits in the chair, and just as I’m about to follow her lead, Rome pushes past Malik, and I stumble.
“Motherfucker,” I curse to myself.
“I need to know what you did to those two because the hot blond just totally hip-checked the other one, and now he’s running.”
“God dammit, he’s fast too. We have to hurry?—”
“There you are.” Rome greets us, pretending he’s not out of breath. “I was looking for you.” And there’s that charming smile.
“Ms. Willows, please take a seat,” Professor Clastis instructs me from the front of the room.
Obeying my instructor, I sit across from Rome. Avoiding his gaze is difficult, so I zone in on my folded hands and focus on my breathing.
“What the fuck was that, Carter?” Malik grunts as he sits next to Rome, directly across from Raina.
“I guess this means we failed the mission?” She leans over to ask me, ensuring no one else hears her.
“We failed miserably,” I groan.