Chapter Twenty-Two Gavin
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gavin
The party is starting at Nico, Coop, and Dollar’s house, and I’m in a foul mood. And for once, it’s not my father who put me there. There are a multitude of factors contributing to my shitty attitude, but a new one to add to the list popped up earlier this afternoon, and it sent me right over the edge.
I saw a sports report on ESPN where they were talking about serious contenders for the national title, and they mentioned the Dolphins. The reporter tore me apart, critiquing my game play so far this season and speculating that I might not “measure up” despite my recent statistics. Then he went on to discuss other teams and had nothing but glowing reviews for every single one of them. I was the only one called out for shit game play, and that put me in an immediate funk.
I regret ever turning on the TV to check game scores earlier. Fucking brand-new reporters who are barely out of college and have zero experience playing football, having the balls to tear apart my abilities and claim I probably don’t have what it takes to lead our team all the way. Like it’s all on me and no one else.
Fuck you, too, ESPN.
Walking into the house, I’m tense for other reasons. Knowing that Sienna will be here tonight and I won’t be able to touch her in public when my thoughts have been rampant with images of mauling her in the best way. Tearing off her clothes and fucking her hard against a wall. Over a chair. In the backyard on one of those yoga mats Everleigh uses. Can’t make a public spectacle of our sexual escapades, though, so I’ll have to remain calm and in control.
That’s difficult, considering whenever I’m around her, I’m overcome with the need to touch her and it’s only getting worse. I thought I might get her out of my system after fucking her multiple times, but nope. It just made me crave her more. An incessant need is building inside me as every hour passes, and I’m already scanning the house in search of her. She’s most likely already here with Everleigh.
It’s probably best if I avoid all women and get shit faced tonight. Forget my troubles for once and drown them in alcohol. Probably not the right approach in handling my issues—football and women; well, make that a specific woman—but screw it. This is the team’s only weekend during the season where we allow ourselves to party our asses off and get truly fucked up. Come Monday morning, we’re back on the grind. Working toward our goal to win a national championship.
But I can’t get that stupid ESPN report out of my head. Why does it feel like the season is already slipping out of my fingers when we’ve only played a few games? Games we’ve actually won, I might add. But other teams are doing just as well and even better, stats-wise. The competition is fierce this year, and it’s intimidating as hell.
Kind of like the women in my life—well, two of them. Nothing much scares me, but that little Everleigh is a terror when she wants to be, trying to boss me around and tell me I need to apologize to Sienna—which I did, but I’m not about to mention that to her tonight. That’s a conversation I don’t want to have. She’ll just start harping on me and giving me a hard time when all I want to do is relax.
And then there’s Sienna. What happened between us last night rocked my fucking world, and I don’t know what to do about it. Or how to handle it—handle her. She haunts my fucking dreams on a regular basis, and now it’s even worse, knowing that she’ll let me do whatever I want to her. I didn’t hold back, and she gave as good as she got. Took everything I did to her with a smile and a moan.
She’s like my every dream woman come true.
Funny how I’ve been fighting my feelings for so long. I’ve been waking up to thoughts of her in the middle of the night for months. Hot and sweaty and with an aching erection, my body strung tight with need. Need for her. Before our encounters, I’d become overly acquainted with my hand, and I was worried I’d develop calluses on my palm that have nothing to do with a football.
Not any longer. No more jerking off unless she wants to be the one who does it—and damn, does she do it well.
I pause in the living room, faintly amused that no one greets me, which isn’t normal. I’m blending in to the wall while everyone who lives in this house is running around, finishing setting up for the party that’s about to happen.
My amusement evaporates when I lock eyes with Everleigh, her disappointment in me written all over her face as she walks past. And I don’t want to make things right by telling her I made up with Sienna. That’ll only lead to more questions I don’t feel like answering.
Instead, I go sit and sulk on the couch, turning up the volume on the TV so I can watch the game currently on. One of our biggest rivals is playing, and they’re demolishing their opponents, taking great pleasure in destroying them, from what I see on the television screen every time they gain an advantage. Smiling and giving each other high fives. Doing ridiculous dances on the sidelines—and in the end zone when they score.
Every single guy on that team is an asshole. I can’t wait to wipe their faces in our victory in a couple of weeks. That’s what I tell myself at least because I’m not about to let the doubt come in too strong. Not tonight. There’s no place for it.
There is never any place for it, and I need to cling tight to that for the next few months and get through this season on top.
Nico comes to a stop when he passes through the living room for about the fiftieth time, finally spotting me on the couch. “What the hell is your problem?”
Great. I must still look pissed. I try to even out my expression, but it’s no use.
“ESPN” is my answer.
“Well, whatever the hell that means, forget about it. I need your help.” He inclines his head. “Come on.”
I haul myself off the couch and follow him, hoping whatever task he needs my assistance with will distract me enough that I forget everything and relax. I’m almost desperate with the need to have a good time tonight. Whether or not that involves Sienna is up to her. I’m not about to push myself on her.
Even though she seems to like it.
“Ever wants these lights strung up here,” Nico says once he’s outside, pointing at the top of the patio’s overhang. There’s already a stepladder set up, the package of opened lights sitting on the top step. “Will you help me?”
“Sure. Anything for your girl, right?” I’m teasing, and Nico doesn’t even react, which is hella disappointing. Though I suppose I should lay off. Why poke the bear?
Working together, we string the lights along the edge of the overhang, and I run an extension cord down one of the pillars and plug it into the outlet nearby. The lights come on, and Nico hops off the stepladder, admiring his work. “Looks good. Thanks, bro.”
“You’re welcome.” I scan the area, taking everything in. “Backyard looks great.”
There are chairs set up and a couple of tables. A keg is in the far corner of the yard, and there’s even one of those outdoor firepits in the center of the yard, a stack of wood sitting next to it.
“It’s all thanks to Dollar. He set up most of it,” Nico explains.
“Coop around?” I keep my voice casual. We’ve never mentioned Sienna to each other since the big reveal, and it’s making me anxious. Like the unspoken elephant in the room that just grows bigger and bigger every time we’re around each other.
“Yeah, he’s here. Sienna is too. She’s with Ever in her room. They’re getting ready for the party.” Nico grins.
I scowl. Guess it’s his turn to give me shit.
I think of what happened last night before I went over to Sienna’s apartment, and a horrible feeling washes over me. No, she wouldn’t ... would she? Though if she’s in the mood to provoke me, that would be one way to do it.
“Do you know if she’s bringing a ... date?” I think of the wimp we all met last night. Ryan? No, his name is a variation of Ryan, but I can’t remember it. And that’s because I don’t really care enough to remember it.
Fuck that guy. He doesn’t stand a chance. Can he make Sienna come like I do? I’d guess not.
“Who? Everleigh?” Nico’s fierce tone reeks of jealousy.
“No, dumbass. Sienna.”
“I doubt it, but you never know. We didn’t tell that guy she was with about the party. But I have no idea if Sienna invited him here or not. She might’ve.”
My stupid heart is crushed into a thousand tiny little pieces at the thought of that asshole showing up here and hanging out with Sienna all night. I stand up straighter, pretending I am just fine. “Cool.”
“You can admit to me if you’re into her, Gav. I’m not her brother. I won’t kick your ass for having thoughts of defiling Sienna,” Nico reminds me, and I duck my head. Hating that Nico knows me so well.
You’d think Coop would know me just as well, considering the three of us have spent plenty of time together over the years, but then again, Coop is not one to share his feelings. Some would call him emotionless, but I think it’s more that he keeps it all locked up tight. And when he explodes?
Watch the hell out.
“I don’t know how I feel about her,” I finally say, which is a lie. I know I want to have sex with her again. I want to make her smile and hear her laugh and watch her come apart in my arms. I like talking to her. I like it when she tells me things that she doesn’t say to anyone else. It shows that she trusts me, and I want to keep earning that trust, but shit.
I don’t know how to come clean about us with everyone else. Her brother and the team and the fans and the general public. I’m a Santa Mira celebrity, and I’ve seen what happens when some of my teammates get steady girlfriends. People on social media turn into stalkers, reporting on our every move. Following us wherever we go. And if they found out it was Sienna, who’s already tied to us? They’d go wild.
That sounds like a lot of extra drama I don’t have time to deal with.
Nico shakes his head at my answer, his disappointment clear. “Come on, Gavin. I think you’re totally into her. You’ve been totally into her for years, yet you pretend you don’t have a single clue about the fact that she feels the same way. The oblivious act has been working for you, and for whatever dumb reason, Sienna seems to fall for it, but I’m not letting you off the hook anymore. You need to do something about that girl. Either go all in or cut her off completely,” Nico says, his tone firm.
“You been talking to Ever lately or what?” I scratch the back of my neck, hating how uncomfortable I feel at talking about Sienna. Maybe I shouldn’t have come to this party. It’s been unpleasant since the moment I set foot in the house.
Nico grimaces. “No. I’m just tired of watching you two pretend you don’t have feelings for each other, when those feelings practically fill up the room to the point of suffocation every damn time that you’re together.”
“That’s a pretty—descriptive way to put it.” I’m still scrubbing the back of my neck. Something I do when I get anxious, and the moment the realization hits, I drop my hand.
“And pretty accurate too. But hey, it’s just a suggestion on my part. If you want to keep up this charade, go for it.” Nico offers me a smile, and it feels genuine. “I’m dealing with my own shit, and it makes me snappy. Sorry.”
“Hey, it’s cool.” I incline my head toward him, and his smile fades, though his eyes are still friendly. “Let’s forget all about women tonight and keep the peace. What do you say?”
“I say that’s a great idea.” Nico holds out his hand, and I slap it, then perform the intricate handshake we invented our freshman year. When we were young and full of hope. Not that my hope has died, but I’m a much more realistic person nowadays. “To getting drunk.”
“To getting drunk,” I repeat in agreement.
“And possibly getting laid,” Nico adds.
I drop his hand, taking a step back. “I said we were going to forget women, asshole.”
Not like I can, but it sounds good, right?
“Yeah, well, a man can still want some pussy, am I right?” Nico laughs, and I see right through him.
He’s playing this all off, and while I’m laughing, too, there is only one pussy I want—and damn, that is such a crude way to think of Sienna.