Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ADAM
Sophomore year of college—Fourteen years ago
I’ve seen Chelsea Jo every day since our first meeting in business class.
We had lunch that day and have been inseparable since.
I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s funny, sweet and challenges me with every word.
I like the fight she gives me. She’s not a simple girl falling at my feet just because I can catch a football.
I watch it happen with Jackson and there’s no feeling in it.
It’s boring and easy and I don’t want that.
Chelsea questions me and wants to know me, genuinely.
We talk about my family, my twin brothers and my sister, Francesca.
She doesn’t say too much about her family.
From what she’s mentioned, her mom is back in her hometown and her sister is in her senior year of high school.
They’re close, and though she didn’t want to leave her sister when it was time to choose a college, she did want out of her house.
There’s no mention of dad but I know she’ll tell me in her own time, so for now I’m happy with what she is sharing.
She answers her phone on the first ring, and I hum into the phone. “I’ve missed your voice.”
She giggles. “You just had lunch with me not two hours ago.”
“And it wasn’t enough. Come out tonight. We’re going to the football house for a party.”
I hear her shuffling around on the other end of the phone. “I don’t know, I have a lot of studying to do. You’ve taken up a lot of my time this week, Mr. Casanova and now I have to catch up.”
I groan inwardly, enjoying the authority she hands over to me by using my surname. “Come on, CJ, I need to see you.”
“You’re the only one who calls me CJ, you know that?”
“Good, I like having something that’s just mine, Peaches.” I say it in a low tone, and I can’t believe after one week, we’ve already got nicknames.
“Adammm,” she growls back. Then huffs out a breath. “Fine. But only for an hour. Two, max! I have a lot to do, and I need to keep my GPA up or I lose my scholarship.”
I fist pump the air and get an eye roll from Jackson. “I won’t let you fall, CJ.” And I mean that in every possible way. “I’ll pick you up in an hour. Wear something tight.” She giggles again and hangs up.
“You got it bad for this girl, bro. It’s only been a week! She got a magic pussy or what?”
“Don’t talk about her like that.” My tone of voice is threatening, and he knows I’m not playing.
“Adam, relax, I’m just messing around.” He studies me for a moment. “I’ve never seen you like this. Just be careful man, a fire started too soon doesn’t stay lit.”
“You wouldn’t understand, Gage.” He eyes me with a look like he’s got something to say, then thinks better of it. “All I know is I’ve never felt this way, this fast. It’s different. It means something.” Brushing him off, I grab my wallet and keys and head out the door.