14. Zander
CHAPTER 14
ZANDER
Having Sienna for a girlfriend is the best thing ever. At least it would be if my parents and football and school and life didn’t keep getting in the way.
It’s been two weeks since that heavenly moment in her bedroom, and I have yet to be alone with her again. I’m still getting to see her all the time, which I love. She really is the coolest chick I’ve ever known. I love her laugh. She has a great laugh, and she gives it out so easily… along with that stunning smile.
She’s fun to be around. She has the best stories and the funniest lines. She talks in song lyrics and movie quotes, whispering in my ear in the cafeteria and making me laugh while our friends talk around us.
I love the way she fits on my knee and plays with the ends of my hair. I love the weight of her arm around my shoulders and how perfect her body feels against mine.
I am such a goner.
And I’m happy to be.
She keeps me company with her texts and Snaps when I’m supposed to be studying or training. She’s so funny and adorable. And her honesty makes me smile all the time. Her filter is paper thin—I love that about her.
She leaves me notes in my locker that I read during class. She’ll sometimes watch me practice, which is so fucking distracting, but I don’t want to tell her to stop. She sits on my knee during lunch break, she sits in my car on the days I drive her home from school… and she sits in my heart—always.
Yes, that sounds fluffy and romantic, but I can’t get enough of this girl, which is why it kills me that I’ve barely been able to find any time in private with her. We make out at school any chance we can get, but it’s always stolen kisses between classes or nearly-getting-busted moments in the back corner of the library. She let me feel her up in my car after school the other day, and things were getting pretty hot and heavy—her moan when I ran my hand up her thigh and cupped her between the legs had my dick straining for release. She’s the sexiest girl on this planet. I was seconds away from unbuttoning her pants when my phone started persistently ringing. It was my dad, and he wouldn’t let up until I’d answered him.
Fuck, it was the most infuriating thing and a total mood killer.
And now it’s Sunday, and I’m stuck at home because Monica is bringing my grandparents over for a visit, and Mom thought it’d be a good idea to invite Dad, too, so that we can have a family dinner.
What the actual fuck?
They seriously have no idea how to be a normal divorced couple. I don’t even get why her parents would want to see my father, but she went ahead and arranged it anyway.
She keeps trying to play the “we’re amicable for the sake of our children” card, but it only works half the time.
It’s infuriating.
But it’s not like I can say anything without making it worse, so I’m keeping my mouth shut and staying up in my room as much as humanly possible.
Sienna’s out of town, visiting with some friends who are basically family. I should really be happy about the timing since I can’t see her anyway… but I hate that she’s out of town.
And I know she feels the same way, because she told me so.
“I do love the Fishers. They’re a cool family. Dad was best friends with Keith growing up, so we moved onto their street when we first got to the States. His kids became like my brother and sisters. Russell’s a few years older than me. He plays hockey at UCLA and he’s coming back for the weekend. So, it’ll be nice to see him and the girls, but…” She shrugged, then pouted. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“It’s only for two days.” I kissed her, trying to hide my angst and make her feel better. “And I’ll make it up to you when you get back.” I wiggled my eyebrows, making her giggle—did I mention how much I love the sound of her laughter?
I wasn’t sure how I was going to follow through on that promise, but I kissed her deep and long before letting her go. Her panting breaths hit my skin, her voice shaking when she whispered, “I really want to be with you again. You know… like we did in my room.”
“Yeah.” I cupped the back of her head. “I want that too. We just need to find a space we can go to.”
“Something will come up,” she assured me. “We’ll find a way.” Her eyes darted past her house while her fingers curled into my jacket. “When the weather warms up, we’ve got the treehouse at the back of my place. If no one sees us sneaking up there…” Her smile was electric, and I grinned, kissing her again and willing the winter to be the shortest one on record.
My watch buzzed, and I sighed. “That’s Dad hounding me. I better go.”
“Good luck for your game tonight. I’ll see you when I get back.” Her smile was bright, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes.
“Here’s a little something for the road, baby.” Pulling her forward, I left her with a kiss to remember. It was deep and passionate, our moans of pleasure blending together as heat fired through us. I’m sure her body was as scorching as mine by the time we finally pulled apart—fucking Dad again! One text was never enough.
My watch had buzzed like crazy, Dad actually calling me to demand to know why I hadn’t responded to him by the time I pulled away from Sienna’s place.
My answers were terse and snappy, and we ended up getting into a big fight before my game that carried on immediately after I left the locker room. He confiscated my phone so I couldn’t even text Sienna back, which was enough to make me cold-shoulder him for the rest of the weekend. He was so pissed that he ended up sending me back to Mom’s a day early.
Which is where I am right now, up in my room—still phone-less, but at least I have my laptop.
Sienna and I have been texting most of the day, although she’s about to board her plane—thank God!—and I’m taking this chance to do some research.
Using an incognito window, I am happily jumping down a rabbit hole entitled How to make a woman come . And I’m learning a shit ton of stuff I can’t wait to try out on my girlfriend.
There’s a soft tap on the door, and then it swings open before I even have a chance to respond. Slapping my laptop shut, I whip around, no doubt looking busted as hell.
Dad frowns at me. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” I swallow and hold out my hand. “Can I have my phone back now?”
He sighs, stalking into the room. I stay tucked beneath my desk, pretty sure I have a full-blown erection after picturing all the things I want to do to my girl. That last one had me fired up and wanting to meet Sienna at the airport just so I can drive her someplace private and get started.
Slapping the phone into my palm, Dad mutters, “Your mom says I’m not allowed to take it from you again, but I just want to make it clear that I felt it was the right thing to do. You and this girl are getting obsessed with each other, and it’s not healthy.”
I roll my eyes. Here we go again.
“I mean it, Zander. There’s more to life than just some girl.”
“She’s not just some girl ,” I grit out. “She’s really important to me.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dad brushes his hand through the air. “I get that you’re really into her, but you’ve got a whole future ahead of you. I need you to understand how important that is.”
“I get it, Dad!” I huff, running a hand through my hair. This conversation is disintegrating my boner, so it’s safe enough for me to push away from my desk and face him properly. “You won’t shut up about it, so?—”
“I won’t shut up because I care about you!” he growls. “There’s more to life than romance. How’s that gonna help you reach your football goals? How’s that gonna get you an education and a job!”
“Dad.” I close my eyes with a sigh. “Stop being so dramatic. I can do all of those things and still have a girlfriend.”
“She is distracting you, and you know it. Your gameplay is off. Your studies are taking a hit.”
I balk at him. “That’s bullshit! I’m working my ass off on the field and in school.”
“Your focus isn’t completely there, and I’m worried it’s going to kill your chances. Brighton doesn’t accept half-ass players. They’ll want your full commitment.”
“Dad—” I start.
He holds up his hand. “Just shut up for a second and hear me out. I’m not telling you to break up with her, okay? I’m just warning you that if you don’t get your head on straight, you might not get the college you’re hoping for.”
“Oh, come on.” I flick my hands out wide. “We already know Brighton’s interested.”
“You haven’t had a definite verbal offer yet, and until you do, you don’t have the luxury of relaxing and slacking off!”
“You’re being paranoid.”
“There are no guarantees in this life,” Dad barks, thrusting a hand through his hair and starting to pace. “I was hoping scouts from all over would come and see you, but they won’t even know you exist unless you put yourself out there. We should have sent your video out to more schools.”
I roll my eyes. “The Brighton coaches have already been to one game this season, and they’ll come to at least two more. They’re interested in a few of us.”
“I know that.” Dad spins to face me. “But they won’t stay interested unless you up your performance! Last week’s game was a write-off. Friday night’s wasn’t much better, and that was a home game. You should have dominated.”
I grit my teeth and mutter, “That team was brutal. Give me a break.”
“You were off your game, Zander.” Dad’s eyes narrow in on me, and I squirm in my seat, fisting my fingers and tapping my knee. I don’t want to admit that he’s right.
Can’t I just enjoy my life?
Can’t I just spend every waking minute with the girl who makes me feel alive?
The thought of leaving her to go away to college fucking sucks. Which is why I’m secretly glad no other scouts or coaches have come. If I go to Brighton, she’ll be close enough to still see all the time.
Which means I only want Brighton.
I’m not going to some school hundreds or thousands of miles away! We can’t be that far apart. I won’t do it.
“Look, I’ve spoken to Coach.”
“What?” My head springs up, and I gape at my father.
“He’s helping me put some more feelers out there, suggesting colleges on the West Coast. Plus, he’s hoping the offensive coach from Kelsey U will come to your next game, and he’s even?—”
“I’m not going to Kelsey U. It’s miles away! And screw the West Coast!”
“You may not have a choice!” Dad thunders back. “Besides, Kelsey U is a good school with a great football program.”
“No way.” I shake my head. “I get that you loved going there, but I’m not you! And I don’t want to be that far from home.”
“Because of a girl?” Dad sneers.
I clench my jaw and glare at him.
“You can’t base life decisions on a girl.”
It makes my hackles go up, and I’m about ready to yell him out of my room when he starts going on about how his plans were thwarted because he didn’t play it safe. He could have had a football career if he’d kept his head out of the clouds and focused on the game, but instead he?—
“I don’t want to play it safe!” I cut him off before I have to hear any more of this bullshit. “Just because you and Mom didn’t work out doesn’t mean every couple who meet in high school can’t last. Stop projecting your shit onto me! This is my life!”
“He’s just trying to protect you.” Mom appears behind Dad, and for once they’re actually agreeing on something.
Perfect.
Well, isn’t that just fucking perfect.
They fight about everything , but when it comes to me and Sienna, they’re in complete agreement.
I feel totally ganged up on as I slump back into my desk chair and listen to their lecture on how I’m still so young and don’t really know what I want yet.
Screw them!
They don’t know fucking shit!
“Hey, family!” My sister’s voice travels up to my room from the front door, and I’ve never been so grateful.
“We’ll finish this later.” Dad points at me.
“Can’t wait,” I seethe, brushing past them to run downstairs and greet my sister and grandparents.
Thank God they’re staying the night. It’ll keep me safe for the next twenty-four hours.
But then they’ll leave, and I’ll be stuck here with Mom and Dad, who are determined to ruin my life.