Quarterback Sneak (Wolves of FMU #1)

Chapter 1

Evie

I stare up at the large building looming in front of me and clutch the strap of my bag.

I will some sort of inspiration to come.

When nothing does, I take a deep breath and unstick my feet from the pavement.

Dragging my suitcase behind me, I walk towards the front door of what will be my home for the next ten months.

Before I can open the front door, somebody opens it for me. “Thanks.”

Her voice startles me out of my thoughts.

“Yes.” She eyes me a moment and then steps back and holds the door open for me.

“Thanks.” I step inside and take in the room.

It’s smaller than I thought it would be.

There are two single beds, one against each wall with a single desk in the middle.

I guess we’re supposed to share it. The bed on the left is already made, so I drop my bag onto the bed on the right.

“I’m Sam.”

“I’m Evie,” I tell her in return.

“Welcome to FMU, Evie,” she says somewhat sarcastically. “Let me guess. Freshman?”

“How’d you guess?” I ask dryly.

She shrugs and eyes my outfit once again.

I don’t have to glance down at my black leggings, gray t-shirt, and sneakers to know it looks nothing like what she’s wearing.

It doesn’t bother me, though. I’m not here to win any fashion awards; I’m here to get a degree.

I push my bangs out of my eyes and grab an elastic band off my wrist to tie my long dark hair back.

I haven’t done that much yet, and I’m already sweating.

“It’s the humidity,” my roommate says, waving a hand at me. “The reason your hair is all frizzy.”

I resist the urge to run my hand over said frizzy hair.

I mean, she’s not wrong. I’m definitely not used to the humidity.

I’m a Colorado girl, where the humidity is blessedly mostly nonexistent.

Well, at least I was until we made the move across the country.

Now, I’m a Florida girl apparently, and my hair is already cursing me for it.

“Do you have more stuff?” My roommate’s voice snaps my attention to her.

“Yes.” When I stand there a moment longer, she nods towards the door.

“Let’s go get it.” Her offer to help surprises me, but I’ll take all the help I can get.

I head back out into the chaos and expect to have to push my way through the hallway again, but the Red Sea parts as my roommate walks down the hallway.

I’m not really sure if it’s out of fear or respect, but I’ll take it either way.

When we step back out into the bright sun, I blink and realize I forgot my sunglasses up in my room. “Where to?”

“This way.” I head towards the parking lot where my mom’s beat-up truck sits. When I get close, she steps out from behind the wheel. “Hey, Sweetie, did you find your room?” I nod and watch as she notices my roommate for the first time. “You already made a friend?”

“This is my roommate, Sam.” I turn to my mom and watch as her eyes flare just a moment, and I give her my sternest look, hoping she’ll not make a big deal of it.

“Is that short for something?” she asks. I barely resist the urge to groan out loud.

“Does it need to be?” Sam asks in return.

I don’t let my mom get a chance to answer. “Nope. Mom, I’m going to grab the rest of my stuff.”

My mom turns to me, and my eyes plead with her to be normal. She must catch something, because she smiles. “Okay, Sweetie.”

I head to the back of the truck and slide a box out. “Want help with that, Sweetie?” Sam asks.

I turn and place a box in her waiting hands. “Sure. Thanks.” She starts towards the dorm, and I grab a large box.

“What can I grab?” my mom asks.

“You don’t have to,” I try.

“I want to see your room and help you get settled.”

“Okay, just don’t be weird.”

Her eyes widen dramatically. “Me? Weird? I’m the antithesis of weird.”

I look at her pointedly. “Is that short for something?” I ask in a high-pitched voice after glancing to make sure my roommate is gone.

She frowns. “Well, you have to admit, it’s normally a boy’s name.”

“Mom, you can’t say stuff like that.” I stop in front of her, halting her progress. “You have to promise that you won’t say anything offensive.”

She huffs. “Oh, for goodness’ sake, I’m not going to embarrass you.”

“Too late,” I mumble as I walk towards the dorm with my arms laden down.

“Does that mean I can’t call you my little poopsie?”

I groan. “Mom.”

She laughs behind me. “I’m just kidding. I’ll be the perfect version of a cool mom.” I glance back and eye her mom jeans, t-shirt, and ponytail. She’s basically just an older version of me, or maybe I’m a younger version of her.

“Maybe just stay quiet.”

“Hey, now,” she says from behind me.

I’m focusing on not dropping my load and not looking where I’m going.

I run right into something and stumble back with a grunt.

Somebody grabs my arms, steadying me. “Sorry about that. Here let me help.” The heavy box suddenly disappears from my arms, and I’m left looking up at a good-looking guy.

No, make that, a really good-looking guy.

He’s tall, with dark hair that’s wind-blown and a devilish smile.

I swallow and resist the urge to take a step back.

“Hey, Gorgeous, what’s your name?”

Even his voice is sexy. I swallow and try to remember how to talk. “Evie,” I manage to say.

“Evie,” he says with a smile. “I’d shake your hand, but...” he nods at the heavy box he’s carrying. My box.

“Oh, I can carry it.”

“Not a chance. This is my chance to prove I’m a knight in shining armor, and that I have muscles,” he adds with a smirk. His eyes flick over my shoulder, and I suddenly remember that my mom is with me.

Nothing kills what could be a romantic moment faster than remembering your mother is right behind you. I don’t give her a chance to say anything. “Well, if you insist on carrying it, my dorm is this way.”

“Lead the way,” he says, stepping back to let me lead. I walk quickly, hoping he’ll follow before my mom tries to talk to him. Somehow, he manages to open the door for me, even while carrying the box. I lead him to the second floor and to Room 212.

“This is me.” I open the door and walk in, trying not to feel weird when he enters behind me.

“Where do you want this?”

“Oh. Right here.” I point at my bed and move out of the way so he can put it down. He makes it look light, but I know for a fact how heavy it is. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

“Knock, knock.” My mom walks through the open door with a wide smile on her face. “Well, isn’t this nice.”

I turn quickly to my helper. “Thanks so much for your help.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asks with a sexy smirk. My mind stalls out a moment. “No worries, Evie. I’ll get out of your hair, unless you have more to bring in.” He leaves it hanging like a question.

“I’m good, thanks.” My words come out too rushed, but he’s nice enough not to point it out.

“All right. I’ll see you around, Evie. Sam.” With a nod at my roommate, he leaves the room, leaving the scent of his cologne trailing after him.

“Oh my, well, he’s just edible, isn’t he?” I shake my head and face my mom. “What? Isn’t that what they say these days?”

“No, Mom, no one says that.” I don’t look over at my roommate, mostly because I don’t want to see her horrified expression. “Let’s head out to the car.” I push her towards the door, hoping it’s been long enough that he’s gone. I walk with my mom back through the dorm and out to the truck.

“You didn’t get his name,” my mom feels the need to point out.

“Yeah, I know.” I don’t admit that I feel like an idiot for forgetting to ask his name, but maybe I can ask my roommate. He obviously knew who she was, so I’m hoping she knows him too.

“Do you need me to do anything else while I’m here?” my mom asks, drawing my attention back to her. “I can go with you to check in and get your visitor’s packet.”

I face my mom. “I’m good. Thank you.”

Her face falls. “So, is this goodbye?”

My heart clenches, and I refuse to cry. I told myself I wasn’t going to be one of those crying freshmen. I nod. “Thanks for everything, Mom.” I mean those words with every part of my being.

“Oh, of course, Sweetheart.” She grabs both of my arms. “Don’t forget that you are strong, my Evie. You can do anything you set your heart to. You’ve got this.”

I swallow hard as I hug her. “I’m going to miss you, Mom.”

Her hands tighten on my back. “Oh, Baby. I know. I’m going to miss you too.”

We hug for an extra moment, and I try not to let my emotions take over. I step back and keep my gaze on her as she wipes her eyes. “Are you going to be okay?”

She waves off my concern. “Oh, you know me. I always land on my feet.” She gives me a brave smile, and my heart aches. We’ve had a tough go of it over the last few years, but we’ve always had each other. Now, we won’t have that. Before emotion threatens to consume me, I force a smile.

“You’re my hero, Mom.”

She smiles through her tears. “And you’re mine. Now, don’t forget to call me once in a while.”

“I won’t.”

“I love you, Evie.”

I swallow. “I love you too, Mom.” She gets in the truck and closes the door.

She starts it up, and I wince at the harsh sound of it.

The window’s already down, so we can still talk to each other.

“Be safe driving back...to Uncle Mick’s.

” I catch myself before I say the word home because there is no more home.

There’s just Uncle Mick’s now; our home is now about two thousand miles away. I know; I looked it up.

Her smile falters for just a moment before she turns it up. “I will.”

“Let me know when you get back to Uncle Mick’s,” I add, still not sure if this truck is going to make it.

Her eyebrows raise. “Who’s the parent here?”

I smile and shake my head. “Bye, Mom.”

“Bye, Sweetie.”

She waves one last time as she pulls away.

I wave back and watch her drive away. Only when her truck is out of sight do I turn back to my dorm.

The dorm looms in front of me, reminding me that this is my new life now, whether I’m ready for it or not.

“All right, Florida Maritime University, let’s do this. ”