Page 10 of Punt My Life

WhenIbegrudginglyletMaddox pull back from our kiss, he gave me his phone to call my parents while he heated up some canned beef stew for dinner. My parents were beside themselves when I told them about the close call I’d had while driving in the storm. When I told them that a friend came to my rescue, Maddox vehemently corrected the title toboyfriend. My little sister giggled while I could practically hear my mom swooning through the phone. She insisted on inviting Maddox to a family dinner to thank him in person after the storm clears.

After we ate, Maddox gave me a pair of his sweatpants and a threadbare t-shirt to wear before letting me take the first turn in the tiny stand-up shower.

I’m dozing on the couch when my phone buzzes with an incoming text. I grab it and swipe the screen out of habit in my half-asleep state. I realize that I’m holding Maddox’s phone—not mine—when I read the text from the Bears’ QB1.

Wesley: You okay, man? Jenny said you took off when someone named Lexi called. Did she mean Alexis?

I can still hear the shower running and I’m not sure if I should answer the text or ignore it since it wasn’t meant for me. Before I can decide, it buzzes again.

Wesley: Don’t leave me on read, Kicker. You’ve been gone for hours and we’re getting worried about you…and Teach.

I feel my lips pull up into a grin at the nickname that some of the students I’ve tutored have tagged me with before I respond to the text.

Maddox (me): This is Alexis. Maddox came to help me when I got stuck in the storm. We’re at his dad’s cabin close to the county line.

Wesley: Oh, SHIT! Hey, Teach. This storm is insane…but I bet Kicker will keep you warm.

I scowl at the insinuation of his text until the next one comes through.

Wesley: Seriously. I’m glad you guys are safe.

Maddox (me): Thank you.

I nearly drop the phone when Maddox leans over the back of the couch and chuckles in my ear. “You answering my texts,baby doll?”

I turn to face him so he can see my eyes roll as I tell him, “I was half asleep when I read the first text. I wouldn’t have answered but…he seemed worried about you.”

“I'm glad you answered him. My team is your team. They were worried about you, too, you know?” When I don’t respond, Maddox leans closer and kisses my nose. “And QB’s right. I’ll be happy to keep you warm. Come help me make the bed…so we can mess it up.” He winks and stands up straight before turning and heading to the wardrobe next to the bed on the back wall.

For someone that doesn’t smile much, I’m finding it difficult to let the one on my face drop as we stretch fresh sheets on the bed before climbing into it. Who knew falling in love with a football star would be the cure to my resting bitch face? Definitely not me.

Maddox

Ihaveallintentionsof making love to Lexi when we crawl into bed. But when her long yawn triggers my own, I realize that we’re both too exhausted from the events of the day to truly enjoy it. So, I pull her to me and kiss her gently. “Get some rest. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

When she sighs in relief, I know I’ve made the right call. She pushes me to lay on my back before resting her head on my chest and throwing her leg over mine. She’s effectively turned me into a human body pillow…and I couldn’t be happier.

Chapter 11

Maddox

I’mstartledawaketofind Lexi thrashing and whimpering in the bed next to me. I know it’s supposed to be bad to wake someone during a nightmare, but when I see the tears on her face, I do it anyway.

“Lexi, wake up,” I say softly as I sit up to gently shake her shoulder.

She freezes at the sound of my voice and her eyes flutter open. “Maddox?” Her voice is laced with confusion and relief at the same time.

I reach for her face to wipe the tears away with my thumbs. “Right here. I’ve got you.”

“You saved me,” she says as new tears fall down her face. “Is this real? Are you really…mine?” Her voice cracks on the last word as she sits up.

I let my smile spread across my face because this is the first time she’s verbally acknowledged our relationship. “It’s real. I’m all yours,baby doll.”

I barely have the last word out before her lips crash into mine. My hands go into her hair as her tongue pushes past my lips to tangle with mine. Her kiss is on the edge of desperation and has me hard in a matter of seconds. Which she discovers with a moan when her hand dives into my boxers to wrap around me.

I let her stroke me as I drop a hand to her full breast and squeeze. When she arches her back, pushing into my hand, I break the kiss to look at her as I lift my borrowed t-shirt over her head. As much as I like the sight of her in my clothes, it’s nothing compared to her bare round breasts and rosy-pink nipples. Her hand stops stroking to tighten around me when I pinch one.

“Maddox.” Her voice is thick with lust.

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