Page 28 of Replay

I think of something to keep her talking. “I heard you saw my dad. He was so happy to see you.”

“It was really good to see him too. I think the bartender had a crush on him. She couldn’t stop talking about how handsome and young he looked.” She giggles at the memory.

“I’ll have to tell him that. He could probably use the ego boost right about now.”

My statement makes her ponder something by the way her eyebrows furrow, and I wonder if she knows.

“I was kinda surprised your mom wasn’t with him. I just assumed she wasn’t at The Wolfpack on Friday, but I noticed she wasn’t in the stands earlier either.”

And if I have anything to do with it, she won’t be at any this season. The thought of her coming makes me so angry; I know it would ruin a game day for me.

“All those fights they used to have turned out to have some validity, and my dad finally asked for a divorce.”

Gasping, she covers her mouth. “Oh Nate, I had no idea.”So, she definitely doesn’t know.

“How is Willow? I feel so bad I’ve only talked to her briefly…” she pauses before admitting, “It was just too hard.”

“Trust me, I get it. And she’s doing okay. She’s living with Dad full time, and ever since she turned eighteen, she’s been taking her anger out on Mom under the tattoo gun. She officially has more ink than me.”

That earns another look of surprise. “Wow, really?”

I nod.

“Speaking of ink…” She gently runs her finger along the outer part of my forearm over a tentacle, and goosebumps scatter all over from her touch.

Did she see all of it? I don’t think she did.

“I like the octopus. It made me think of that field trip we went on.”

“Oh yeah…the one that you let me finger you on the bus during the ride back to school.”

Berkley blushes, smacking my arm. “Nathan!” She stumbles into her front door, and I’m reminded of the alcohol running through her system. I want to ask her so badly why she doesn’t go home, but I know now isn’t the right time. Plus, we are two days away from her most dreaded day of the year.

I put my hands up, shrugging. “It's a good memory. Why do you think I got it on my right arm?” Fuck, my dick is hardening, just remembering how wet and eager she always was for me.

Berkley levels me with a stare. “Stop it,” she says weakly, and I don’t miss the way her pupils dilate, hopefully recalling the memory as well.

Her so-called current boyfriend was in the seat in front of us with another teammate, and she had to bury her face in my neck to drown out her moans as she came.

“Are you coming to the pool party tomorrow, or is your post-game-day tradition still to lay around and eat cereal all day?”

“Not even Cinnamon Toast Crunch could keep me from seeing you in a bikini… It’s been too damn long.”

A little smirk she tries to hide pulls at her glossy lips, and she playfully rolls her eyes. “You are in for a treat…”

Her door opens, surprising us both, and a sleepy Darby stands in the darkness. “Bellamy called because you weren't answering. She wanted to make sure your stalker hadn’t kidnapped you.”

We both chuckle at Bellamy’s choice of words.

“Nah. I may be obsessed, but I’d never take her against her will.”

Berkley gives her roommate a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I’ll be right in, Darbs.”

She turns back to me, a look in her eyes I can’t quite place. “Thanks for walking me home. See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be the one staring,” I wink.

“Good. Bellamy bought me a new swimsuit…just to torture you,” she says simply, patting me on the chest and walking inside.

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