Page 4 of Replay

There’s a bit of a breeze today, but the August sun is still hot on my back. Stopping to catch my breath, I wipe the sweat from my forehead and seek out the closest bench to stretch out before heading home.

Ridgeway Park is pretty busy for this time of year. The town is usually quiet during the summer. Yes, families live here year-round, but the university students take over when in session. And considering school doesn’t start for another two weeks, the only students in town should be those who never go home and the fall sports teams. Meaning, Nate is already here. I thank my lucky stars I haven’t crossed paths with him yet, even though I’ve only been back for less than twenty-four hours. But I know it’s inevitable. I’m just glad I now have time to prepare.

“Hey, beautiful.” A voice sounds from beside me catches my attention. My gaze flits in his direction, finding Carter walking my way. His brown eyes trail from my eyes, down my body, lingering on my sweaty chest. Taking in his handsome face, I smile.

“Carter, what are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to see him. Our plan was for him to come by my apartment after my shift at The Wolfpack. I lean into his embrace, loving the familiar scent of his cologne.

“I had to get out of my house. The new roommate I was telling you about has a superstition about cleaning his socks. Fucker smells so bad. So, I figured I’d come to the park, assuming you’d be here.”

Chuckling, I grab my water, taking a large gulp. “Yeah, I don’t think I could survive that.”

“I missed you,” he says, touching my hip. “Two months is a long time. How was Spain?”

“I missed you too… It was amazing. Sooo gorgeous. Still can’t get over how old everything was.”

“Well, I'm glad you’re back.”

“Thanks, I’m glad to be back too.” I smile at him, trying to mask my thoughts of Nate. Did Carter know all summer that Nate was joining his team? From what I’ve read, the transfer portal closes in April… So, he must have known.Is that why he was pushing to be exclusive?

I’ve known Carter Graves for quite some time, since we both graduated from Nori Beach High School. When we first started hanging out, it was just as friends, but eventually, we evolved. At the end of last semester, I felt like maybe I could feel more for him, but instead, I ran away to Spain. So, although he desperately wants to be, Carter is not my boyfriend. I’ve sworn off those. Just the thought of putting myself in a situation to get hurt again scares the hell out of me.

“How’s practice been?” I question, wondering if he’ll mention the team’s new quarterback?

He hesitates for a moment before answering. “Coach has been running us like crazy this week. I’m so fucking sore and so damn hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” I quip as I gather up my things. Is he just waiting for the right time to break the news to me?

Carter laughs and pulls me into him. His tall frame towers over my 5’2” self. I look up at him, admiring his big brown eyes and tanned skin. He licks his full lips before he leans down for a kiss. Hands roaming over my hips, he cups my ass before he pulls away.

“Hungry for you,” he whispers, and I playfully swat him away. My body responds to his touch, but my brain is too fucked up to want what’s clearly on his mind.

“I'm serious. Two months is a long time, Berk. I'm a desperate man.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab his hand. “Come on, let’s go back to my apartment. I need to shower. We can eat and catch up, then I can get ready for work.”

The walk to my place is less than five minutes from the park. It’s located in downtown Mountain Ridge, where most of the off-campus housing is. There’s my apartment complex, several sorority and fraternity homes, and then there are the sports houses, which are basically fraternity homes in a sense with just a little more of a sweat smell to them. At the center of the sports housing is The Wolves Den. The elite players live there, including Graham, a friend of mine and Carter’s from NoriBeach. As of last semester, there were only football and hockey players living there, but that changes every year.

Walking into my apartment, I’m welcomed by silence. Bellamy and Darby aren’t back yet. I, however, live in Mountain Ridge year-round. Nori Beach is no longer a place I wish to visit, so I’ve made Mountain Ridge my home. Although it may be lonely at times, I’d rather be here than face the life I left behind.

Carter walks right to my kitchen and opens my fridge to inspect its contents. “How about sandwiches?” he asks, pulling the essentials out.

“Sounds great. You’re lucky I went food shopping this morning,” I tease as he opens a bag of chips to snack on while he makes us lunch.

“I’m going to shower. Be out in a minute,” I say as I head down the hallway to my bathroom before he has time to ask to join in. I should be jumping his bones after two months and, normally, I would be, but I can’t seem to get a certain someone out of my head.

While I wait for the water to heat up, I text my girls.

ROOMIES

Me

Miss you people… come back to meeee.

Darby

Ahhh! Miss your face.

Bell

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