Page 75 of Of Flesh & Bone

"This is the one.It's your favorite."

Am I that obvious?

"I love this house.I could see spending our lives here and playing with our children in that backyard.I just think we need to start smaller.A lot smaller.We don't need all of this right now."

"I don't want to wait.I've waited long enough.I want to get started now.I want to start here in this house and so do you.This is the house.If we wait, this will be someone else's home by the end of the week."

"I can't afford a house like this.Not even half.I don't want to start our future on uneven ground."

Adam looks at me like I've sprouted a possum with nipples for eyes from my forehead.

"You will carry my children, feed them from your body, make meals for them, play with them, teach them to be like you.What do you think that's worth to me?"

I slowly shake my head and shrug in the universal I don't know gesture.Adam pulls me into him and, with his lips, caresses my forehead.

"Priceless, Eve.You're priceless."

Chapter 25

Adam

Idon't have time forthis shit.

The coaches have called a mandatory evening practice since some of the guys decided to show their asses after last week's game.Cotton has talked me down from kicking every one of their asses three times.This shit is keeping me from Eve and Ace's game.There's no telling how long this thing will last since, according to our head coach, "You privileged little divas think ya'll can just say and do whatever the hell ya'll want 'cause you can play a little football and it's our job to show you how the real-world works.Well, gentlemen welcome to the consequences of your bonehead actions.We'll be on that turf until we feel that you've learned the error of your dumbass ways".

Practice is grueling, but it's definitely worse on the three guys who caused all the trouble.Chad and Jason have both thrown up and Todd is looking a little green.I take every moment I can to sit and watch the girls’ game online.I've seen Ace play thousands of times.She's incredible.She's light on her feet and she can jump like a damn puma.

As good as Ace is though, Eve is better.She's all in.She can anticipate the ball before the other side has even responded.She knows exactly where to be at all times.She almost doesn't need teammates.She definitely doesn't need anyone apart from Ace.I love the difference in how she and Ace play together now.They play off of one another, set each other up, and anticipate each other's move without speaking.It's incredible to watch.It pisses me off that I can't be there.Cotton was right about it being a bad idea to assault a teammate again, but I'm going to turn Cal loose on them.He loves to prank people.Maybe he'll put itch powder in their jock straps.The man's a damn savage.

We practice hard and it feels never-ending.Once I finally get a chance to sit again, the damn game is over.The girls are already shaking hands with the other team.I wouldn't get to see this if it weren't for the Campus Sleuth.He streams the games live, but he continues to watch the athletes afterward to see who talks to who and who the media is interested in.It's clear that the reporters are interested in Eve, but they realize quickly that she doesn't share their interest.She puts her head down and walks through them as though she can't hear her name being called.

She walks toward the bleachers andwho the fuck is that?Eve walks right up to a man who looks a hell of a lot like a guy I will be decapitating soon.I can't see her face, but I can see this asshole grinning from ear to ear as he plans his own death when he wraps his arms around Eve, picking her feet up off the ground and spinning her in a circle.Sparks ignite in my brain.The crackle of electricity is audible in my head.My skin feels hot, and my heart begins to race.My hands are shaking and itching to act, to respond to this invasion.

The camera pans away to Ace as she's talking to a reporter.I vaguely hear her say something about Eve and team effort, but my thoughts are on the girl who's off camera somewhere with a dead man.

"I have to go.I have to find Eve."

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