Page 17 of Away Game

“Are you really that good?” Ford asked around a bite of food. Damn, he was a pig. Every time I saw him off the field, he was eating. No wonder he wanted to hook up with Tiffany for free food.

“West went to our rival school, Central Valley, and they kicked our ass in the championship. I’ve watched a lot of his game videos, and he’s fucking good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went pro.”

Fin leveled Oz with a scathing look but kept his mouth closed. It was shocking, but I’d take it.

“Pro?” Both Ford and Ridley looked surprised at Oz’s admission.

“We’ll see.”

“Is that what you want?” Oz asked. It didn’t escape my notice that I was the sole focus of Fin’s penetrating gaze.

“What boy doesn’t grow up wanting to play in the NFL?” It was something I’d wanted for as long as I could remember, but it wasn’t until colleges started to recruit me last year that I realized it was a possibility.

“And what happens if you blow out your knee or something before you even graduate?” Fin’s gruff voice asked.

“I’ll have my business degree I can use,” I answered truthfully. I knew there was always a possibility I might not make it to the big leagues, but I was going to do everything in my power to make becoming a professional football player a reality.

Fin’s face turned to stone right in front of me. “Your degree is in business?”

Why was I scared to answer what seemed like an innocent question?

“Yeah,” I drew the word out. “What’s yours?” I looked at everyone for them to answer. I didn’t want all the attention to be on Fin in case he decided to ruin the moment.

“Business,” Fin, Oz, and Ford all answered at the same time while Ridley said education. The three guys laughed at their identical answers while Ridley and I looked at each other wide-eyed. I didn’t know why he was looking at me that way, but I was shocked at the revelation that Fin and I would more than likely have at least one class together.

The sharp jut of Fin’s jaw said he had come to the same conclusion.

Luckily, Tiffany brought our food out then, and everyone dug in. We were still ravenous, even after the appetizers.

While I ate, I couldn’t help but watch Fin while he was in his element. The only other time I’d had the opportunity to look at him was when he was stuck at my apartment in Lake Arrowhead. Since that night up on the mountain, Fin had shaved the sides of his head, making him look even more like the bad boy he was. His dark hair had grown out and now hung in his eyes if he didn’t have it slicked back. His black orbs were more intense with the look. He had a shadow of growth on his face that had me wanting to rub my cheek and lips over it.

Damn, Fin. Why did he have to be so damn hot along with a total asshole? And why did he have to be here?

Once I finished eating, I excused myself to use the restroom before we left. Now that we were full, we were ready for sleep if the constant yawns coming from everyone were any indication. Practice had kicked our asses.

Relieving myself, I was standing at the sink and washing my hands when Fin walked in. Instantly, I was on alert. Fin moved in behind me like a lion, and I was his prey. The only problem was I didn’t know what he was going to do. I hated how my heart rate picked up as our gazes locked in the mirror. Fin’s eyes were so dark, I couldn’t see anything but his black soul shining through.

“Did you know I was going to be here?” he growled, stopping right behind me.

“At dinner?” I tried to swallow the rock that was lodged in my throat. “I assumed since Ford’s been hanging out with you and Oz.”

“Don’t test me.” Fin’s anger churned in his voice, large hands came down on my shoulders. The tips of his fingers dug into my flesh. “I meant Willow Bay.”

I tried to shrug his hands off but was unsuccessful. Staring at him through the mirror, I let him see my truth. “I’ve been planning on coming here since my junior year. Everything was dependent upon my grades and the scholarship they’d offer.”

“If I find out you’re lying, I’ll end you.” It wasn’t a threat. It was a statement. One Fin Huntington meant every word of.

“I have no reason to lie to you.”

In one swift move, Fin turned me roughly and crashed his lips to mine. After every nasty word he’d said to me, having his lips on mine was the last thing I should have wanted. I was disgusted with myself, but I couldn’t help how my body responded to him.

A noise outside the door had Finley pushing himself across the bathroom. His back was to the wall as he panted. The door opened, and a middle-aged man walked in without a glance at either one of us. I took that opportunity to get the hell out of there before anything else could happen.

Fin’s lips brushed against my ear as he passed by. “Not a word.”

Raw anger simmered in my veins at his words. Would it always be like this, or would I eventually be able to control myself around Fin?

9

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