Page 26 of Replay
“People talk all the time,” I answer her and turn slightly so she won’t see the smirk on my lips.
“Okay, well, we’re here.” She lifts her chin in the direction of the building her lecture hall is in. As more people turn to look at us, watching our interaction, her voice becomes smaller, and she seems to try and shrink in on herself. In Texas I never worried about the attention I received or how people would openly gawk and gossip about me. I never had Emmarys with me on campus though and until now I never felt like I had to shelter her from the audience. If it was up to me, I never would. I want them to know she’s mine and that I take care of her, provide for her, love her. Right now I can tell she's uncomfortable and until things between us are settled and she trusts me, I can’t blame her for being hesitant.
Turning to her I, once again, reach out and brush her hair behind her ear, loving the way her pupils expand while she stares at me. “Good luck on that test, Emmarys. I’ll see you later.”
“Hawke.” She shakes her head. “I have a busy day and my schedule is all over the place. I don’t need you here waiting on me. I’m sure you have your own classes to take care of.”
Carefully, I step closer to her, letting her feel my body against hers. “Don’t worry about me, sweets. I’ll be here to give you what you need. Just focus on your practices and class, okay.”
Her brow quirks up. “I feel like I should be saying the same thing to you. Don’t you have football to worry about? That's why you’re here.”
A laugh tumbles from my mouth and I can’t help but reach for her, my hands sliding along her cheeks and into her hair. Emmarys is forced to tilt her head back, and I hold her gaze. “We both know the only reason I’m here is for you, sugar. And my most important job is to take care of you.” I brush my lips against hers, a brief kiss, when I want more, but my brain is screaming to calm down right now.
“I’ll wait for you after practice tonight, we can go get dinner.”
Emmarys places her free hand against my chest and pushes some distance between us. “I’m not going out with you, Hawke. We are not together.” She turns and practically sprints away from me.
Part of me wants to laugh and part of me wants to chase after her. Sensing that she needs the space, I let her go. There will be more time to talk later and even though the urge to hash out all our issues right now is strong, I also know that Emmarys needs some time to accept her fate. Because we are fated, soulmates, and I will follow her into the next life.
“That play is getting better,” Coach says to me on our way off the field after practice.
I nod in agreement, my eyes assessing different players as they head into the locker room ahead of me. “The line is still a little weak in the middle, but I think they were getting the hang of it by the end. Everyone is just used to only strengthening the outsides.”
Coach’s gaze lingers on me until he finally grunts in acknowledgement of what I said. “I’ll give it to ya, kid, you really know what you’re talking about.”
“I study plays hard, Coach, nothing really to it,” I answer, slipping a little bit of that dark edge that lives inside me into my words.
The team is already putting it together with my sudden move and the drama from the party the other night. I’ve been prepared on how to handle the situation, and I don’t plan on letting them run their mouths. Chasing Emma to Michigan has no effect on my play. Hell, I’m going to be playing even better now that I feel like I can breathe, and I’ll be even sharper so that nothing can jeopardize my spot here.
“Look, Sheppard,” Coach sighs and scratches the hair on his chin, “I don’t like drama and believe that rumors are bullshit. I do want to say though that I hope you have your head on right. I took a chance bringing you here, and so far you’re proving me right at every turn, but I hope these rumors won’t negatively impact your chances at success.”
I turn and give Coach my full attention because although I can see this situation makes him uncomfortable, he isn’t blaming or shaming Emmarys. He’s only concerned about my play.
“I know what the rumors are, Coach,” I tell him honestly and shrug my shoulders. “She’s the reason I’m here, but I’m still playing to win. My goal is the NFL, and I’m taking my girl with me.”
He looks a little shocked at first but manages to recover. His burly neck turns red and he starts walking again. “Let's just never have to talk about this again. Play like you have been and whatever girl you’re chasing in the off-time, I don’t want to know about.”
“Sure, Coach,” I laugh and we go our separate ways once we are off the field.
The locker room is still busy when I get in there and I glance quickly at my phone to see if there are any messages from Emmarys. I gave her the space she needed during the day so she could concentrate on her classes and their practice, but I still made sure her favorite lunch was delivered and that she was sent a fresh water bottle and one of those blueberry-lemon scones she likes in the later afternoon before her last practice. I wanted her to know I was thinking about her even when I couldn't be with her.
Showering quickly, I notice that everyone is clearing out pretty fast and as far as locker rooms go, this has been the quietest day in here. I catch Riggs’s attention and he saunters over. “What’s the deal?”
“Rumors about you and Emma are circulating, along with the incident at the party. Nothing too bad, but it's out there,” he answers.
We had planned for this, knew it would come the minute I made my interest in her known, especially since she was already in a relationship when I showed up on campus. “Are you shutting them down?”
He shrugs. “Shutting it down as far as them thinking your girl is the problem.”
“Good.” I nod in approval. I don’t want anything bad to touch Emmarys. I know people can be cruel and there will always be someone out there who’s jealous and bitter wanting to label the woman the issue. “Let me know if anything changes.”
I thump my fist on his shoulder before grabbing my bag and jogging from the locker rooms. The girls’ hockey team is done with practice and I have about ten minutes before Emmarys will leave the building. It will take me almost that long just to get to the other side of the practice facility. By the time I get over there, I see her exit through the doors, surrounded by her usual group of friends. Her friend with the blonde hair catches sight of me first and gives her a little jab with her elbow. All three of them glance in my direction so fast that I laugh in response. Emmarys’s eyes narrow and her lips pull into a scowl, while her friends continue smiling and saying something to my girl that has her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. I watch as she turns to them, says something that sets them into another fit of giggles before she stomps her way over to me, leaving them behind.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I say to her, reaching for her when she’s within arm’s length.
Emmarys pushes my hand down, her arms folding over her chest. “What are you doing here, Hawke?”
“Thought you might be hungry,” I respond, forcing my hands to hang at my sides when all I really want to do is run them over her body, through her hair, touching her any way that I can.
