Page 73 of The Pass Protection
I scoff. “We’d find a storage closet.”
She slaps my chest as she giggles. At the same time, I fight the urge to grab hold of her fingers and pull her into me.
“Have any plans tonight?”
She hums as her bright green eyes stare up at me. If we aren’t careful, someone is going to see us. At this point, I hope someone does. I’m tired of having to watch my glances and touches. But I respect Bret’s decision to wait. She doesn’t want to cause animosity on the team, and I appreciate her decision.
“I don’t think I have any.”
“Good. What time are you done?”
“Six thirty.”
“I’ll pick you up out front of the Union.” Bret glances around before quickly leaning up on her toes and pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek before she bounces away.
Turning, I watch her leave and can’t help but think how grateful I am that she’s in my life.
As the day winds down, I find myself back in the quad as the sun sets. Mentally exhausted, I move around students who are looking forward to heading home for the night, all to start this over in the morning. Veering off on a separate sidewalk, I spy Cody and Chloe lying underneath a tree. He’s leaning against the tree while Chloe sprawls out in the grass. Her head rests in his lap as they both read. One of these days, that’ll be me and Bret. Well, not precisely that particular scenario, but the open public display in a natural setting.
The door of the Union is held open for me, and I thank the girl who leans against the glass as I enter. I beeline for the coffee bar, desperate for a caffeine fix. The day plays over in my mind and all the homework and assigned reading I need to do. Everything feels overwhelming right now. The football season is ramping up with important games as we approach the end of the season and the battle to play in the championship is on us. Final projects are being assigned for classes as we prepare for final exams in the coming weeks. I love it, though. This is everything I’ve ever dreamed of, but it’s fucking exhausting.
Stepping up to the counter, I ordered a small, hot black coffee and an iced peanut butter and mocha coffee. When I have my drinks, I take the stairs off to the side and walk through the basement toward the front of the building, hoping to avoid anyone eating dinner in the cafeteria. I didn’t want to explain why I had two coffees in my hand. Climbing the stairs back up to the main level, I sit off to the side of the main entrance and wait for Bret.
Pulling out my phone, I pass the time by scrolling through Instagram. Saylor posted a video on her story of Grandpa being chased by that damn rooster. He’s the meanest sonofabitch on the farm. The rooster, not Grandpa. Although, he is a tough old man and not one you want to piss off.
Hearing Saylor’s laughter, an ache forms in my chest. I wonder how things would have been if Dad hadn’t died. Would Jett and him have been able to mend their differences? Would he be home and not running away from the farm? Would I?
My mind filters back to the project we were assigned in agri-marketing. The idea of turning our family farm into a video game excites me. It’s a potential new revenue stream that not many people have tried. Football might be my present, but farming is my future. A future where I want Bret standing beside me.
“Sorry,” she huffs, startling me back to reality. “Class ran over.”
Standing, I give her the cardboard cup. “What’s this?”
“Thought you might need a caffeine fix.”
She reaches for the cup, and I watch her hands wrap around it, her shoulders scrunching as she inhales the steam billowing from the lid. “God, I love you.”
We both pause, eyes wide as we stare at each other. Time stands still, and neither of us knows how to navigate these waters. I’ve never had a girl tell me she loved me. I thought the first time I heard those words,I’d be hit with panic, that a cold chill would run through my veins at those three words.
But that’s not what I feel. It’s the complete opposite. Warmth spreads through my chest, my heart beats faster, and a smile spreads across my face.
Meanwhile, Bret’s eyes are wide, her mouth floundering. I can see the wheels spinning in her brain as she internally panics. Are we there in our relationship? Who knows. But now that those words have been uttered into existence, I feel it.
“I love you, too.” I interrupt her mental meltdown.
“Crew, I-I-I…” She trails off, her chest heaving. “You what?”
“I love you, Rebel.” I nudge her shoulder as shock morphs her features. “Now let’s go get some dinner, woman. I’m starving.”
She nods, her shoulders sagging in relief at the topic change. I lead us through the glass doors and down the aisle of cars until we reach my truck. We both climb inside and silence fills the cab the whole way to the restaurant.
Downtown parking is smooth sailing this late on a Monday evening. Most commuters are home for the night, so I navigate through the streets and find a parking lot not far from our destination.
Bret and I step out of the truck, and her hand finds mine. I give her a few reassuring squeezes as she looks up at me. Flashing her a wink, I guide us down an alley.
“Did you bring me down here to kill me because I could think of ways you could do it on campus.”
I scoff. “Absolutely not. There’s no way I’m getting rid of my favorite person that easily.”
