Page 13 of Topping the Jock
“What are you doing in here?” he asked, the scowl a permanent fixture on his handsome face.
“Same as you it looks like.” I stuck a sheet of paper on the scanner and closed the lid before pressing the button to make copies. It was a graph of the food pyramid, showing proper daily nutrition. I planned to pass them out in each of my classes.
“Well, hurry.”
“Someone’s grumpy today.” I cracked a smile as he glared at me. Ten years later and I still enjoyed irritating him. Except now it was more playful. He was just too adorable when he was mad.
“Please don’t talk to me,” Quinn said as he sat at the table and sipped his coffee.
All of one minute passed in silence with nothing but the hum of the copying machine spitting out pages before I had to say something.
“So, it’s a little warmer today. I didn’t have to wear a jacket. That’s pretty cool.”
Quinn sighed before taking another drink. Probably to keep from mouthing off to me. As he scrolled through his phone, I took the opportunity to study him. His untamed hair was wavy, and his bangs curled over the top of his glasses. He wore a blue collared shirt and a checkered gray vest over it. My eyes zeroed in on his biceps. Especially how they stretched the arms on his long-sleeved shirt.
I then looked at his left hand. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Did he have a girlfriend? Even though he’d one hundred percent gotten turned on while watching me bang another guy, I didn’t know if he was even into men. Not that I’d have a chance even if he were. The guy hated my guts.
“What are you staring at?” he asked, lifting his gaze to mine. “I can feel your eyes on me.”
I’d much rather have something else on you.Like my hands as I tore off his clothes and nibbled his neck.
I quietly coughed and faced the machine, hopefully concealing the chub I was now sporting at the thought of exploring his body. The copier finished printing, and I gathered the papers from the tray. “All yours.”
Quinn stood from the table and passed me on his way to the machine. I lifted the scanner lid for him.
“You’re welcome,” I said when he still hadn’t said anything.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You want me to thank you for getting out of my way? Sure. Thanks, Montgomery.”
“Monty,” I said. “You can call me Monty.”
“Okay, Montgomery.”
I couldn’t help but breathe out a small laugh. Quinn was snarkier than he used to be. He seemed more confident too. Comfortable in his skin. I was digging the change.
“Have a good day, Specks,” I said, tossing him a look over my shoulder as I walked toward the door. It was the one nickname I actually liked for him. Mainly because he got all pissy when I used it.
“We aren’t students anymore,” Quinn responded, pressing Printon the machine and flipping around to me. “You don’t own the school anymore. You’re not immune to repercussions now. Keep being unprofessional and I’ll report you to Principal Peterson.”
“You think I’m being unprofessional?”
“Very.” Quinn crossed his arms, drawing my eye—again—to his toned biceps. “Enough with the nicknames and the teasing. As a matter of fact, just don’t talk to me at all.”
“That’s not fair,” I said, lingering by the closed door, my hand on the handle. “You’re not even giving me a chance.”
“Fair?” Quinn came toward me, and damn if it didn’t send my blood racing. Straight to my dick, anyway. He stopped in front of me and tilted his head up to meet my gaze. “Things stopped being fair when you were allowed to torment the whole school and never got so much as a slap on the wrist. I’ve created a good life for me here. And it’s notfairto now have you here too, being a constant reminder of how I let you push me around. Well, I’m not letting you push me around again.”
My smile faded.
I hadreallyhurt Quinn. Mentally more than physically—at least on my part. Zane and the others had done a lot worse to him. But that had been my fault too because I’d started it all. His anger was completely justified.
“I don’twantto push you around.” A deep ache burrowed in my chest. “I meant it when I said I’m not that same bully anymore. I hate what I did to you. I just want the chance to make things right.”
Quinn’s hard stare faltered then. It showed the kind of person he truly was. He could try to hold on to anger and bitterness, but his heart was too big. I had caught him smiling sometimes back in school, mainly when he’d been talking to his friend. A genuine smile that had made my stomach do nervous flips.
The Quinn in front of me had changed, but the softness in his green eyes reflected the kind-hearted boy he’d been back then.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Quinn,” I added, stepping closer to him. My throat tightened when he subtly winced, as if he’d expected me to hit him. I rocked back on my heels and put more space between us. “We don’t have to be friends. But I’m not your enemy either.”
