Page 24 of Quarterback Sneak
“Hey, Evie. Are you back for work?”
She waves off my question. “No, we’re just walking this way.” She turns to her friend, who keeps elbowing her side. “This is my suitemate, Tessa. Tessa, this is—”
“Zane Blackwood,” Tessa supplies in a voice filled with awe. “Can I shake your hand?”
I’m not particularly keen on the idea of another woman touching me besides my mate, but I force myself to put my hand out. I don’t want to do anything to alienate my mate, and being rude to her friend would probably fall into that category.
Chapter 12
Evie
I watch as Tessa shakes Zane’s hand, and can’t help but laugh at Tessa. I’m pretty sure she would squeal right now if she could. Zane, as kind as he is, shakes her hand. “Oh my word. Oh my word. I can’t believe I just shook hands with—” she stops midsentence. “Ohmywordyou’reReidMarshall.” I look at the tall guy she’s squealing at, the same guy that’s been with Zane each time I’ve seen him. Tessa grabs my arm and squeezes it. “Can we get a picture with both of you?”
“I’m here too, you know,” another voice adds. I take in the guy standing with them. He has dark hair and is handsome too, not quite as tall as Reid or as broad as Zane.
“Quint Ashwood, wide receiver. You hit a school record last year—over a thousand yards and sixteen touchdowns. You’re expected to surpass that this year.”
I can’t help my laugh when the three of them stare at Tessa like she’s grown two heads. Quint’s the first to recover. “She knows my stats.” His voice is smug, but Tessa takes care of that.
“I know all your stats. Reid’s our high scorer for basketball. He averages twenty-seven points a game, three assists, and three rebounds. And Zane is like the best quarterback our school has ever produced. He holds the record for both passing and rushing yards for our school, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to shatter his own record this year. Last year, he threw for 4,889 yards; everybody says he’s going to crush 5,000 this year.”
When she finally comes up for air, Quint stares at her in amazement. “We should have you go with us everywhere we go; you’re good for morale.”
Her eyes widen. “I would totally travel with the team!” She turns to me, eyes wide. “Can you imagine?”
My eyes meet Zane’s for just a moment, and I can’t help but return the smile he gives me. It’s like we connect for just a moment, both of us knowing how impractical and impossible it would be for Tessa to travel with the team. I hook my arm through Tessa’s. “Well, we don’t want to take any more of your time.”
“Oh, right,” Tessa says, finally coming to her senses.
“Are you both coming to the game on Saturday?” Zane asks. I can’t help but notice his eyes land on me when he asks. Those piercing green eyes see too much, and I drop my gaze.
“We are,” Tessa says with gusto.
“I can’t, sorry.” My words are quiet.
Tessa turns to me. “Why not?”
“I have plans.”
“I thought you were going to go with me. Do you have to work?”
I glance at the guys and then back at Tessa. “No.” I take a step back, trying to get out of this awkward situation. I give her a look, but she doesn’t seem to get it.
Then Zane has to add to it and make things worse. “If it’s a ticket problem, I can get you one.”
“No, that’s not it.” I flash him a brief smile. “Thank you, though.”
“Then what is it?” Tessa asks in a huff.
“I have a date,” I blurt out.
Tessa doesn’t skip a beat. “With Jace?” her face is scrunched up in distaste.
I feel my face heat up. “Let’s talk about it later,” I tell her quietly, hoping she’ll let it go.
“Fine.” I turn back to the guys and make the mistake of meeting Zane’s eyes again. They’re not quite as friendly as they were moments ago.
“It’s Tessa, right?” Quint asks, drawing her attention to him. Reid joins him, and I don’t fail to notice that Zane steps over to me. I look up at him and take in just how big he is, and yet, he doesn’t make me nervous.
