His eyes come right to me and then narrow. For some reason I suddenly feel as if I’m in trouble. We stand there staring at each other until someone tries to get into the door, which his big frame is blocking. He gives the person an apology as he moves forward.
I lift my hand, giving him a small wave like a dork, but what else am I supposed to do? We're staring right at each other. It would be rude of me not to greet him in some way. Thoughts of walking up and kissing him briefly enter my mind, but I push them away. I need to get myself under control. This happens to me every time he’s near. I make a fool of myself.
“Theo!” I jerk my head around at the sound of Tiffany’s voice as she pushes into the coffee shop. She’s clearly excited to see him. I shouldn’t be calling him that. He’s not my friend. I barely know him, but Coach Gray sounds weird. He’s not my coach. He’s not my anything. He already belongs to someone. I need to get that through my thick skull. I mean, how many times do I have to witness them together before I stop with this crazy fascination with him?
“That could be your story.” Keith’s brows lift as he watches Tiffany hug Theo. I turn around, grabbing my hot chocolate. My phone goes off in my hand. I look at it to see Zoey asking about dinner ideas.
“Crap. My friend needs me. Text me later?”
“I don’t have your number.” Crap. Why did I say that? I ramble it off so quickly I’m not sure he catches it before I’m out the door and headed home, knowing that I need to bury this silly crush I have for Theo once and for all.
6
Theodore
What the fuck am I doing now? I ask myself as I follow not far behind Willow as she makes her way toward our building. I’m a damn stalker is what I am. Even though I have that thought, that still doesn’t stop me from continuing to follow her. I mean, technically I’m heading home too, so I’m not really following her.
I spent an hour after practice not watching game tape like normal but watching Willow’s videos on social media. How did I not put it together before now she’s a Harlow? Of course she comes from money, how else would a college student afford to live in our building?
Yet she doesn’t act as though she’s some stuck-up rich kid. Her parents are big contributors to our school, which only puts up another roadblock in my path to her. Still, I pick up my pace as she gets closer to the entrance of our building, wanting to savor the small glimpse I’m getting of her.
If I time it right, she’ll have to ride the elevator with me. Hopefully we’ll be alone. Maybe talking to her will cure this obsession I have with her. It will show me that we have nothing in common and that this is only a physical attraction. Let’s hope, because I don’t think I could stay away from her if that’s not the case. I’m already fighting a losing battle here.
I watch as she enters the lobby. She presses the button for the elevator and steps back. I study her profile for a minute. She’s perfect. So young and full of life. She has her entire future ahead of her. What would she want with an old man like me?
I don’t stand a chance in keeping her, so I should let her go now, before I get a taste of her. I know once I do that, I’ll never be able to set her free. Against my own advice, I head inside and toward her. She has that effect on me, making me do things that I wouldn’t normally do.
She must sense me because she turns to look at me, and those gorgeous green eyes of hers connect with mine. She looks a bit shocked, but I see a flash of relief there that I can’t explain. Her mouth drops open only for a second. I think I groan out loud as I watch her pink little tongue peek out to wet those plump lips of hers.
The elevator dings, pulling her attention from me. She steps inside, and I follow her on. “Hi,” she says softly as she pushes the button for her floor.
I reach over past her and press the button to my floor. She doesn't move out of my way and lets me crowd her. She tilts her head up to look at me.
Her eyes drop to my mouth. It’s all I need. I should be soft with her, but I strike, hard and fast, the same way I used to all those years on the football field. There is no grace to my movements.
I grab her, lifting her off her feet as my mouth comes down onto her. A gasp comes from her, making her lips part. I slip my tongue in to get a better taste. Warm chocolate with a hint of vanilla fills my mouth. For a moment she doesn't respond but lets me kiss her without pulling away.
Her fingers dig into my shoulders as she starts to kiss me back. I groan when her tongue tangles with mine tentatively. There is nothing about Willow that screams shy, but the way she kisses makes me think otherwise.
Suddenly she jerks back, her eyes fluttering open. Her green eyes look darker now. I can see the desire there. She wants me. She lifts her hand, touching her lips.
“You kissed me.” I did. I don’t know what the fuck came over me. But I know I would make the same decision again.
“Yeah, I did.”
“Are you allowed to kiss me?” Her brows furrow together.
“Do you just give your number out to random men?”
“Wait. What?” She starts to wiggle in my hold, and reluctantly I put her down on her feet.
“You gave your number to the boy in the coffee shop.” Yeah, I heard that. I saw the look of victory on the boy's face when he’d scored it. I wanted to lay him out right there but decided against it. I’m a grown-ass man, I can’t go around knocking teenage punks around.
“So?” She pushes on my chest, but I don’t move. She huffs out a breath. “I can give my number to whoever I want.” She tilts her chin up in defiance. All it does is make me kiss her again. I don’t stop until she is back to being soft and sweet in my arms again.
“Are you guys getting off?” Willow tries to jump back from me at the sound of Zoey’s voice. I force myself to free her from my hold. She darts out of the elevator.
“Zoey.” I give her a nod.
“Coach.” She smirks as the elevator doors close. I drop my head back when I’m alone, wondering what the fuck I just did. I pounced on the girl like a wild animal who can’t control itself.
I should go back down and apologize, tell her it was a mistake, but I don’t. Instead I head into my place, going straight for my computer and logging in. I immediately start searching the online database for students named Willow until I find her number. I stare at it, telling myself again not to do this, but I pull out my phone and add it.
I sit wondering how long it will be until I break and text her.
Not long…
7
Willow
“What the hell was that?” Zoey shuts the door behind me, flipping the lock.
“I don’t know!” I shout back. “But you saw it, right? We were kissing.” My lips are still tingling, but I want to be sure that wasn't a freaking dream.
“Yeah, I saw it.” We stare at each other for a long moment, neither one of us saying anything.
“Crap.” I fall back onto the sofa. “Tiffany. He has a girlfriend.”
“Oh yeah.” Zoey drops down onto the sofa, her ass next to my head. “You made out with Coach Gray.” I nod my head. I think he made out with me really. He manhandled me, and I enjoyed every damn second of it.