The rest of the meeting goes smoothly, and soon we’re standing, ready to leave the conference room. I’m expecting to hear my name when Coach says it.
“Karli, a word in my office, please.”
“Of course.”
Neither one of us speaks as we head down the hall because there are too many ears around here. I know I’m not in trouble, but I also know this isn’t going to be an entirely pleasant conversation.
“Have a seat, Karli,” Coach tells me once his glass office door is closed.
“This is worse than being called to the principal’s office,” I tell him as I lower myself into one of his chairs.
“Principal? I can’t imagine what you did in high school if it was worse than when the Dean called you in your sophomore year.”
He’s got me there. I organized the female cheerleaders and other athletes to sit out in protest over cramped locker room space and lesser gym privileges than the male athletes. It wasn’t pretty inside that office where the University President as well as the Athletic Director were also present. I walked out with equal gym privileges and permission to fundraise for a new locker room. Not a total win, but I did okay. Now, my high school years? Well, that’s not something I want to talk about. Ever.
“I’m not prepared to divulge my teenage offenses,” I admit, smirking just a little bit.
“Fair enough. Let’s talk about what happened in there. You know better than to let them get to you. You deserve respect, and I’ll fight to my death for you to have it, but you can’t let them see it when they get to you.”
“I know. But you also know how wrong that is. Why can’t I be angry, or upset, or anything but happy? Why does me being a woman mean that I have to just smile while the world burns down around me?”
I stand up, gesturing a little wildly, because I’m pissed off. Yes, I’ve been through this before, and yes, I’ll go through it again. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Because the world isn’t ready for you yet. One day it will be, but it’s not now. I won’t stop you from yelling and screaming if you need to. But did it do anything? Did it change the way that man sees you, or convince him you’re his equal?”
“My performance should show him that,” I argue.
“You can’t win over everyone. Hell, you probably can’t win over half of the people in this country. What you can do is get your guys in shape and try to minimize their mistakes.”
“So, do my job and pretend a large portion of the country isn’t rooting for me to fail.”
I fall back into the chair, already knowing I’ve got to just suck it up and move on.
“Yes, because there’s a whole portion rooting for you to succeed. Work with Flynn, make your decision, and keep your nose clean even when the media isn’t sniffing around.”
Is this when I should mention that I might eventually, probably, definitely will sleep with Alec Flynn? Maybe. But until I’m actually riding his cock, I’m going to keep my mouth shut. There’s no reason to put my career in jeopardy yet.
“Got it, Coach. I’ll toe the line and make you proud.”
He leans across his desk, a fierce look on his face. “You always make me proud, Karli.”
I hope he still feels that way if this all blows up in my face. Which, let’s be honest, it probably will. My heart isn’t going to be okay if I don’t see things through with Alec, though, even if my brain knows I should put a stop to our evening adventures.These are my thoughts as I walk out of his office. Those, and the thought that right now, I just want Mom. I can’t go to her, and get the hug I need, but I can video call her.
“Hi, Karli,” she says when she answers my video call. “How are you?”
I want to ask her the same thing because she looks tired and sad, but she did lose the love of her life, so that’s to be expected.
“Dealing with some misogynistic bullshit, and really needing a hug.”
“All I can offer is a virtual one. Don’t let those assholes get to you, my darling girl. You’re kicking ass, and we’ve always been proud of you. Your nephew was just bragging to his friends again about how cool his aunt is. Remember who’s important and who’s not. If they’re not someone you’d call in your time of need, they’re not worthy of your tears.”
She’s right, and this is exactly why I called her. “Thanks, Mom. I needed that pep talk.”
“Anytime. Now, go kick some ass and we’ll talk again later.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
It’s been rough for Mom, Ken, Kim, and yeah, me too, but we’ll get through this. Work helps, and having each other does, too. Dad loved us all, and the best way to honor him is to live our lives to the fullest. That’s exactly what I plan to do.
Chapter 9
Alec
When I was a tech giant, I often worked one hundred or more hours per week, but I always took at least one day off. My employees all got the full two days, plus much shorter working hours than I put in. A work-life balance is important, but with professional football it’s different. We get Tuesdays off and a bye week, but it’s not the same. I knew that going in, but I didn’t realize how much it would bother me to not be able to jump on a jet and fly back to the farm, or anywhere else I might want to go.
“What’s going on?” Will asks me when we walk out of the theater room after viewing tape of yesterday’s game.
“I’m good.”
The lie slides right off my tongue, but he’s not buying it. “We’ve been acquaintances too long, and friends for long enough, that I know that’s not true.”
I look around at all the guys walking in front and behind us toward the locker room, trying to telegraph that this isn’t the place for a conversation. He just quirks an eyebrow at me, and I sigh.
“How about I feed you, and we talk.”
He smirks now. “You had me at ‘feed.’”
“Shocker. Everyone knows it’s your love language,” I say, grabbing my bag from my locker while he grabs his.
“The fans don’t all know, dude, so zip it when we’re in public. I don’t need to be getting homemade food dropped off. I wouldn’t be able to eat it, and wasting food is like a stake to my heart.”
The look on his face as we walk outside is so serious, I burst out laughing. I know better than to expect him to do the same. Will Montgomery loves food almost as much as he loves his wife and kids.
“My lips are sealed. How about I’ll order takeout and we head to my place so we have privacy?”
“I get to see where all the neighborly fighting happens? Count me in. I’ll call Meg and let her know you’re trying to seduce me, then meet you there. Text me your address.”
“You wish I was trying to seduce you, Montgomery!” I yell, as he gives me a two-finger salute and gets in his car. Idiot.
Twenty minutes later, he’s at my door. I see him out the window and can’t help but laugh as he tries to look in Karli’s windows while acting like he’s not doing it.
I jerk open the door. “She’ll kick your ass if she catches you.”
He’s so startled, he almost falls over. “Just wanted a peek. I know it’s gotta be girly like she is off the field.”
“Maybe?” I shrug because there’s no way he needs to know I’ve been in there.
“You haven’t looked when you give her the misdelivered food?”
“As you can see, we each have our own stairs, and she usually opens her door right after it’s delivered.”
“Damn. Well, you need to promise me pics if she ever lets you have a glimpse.”
Not a chance. Even if I weren’t trying to convince her to be my woman, I wouldn’t invade her privacy like that.
“Seriously?”
He slumps a little. “No. I would punch you if you showed us pics of her place without her permission, but I do want to see it.”
“Good luck,” I tell him.
“Where’s the food.” Will pushes inside my place.
�
�Not here yet.”
He gives me a glare as I flip him off. “I was promised food.”
“It’s on the way.”
“Fine. You can start telling me what’s got you freaking out, and then when the food comes, I can give you advice.”
I shove him toward my couch. “Good to know you need food to fuel your brain.”
We don’t get a chance to talk because there’s a knock at my door. Before I can get to it, the door opens and Karli walks in.
“I can’t believe I got your food delivery this time! And you ordered me something, too? I really need some grease after today.”
She stops short when she sees Will, and I have to grab the food as her arms go limp.
“Hey, Karli,” I tell her. “Thanks for grabbing my food.”
“You’re welcome. Hi, Will.”
“Hello. Something you two want to tell me?” he asks.
“No,” we both say at once.
“Uh-huh. I’m just going to take the food and go. We’ll talk later, Flynn.”
He’s the only one who moves, yanking the food from me before he walks to the door. Karli and I just stare at each other until she shakes her head and glares at me.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You let him take the food?”
That wasn’t what I expected, and I probably shouldn’t laugh, but that’s what I do. A moment later, she joins me. We’re going to have to discuss what to tell our friend, but right now, I think we both need this laugh.
Chapter 10
Karli
I cannot believe Will Montgomery just caught us. Laughing is better than crying, but Alec and I need to get ourselves together and talk. I turn and face his closed door because every time I catch his eye, we both crack up again.
“This could be bad,” I remind him.
“Will isn’t going to go and gossip about you walking in with food.”
“He’s one of the best people I know, so I believe that, but I still shouldn’t have just walked in. Why was your door unlocked, though? Is it always unlocked?”
He sighs. “Of course not. We had just walked in, and I knew I had food coming. But I’ll happily give you a key if you want one.”
“What?” I twist back to face him because he can’t be serious.
He is. I see it on his face as his eyes search mine. “Is it so hard to believe I want to share everything I have with you?”
“It’s too soon,” I argue, “we haven’t even…you know?”
“Haven’t what, Karli? Haven’t been flirting for months? Haven’t spent every evening together, laughing and learning about each other? Haven’t shared the best kisses of my life? So what if we haven’t made love yet—we’re together. Even if you don’t want to admit it.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to admit it. I’m just scared, okay? You’re this genius jock and I’m just me.”
I hate admitting it to him, but I know if I’m going to eventually get past it, I have to. I have to let go of the one insecurity I have. Put me on a football field and I’ll be kicking ass and taking names. Put me in a ball gown and I can charm the grumpiest donor. But put me with Alec and I feel like a high school girl with a crush on the most popular boy in school.
“Just you?” He pushes a stray hair behind my ear. “There is nothing ‘just’ about you, Karli. I might be a genius, but you know so much more than me about football, and fashion, and look how you beat me at Trivial Pursuit every single night. I don’t know where this is coming from, and I definitely don’t want to diminish your feelings, but I need you to know I don’t feel that way at all. If I didn’t have a good sense of self-esteem, I’d worry about you being out of my league.”
“Cocky,” I tell him with a roll of my eyes, but inside, my heart is falling at his feet.
“Confidence is sexy. At least, that’s what the magazines say.”
I laugh with him, but one thing is bothering me. “You didn’t mention my looks at all in there.”
“No, I didn’t. You’re stunning, and I’m pretty sure you know it. But I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you thinking about how to get you upstairs to my bed if you didn’t challenge me mentally as well.”
One of my eyebrows rises as I cock my hip, placing a hand on it. “You’ve never jacked off to lingerie models?”
“Back in the day, sure. Now, I have better visions occupying my mind. Visions of a ball busting goddess who loves greasy burgers.”
Of course, he has to mention food and make my stomach growl. “Not so much of a goddess at the moment.”
“I know you’re going to use this against me at some point, but I’m saying it anyway—you are so damn sexy when you eat. The sounds you make nearly have me blowing my load.”
“Feed me, and we might just end up in your bed tonight.” I’m laughing when I say it, but I’m serious. I’ve wanted him for months, and I know the feeling’s mutual. It’s way past time for us to get naked.
Alec
If Karli groans one more time around the gyro I picked up for her, my dick is going to strangle itself trying to get out of my boxer briefs. I know she’s doing some of it on purpose to mess with me after what I told her, but she’s also enjoying the food.
“So good,” she sighs, putting the pita down to grab some fries.
“Obviously.”
I spear some chicken and cucumber from my salad, which is also delicious. Maybe I should start moaning to drive her crazy, too. Or, I’d just sound crazy. Better to just eat in silence like usual.
“How’s your salad?”
I pause with the fork outside my mouth, wondering if she’s also a witch in addition to being a goddess. “Did you just read my mind?”
“Um, no. I was just making conversation since we haven’t been talking.”
“It’s hard to talk when you’re inhaling your food.”
“Judging, Alec.”
“Being honest, Karli.” She tosses a fry at me, which I happily catch in my free hand and eat. “To answer your question, my salad is delicious.”
“So is my gyro, if the moaning didn’t already give it away.”
“I wasn’t sure how much of that was for my benefit,” I tease.
“You’ll know when I’m moaning for you.”
I try to hide my smirk behind my glass of water. “You moan for me when I nibble on your neck, and sometimes when I kiss you.”
“A gentleman wouldn’t remind me of that, he’d just accept it for the gift it is.”
“You have no idea how much I want to show you how un-gentlemanly I can be.”
Her eyes sparkle, and she abandons her food to crawl over to me and climb on my lap. Her kisses are hungry today, and I match her hunger with my own. I want her more than my next breath, but I know how hungry she was for food, so I have to remind her it’s going to be some time before she gets back to hers if she doesn’t stop this now.
“Your food’s going to get cold.”
“Fuck my food. Or better yet, fuck me, Alec. Take me upstairs and show me just what happens when a nerdy genius lets loose.”
Chapter 11
Karli
I know I was baiting Alec, but I didn’t expect him to scoop me up like I weigh nothing and toss me over his shoulder. I should complain about being manhandled, but I kind of love it. Okay, I totally love it.
“I think I’ve finally shut you up,” he jokes, not even holding the wall as he jogs up the stairs. I’m not big, but I’m not small either. Showoff.
“Your ass looks bitable from here, and I’m trying to see if I can reach it.”
“No bites where the guys can see, Kar.”
“So, no bites at all.”
“You can bite me in the offseason,” he assures me.
“If I’m not bored with you by then.”
He answers by tossing me on the bed and reaching back to pull his t-shirt over his head. “What are you waiting for? Get your clothes off so I can start showing you how not bored you’re going to be.”
It’s a wonder my panties haven’t disintegrated by now, but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to mess with him. “What? No romance? Where are my candles and your hands slowly undressing me while you kiss every inch of my exposed skin?”
My concerns would probably seem more valid if I wasn’t practically tearing my clothes off as I say the words. Truth is, I don’t need romance as much as I need some good dick.
“Don’t worry. I need it hard and fast right now, just like you do, but there will be romance later. We can even go to your place for round two so we can light your fancy candles.” He pulls his shorts and boxer briefs off together.
I stare at his thick and long erection, and my mouth goes dry. The veins along the length are going to feel so good rubbing up against my walls, and I’m so wet already, we don’t need any foreplay.
Alec has other ideas. He grabs my ankles, spreads my legs wide, and crawls over me. Two licks to my pussy have me practically flying off the bed. I’m determined not to come until he’s inside me, but I know it’s going to be a struggle because I’m so close already. I writhe below him. The bastard just laughs, moving up to lick the undersides of my breasts next.
“Alec,” I plead.
“Did you want something else?” he asks, sucking hard on my left nipple before biting me just below it.
“Now. I need you now,” I pant.
“Grab me a condom from the drawer and I’ll give you what you want.”
I turn over and grab several from the side table while he bites my ass. I arch my back and give him one of those moans he loves. Then, I turn and toss them all at him.
“I know your stamina, Flynn. You’re going to go all night with me.”
Running Forward: A Quick Snap Novella Page 4
