Freight Train

by Sapphire Knight

  “It was just a little fun. Relax, okay? I won’t let anything bad happen; you know that right?”

  She nods, staring at the grill, not meeting my eyes. “Yeah, I do. I had fun too.”

  “I’m glad; we can have fun like that more often if you’d like.” I wink, and she blushes. “I’ll cook your kabobs in just a second when this heats up some more. Why don’t you have a drink while you wait? I made sure the guys got some sodas for you.”

  I’m shutting her out, pushing her away after a mere kiss, but it was more than that. More than just a brief moment of fun shared between two people who don’t know each other that well yet. I could feel it like she’s some kind of special and I’m going to lose myself over her.

  It freaks me out inside, knowing that she may not have felt it all like I had. I’m not looking to meet someone that can hurt me, and I have a feeling that enough time with Kadence and she could do significant damage if she wanted.

  My stomach twists as she smiles and replies, “Great, thank you.”

  Good, I think she gets it that I don’t want to discuss anything that happened. I got sucked in way too quickly with her. What the hell was I thinking, practically calling her mine in front of the guys when it came to doing the body shot? I should’ve just let them do it. Well, if she wanted them to anyway. I swear she looked scared about the idea until I’d announced that I was the only one touching her. And just the thought of the other guys touching her body anywhere had me wanting to rip someone’s hands off.

  I don’t understand why I did the shot in the first place or why I felt so damn possessive like that. Seeing her clam up in there had something protective coming out of me though, and before I realized it, I was practically growling to show them that she’s mine.

  I need to chill out when it comes to her, or she’ll get the wrong idea. I’m not that guy—the one who has a girlfriend and doesn’t want anyone touching her and she’s not mine. Maybe I’ll try chanting it: she’s not mine, she’s not mine, she’s not mine.

  Fuck, her small smile makes me want to kiss those lips even more.

  “You got it, Pretty,” replying absently, still chanting inwardly to myself.

  I steal her little flirty move and wink, which ends up making her laugh quietly as she walks toward the ice chests. At least she doesn’t seem hurt with me shutting her down like that. I’m in another trance, ignoring my grilling duties and most likely turning our dinner into charred black bits while watching her ass sway sexily with each step when Chandler comes up beside me.

  “I had no idea she was hiding all that under her jeans and glasses,” he admits, cocking an eyebrow as he stares at Kadence.

  I did. I saw through her little facade the first day she ran into me in the hallway. I knew then that she was stunning and each time I see her, she only proves me more right.

  Inhale and exhale...Don’t rip his head off for noticing the woman of your current fantasies; he’s your best friend.

  Even after the lecture I just had with myself, I still want to karate chop him in the dick for seeing her like I do. “Dude, she’s gorgeous; even in her nerd girl clothes, she sports on the regular. I love that shit.” God, I do too. Not sure when that happened either. She’s completely different than the usual, and it makes her sexy as fuck.

  “The Game of Thrones t-shirts and black frames do it for you, huh?” He smirks.

  How the fuck does he know what she wears exactly? Don’t growl at him, take another deep breath and be cool, damn it.

  “It must work for you too, if you’re paying that close of attention to her attire.” It sounds jealous, and it is, damn it. I brought her here for me, not anyone else and knowing that other guys are checking her out as well, has my guard rising.

  Shrugging, he swallows down a large gulp from his longneck bottle, hitting me with a dose of reality. “They’ve always been more of my type. She’s my type.”

  Right, because he’s the smart one, always reading and doing papers and stuff. JJ’s the big time partier, and I’m right in the middle, I guess. “So, you’re saying I should step aside and let you make a move on the girl I have my sights on, even if I don’t do the whole relationship thing like you do?”

  Startled at my bluntness, he backtracks. “No man, I wasn’t saying that at all. If anything, I was leaning toward the opposite. I like her, but for you. She’s not one of those trashy bimbos you’re used to sleeping with, and it’s refreshing. Kadence is just...Well, she’s girlfriend material, you said it, relationship type. That’s her, whether you like it or not.”

  “I don’t do girlfriends. Everyone knows this, she probably even knows this.”

  “I know, and you’re right, that’s why it won’t work.”

  “You think I should cut her loose then and let just anyone have her? Someone like you, maybe?”

  “Not exactly. Look, Ty; I’ll always have your back. I just think she’ll end up getting hurt and chicks like her aren’t used to that shit. They get hurt, and it fucks with them for a long time. Trust me, I’ve learned from my sister, you know this. What do you think you should do? Not what you want, but what’s fair to her? She’d be loyal to you, and you’d just toy with her like a plaything.”

  I don’t reply, thinking over everything he just said. He’s right. She’s the perfect distraction to take some of the stress off my back, especially with the draft coming up this next year. Most players that’re going pro get picked up in their third year. The really good ones do anyhow. My plan to go to the NFL never included taking a woman along with me.

  Could it work? I couldn’t imagine toying her along like he said, though. For some reason, I like her a little too much. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s been making me work my ass off just to get around her long enough to kiss her, or what.

  Usually, a chick gives me her number when we first meet and later that night I’m fucking her. It sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. Kadence, however, hasn’t been like that at all. If anything, she’s standoffish and making me want her even more. It’s like drinking for the first time. You don’t know your limit and then, bam, you’re drunk and thinking it’s the greatest thing ever. Kadence is my drink of choice at the moment, and I haven’t reached my limit yet.

  She’s also what I need to keep my mind off my brothers and my parents’ ranch. The last thing I should be worrying about is Clyde getting popped by the cops discovering his secret business venture on our land or the tax lady harassing him. I need that big contract to make sure they’re set up financially, besides taking care of myself.

  Then there’s the huge fact that I don’t have ‘girlfriends.’ Ever. I haven’t had one since my freshman year in high school, and my parents passed away. They’re usually drama and a headache that I don’t want or need.

  When I really think about it, I rarely even date anyone. And, it’s not from being heartbroken by some chick or becoming emotionally scarred in some other way. We usually fuck, and that’s the end of it. They leave happy and satisfied, and I’ve had a chance to relax with some female company; there’s no reason to drag it out. I’m up front with them too. They know what it is; I never lie or promise them anything.

  My parents’ death screwed me up in ways that it made me become more focused and determined on my future—not women. That’s a major part in why there hasn’t been a serious relationship for me. I’ve worked too hard, and my family has sacrificed enough for me already. My drive and determination need to stay intact; a girlfriend could easily screw it all up.

  “I hear what you’re saying, and I like her, but I don’t know about taking it to that level.”

  “I figured that’s how you’d feel, that’s why I told you she deserves more. You’re both not in the right place to get involved like that anyhow.”

  “So you don’t think I could do it? Have an actual girlfriend, one woman all the time?” Is he seriously telling me this? He knows that’s challenging me to prove him wrong.

  “Nope, I don’t. You never commit to
anything that’s not football. I wouldn’t be surprised if you held off on getting serious until you’re forty and retired from playing ball. Well, unless you find someone to string along, on the way.”

  He’s being honest—not condescending—and he’s completely right. That reality makes me shaky inside. Could I be setting myself up to be alone for the rest of my life? Many athletes have multiple marriages or girlfriends. Do I want that in my life? No. And besides Chan doesn’t think I can do it. I’m always up for a little hardball.

  Challenge accepted.

  Glancing at Chandler, I take a leap and seal my fate. “You know what? I don’t want to just fuck her. I think I want to keep her.”

  “Dude,” he deadpans, “you’ve had too much of JJ’s tequila, you’ll be backtracking first thing in the morning.”

  Chandler doesn’t think I can do it. I bet JJ doesn’t think so either. Bastards! They’re supposed to be my closest friends too. I’ll prove them wrong and get a good girl by my side.

  “Nope, I’m doing it.”

  His eyes grow wide. “Seriously? Are you sure? One pussy and all that other bullshit the guys spew?”

  Nodding, I flip her chicken skewers over, checking to see if they’re cooked enough. The decision’s been made. I’m going to have a girlfriend for the first time in who knows how long. Instead of it freaking me out, I’m a little excited over the thought, especially if she uses that skillful tongue like that on the rest of my body.

  “Then you better get on your game, because a lot’s going to change. Plus you have to convince her that you’re even worth giving the chance to.”

  “No shit, Sherlock, but how hard can it be? I’m Tyler motherfuckin’ Freight Train Owens. Women love me, and you saw how hot she got on the counter inside.” Never mind how turned on she had me. I could’ve given someone a black eye with how stiff my dick was.

  He laughs and shakes his head. “This is going to be so much fun to watch. Owens’ falling all over a chick.”

  “She’s not just any chick, now shut up and take my future woman her chicken, since I’m charged with manning the grill.” I dish up her kabobs on a paper plate along with some grilled corn on the cob and red potatoes. Feeding her is step one. My mom always said a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I guess a woman’s gotta be the same and I just so happen to know how to cook. Too easy.

  “My pleasure.” He laughs. “I’m going to go flirt it up with her and make it even harder for you to get laid. I’ll turn on the Chandler charm.”

  “By that you mean you’re going to let her know which action figures you still have stuffed under your bed? She won’t want it, bro,” I counter, and he shoots me the bird as he takes the plate of food to her.

  Kadence thanks him, as he hands her the food. She beams a grateful smile my way, and it’s official, I’m fucking toast.

  Two weeks later...

  I think my balls will permanently have a blue tint to them for the remainder of my lifetime. The thought runs through my head as we all sit in the cafeteria having lunch, per our new routine. I thought she’d be easy to get and this whole ‘mission to make her my girlfriend’ would take no time at all.

  Boy was I wrong. I haven’t even made it underneath her shirt, let alone into her pants or gotten her to make it official with me. If anything I’m feeling more ‘friend-zoned’ than ever and it’s driving me crazy. I’m pretty lost when it comes to what to do at this point, so I’m taking it one day at a time.

  Chandler, JJ, Niner, Kash, Kadence, Brianne, and I have formed our own group over the past two weeks that we’ve all been hanging out together in our free time. It’s usually just lunch and sometimes dinner that we can get together like this; otherwise, it’ll mainly be Kadence and me and one or two other people around. She’s made it damn near impossible for the two of us to be alone, always inviting our friends to join in with whatever we’re doing.

  Jada attempted to take the one open chair when we first switched tables but was turned away, as we declared its use for all of our belongings. She and her crew of groupies sat directly behind us, throwing a small fit that she wasn’t included in our new seating arrangement. They were pretty pissed that the guys had booted them off their laps too, but it was like cutting off an abscess finally getting rid of them. We became happier and lighter.

  I’ve dealt with her group over the past two years, and now that they’ve been gone for a while, I can see that they were all over us all the time. It was like they thought that we belonged to them or something. The guys have even started meeting new chicks. I’d never noticed it before, but come to find out, Jada and her monkeys were often ugly toward any other females trying to come around.

  However, these past two weeks have been a new kind of hell for me, from trying to keep my hands off Kadence. She’s backed off some since we had our heated kitchen kiss and the body shot fun, but not completely. I’ve been able to get a few chaste kisses out of her, but they’ve been brief, almost like she’s skittish. It hasn’t deterred me, though. I’m stubborn when it comes to getting what I want. I always have been, and it’s partially why I’m so good at playing football.

  “Take a bite,” I order and hold the large, chocolate-covered strawberry close to Kadence’s soft lips. I found out they were her favorite, so I’ve brought them for her twice so far—once last week and then again today.

  “You don’t have to do this, Tyler,” she whispers.

  “I want to; it’s why I get them for you.”

  The guys have learned to ignore me fawning over her, although I hear about it when we’re at the house away from her. I’ve been feeding her for a week now, and the guys think I'm stupid, but I’m determined. It’s been driving her crazy to have the attention bestowed on her alone, but I’m slowly proving to her that I can be the doting type.

  I can tell it’s working, and it’s starting to chip away at her wall. She pretends to hate it, but I know she secretly enjoys each minute I fawn over her. Brianne keeps reassuring me that it’s working and that Kadence talks about me constantly when she’s not around me. The woman has me completely sprung too. I can’t go for a full hour without wondering what she’s doing or picturing that strip of smooth skin along her stomach that I got to lick when doing that amazing body shot not too long ago.

  After Chandler and I had spoken at the barbecue, it was like a lightbulb went off. Out of nowhere, I knew what I wanted with her no matter how much I told myself not to go after her. Now, I can’t seem to stop thinking about Kadence and the future that we could have together. It sounds ridiculous; we’ve only known each other for a short time, but that’s exactly how it happened for my parents. My mom used to tell my brothers and me all the time that falling in love was easy. The staying in love part is what took work.

  It’s too soon for love surely, but it could definitely happen with her.

  “I’m full already,” she protests, turning back to listen to Kash as he explains the differences of throwing times based on the current wind speed to Niner.

  I hate being ignored. Yes, I’m a bit egocentric at times, but it’s been forever since a woman’s paid attention to me. Well, one that wasn’t obsessed with me being on the football team anyhow.

  Kadence is like that, not giving two ticks that I play ball. There’s a decent chance that she knows more about football than everyone at this table. We’ve talked a lot, and she knows her shit. I know her dad used to play college ball, so I guess he taught her everything she knows. Her mom wasn’t around much, which is most likely why she’s been this little tomboyish book nerd her entire life. I bet her dad was clueless on what to do with a little girl, but who knows; she doesn’t talk about them much.

  “Come on, Kadence, one more for me,” I coax, loving her perfect lips. I never see her eat enough.

  Her mouth parts slightly and I watch her hungrily as her white teeth sink into the juicy fruit, her perfect peach, glossed lips closing as she chews. Fuck, it makes me hard. Chocolate bits break over her lips a
nd saliva rushes into my own mouth at the sight.

  Witnessing her bite down like that makes me imagine her biting onto my shoulder. I can almost fucking feel it, her teeth pushing into my flesh while I drive deep inside her. She has me feeling like some sex-crazed maniac. I’ve been using my hand so much I got a cramp in class the other day taking notes. I was so fucking embarrassed. I didn’t think that it was possible to jack off too much. What if I end up with carpel tunnel syndrome over this shit?

  “What’s up for this weekend?” JJ interrupts, causing me to blink as he sits back in his chair, finished with his food. “With it being another home game, we should get some ideas going around for the after party.”

  “I need to head to the ranch after the game.” I place the green leafs from the strawberry on my plate.

  “What about you, Kadence?” JJ nods toward her. “Do you have any plans or are you going to party with us, even though Owens will be going back home?”

  “Brianne and I will probably stop by to congratulate you guys. Y’all are going to kill OC!”

  “Hell yeah we are,” he agrees, and it irritates me, knowing she’ll be with all the guys, around my friends and I won’t be there.

  They better not fuck with her.

  Damn it; I know it’ll happen. Someone will try something. I’ll come back to school with a bunch of stupid-as rumors floating around since everyone already believes that she’s my girlfriend. And I can’t forget about Briggs with his screwed up hobbies of recording drunk, naked chicks.

  We didn’t discuss the infamous Facebook post that landed us in this position to begin with. I think we should keep up the charade, especially now, since I want her to really be mine. If anyone asks, I tell them she’s my woman. Kadence on the other hand, when she’s asked, just rolls her eyes and walks off.

  Every single time.

  “How about we do a bonfire at the ranch?” I offer, not thoroughly thinking it over before opening my mouth. Clyde’s going to kill me for this... But it’d be the best way for me to keep an eye on her, plus there’s a good chance I could talk Kadence into staying over. She could even meet my brothers.