Torn: A College Sports Romance (Cherry Grove Series Book 3)

by Cole Lepley

  Chapter 36

  Say Amen

  Mackenzie

  My heels click on the sidewalk while I hold on to Zander’s arm. Walking to the sorority house seemed like a good idea, but now my already aching feet are making me question that choice. I stop for a moment and bend down to readjust the strap on my shoe. Zander looks down to me and smiles.

  “It’s a small price to pay, Mack,” he says. “They really complete your outfit.”

  I laugh as I stand back up. “Thanks for the fashion advice.” I take an unsteady breath as we move forward. The house is in full view. It’s all lit up and bursting at the seams. Everyone on campus must be here tonight. I frown when I see the line of people waiting to get in.

  “We came too late. We’ll never get through that crowd.”

  Zander pats my arm in reassurance. “You have such little faith. You forget who you’re with right now.”

  He squares his shoulders, and I laugh again.

  “Okay, hotshot. Get us in there if you’re a VIP.”

  He gives me a smirk and pulls me to the front of the line. We’re greeted by two girls in skintight dresses and airbrushed faces. They give me a terse smile.

  “Mackenzie,” the blonde on the left sneers. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

  “Yeah,” the other one chimes in. She flicks her long, auburn hair over her shoulder and gives me a once over. “I heard you and Judah broke up.”

  I bite my tongue. There is no way I’ll get past them if I stoop to their level of petty.

  “Maybe I’m not here for Judah?” I shrug, and they exchange a look.

  “It’s probably for the best,” blonde purrs. “You might have yourself some competition.”

  Zander leans into her and she flushes slightly. Gay or not, his swagger is undeniable. It’s a shame, really.

  “Well, sweetheart. Have you seen my girl?” He looks me up and down and lets out a whistle before turning back to her. “I don’t see any competition from where I’m standing.”

  The brunette laughs before stepping to the side. “We’ll see, now won’t we?”

  I give Zander’s arm a tug and we step inside the house. My eyes immediately go to the stage set up in the main room in the center of the house. I don’t see Judah, but I catch Preston peeking out from the back. My irritation peaks. I’m sure he has a lot to do with why Judah is doing this.

  Zander rests his hand on my waist when we come to a stop in the back of the packed room. He leans down to my ear to whisper over the house music.

  “Don’t worry, girl. You got this.”

  I give an uneasy smile back, tilting my chin up to him. “I should have never let him leave. I wish I could just be sure about myself. He was the only thing in my life that felt like it was making sense.”

  “Hey,” he says quickly, catching my chin before I can turn away. “There’s no time for regrets right now. I know for a fact he’s back there at this very moment hoping for exactly the same thing. It may be an unconventional way to get back together, but just think of the stories you’ll have for your grandkids.”

  He gives a shrug and I smile for real. A future with Judah is more than I could hope for. We need to get through tonight first.

  Our attention shifts back to the stage when the music is cut and the microphone screeches. The blonde from the door smiles nervously, adjusting the base.

  “Can everyone hear me?” she asks.

  The crowd erupts in cheers and I sink back against Zander. My heart pounds as I envision Judah taking the stage. I haven’t seen him in almost a week and it’s going to take everything inside of me not to tackle him off the stage.

  “Okay, let’s get this thing started then!” She flips to the next card, plastering a blinding smile on her face. “First up is a man that needs no introduction. The undisputed king of social media, future NFL running back, and abs that keep the girls coming back for more… Preston Myers!”

  Preston strolls onto the stage like he owns it, and the song that plays is even more fitting. As if we are in our own live version of Magic Mike, ‘Pony’ by Genuwine blares through the speakers. He takes his time making a lap around, shaking hands with a few of the girls that pushed themselves to the front. When he gets to the center, he rips his shirt off causing the noise level in the room to climb even higher. It’s true what they say, the boy has a set of abs that are so perfect they don’t even look real. He continues to swagger around for a moment until he drops down and grinds on the stage in such a way that even Channing himself would be jealous.

  I remain minimally amused as several girls’ push around us to get closer. That’s when the bidding starts. It rises much quicker than I expected, especially for Preston.

  “… Do I hear eight-hundred?”

  Hands raise and I inhale another sharp breath. There’s no way Preston would bring in more than Judah. I may be a little bias—but still.

  “I have nine-fifty, do I hear one thousand?”

  I grip Zander’s shirt, tilting my head back to whisper. “A thousand bucks for Preston? This is bad.”

  “Don’t worry,” he says, pressing his lips to the side of my head. “Preston may be a total ass, but he’s kind of a celebrity. Girls love that shit.”

  His words don’t bring any reassurance as Preston’s bid gets closed at fifteen hundred. I watch a loud brunette fight her way up to the stage and claim her prize. Preston smiles wide as she throws her arms around his neck and wraps her legs around his waist. They seem like a perfect match. He carries her out of the room with a flurry of cheers, and the auction resumes again.

  The crazy bidding continues on a few of the other players until Holden takes the stage. I catch a hushed conversation happening in the corner of the room as he walks out.

  “Okay, ladies. Here’s your chance to take home Cornell’s own leading receiver. He comes to us from the same hometown as our very own Judah Holloway.”

  There’s a pause to allow for extreme cheers that ensure by just the mention of Judah’s name. I take a breath through the tightness in my chest. I feel Zander give my hip a reassuring squeeze.

  “Do I have one hundred?”

  There’s a silent exchange through the girls and no one bids.

  Blondie on the stage shifts on her feet and Holden looks surprised, the smile fading from his face. She puts her hand on the microphone and whispers to Holden. He shakes his head. I’m pretty sure she asked him to take his shirt off.

  She turns back to face the crowd. “Um, how about fifty?”

  I look around until I see the small circle formed in the front. She looks familiar, Tara maybe? Whoever she is, she’s not letting anyone bid on Holden and doesn’t bid herself. What did he do to her?

  The frustration of the blondes’ face is clear as she clutches the microphone tighter. “Twenty-five dollars?”

  Crickets.

  I’m about to bid because I feel sorry for him, when Tara steps up.

  “How does it feel Holden?”

  His eyebrows pull in and he walks to the edge of the stage. He holds his hand up to shield his eyes from the flashing lights. “What are you talking about? I called you all week.”

  Tara scoffs, crossing her arms. “Yeah, you call me now, but what about the Freshman mixer? You stood me up.” She pauses and balls her hands into fists. “You told me you’d be right back, and you never showed.”

  Holden walks closer to the edge, pulling his hand into his chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were that into me. I liked you, too.”

  She turns her head away from him. “Too late for that. We see how you are.”

  Holden jumps down from the stage and grabs her hand. “Come on, give me another chance. I’m serious this time.”

  The crowd remains quiet through their exchange until I catch her smile. Without another word, she throws her arms around his neck and everyone goes crazy again. The blonde on the stage looks confused just standing there with her microphone dropped to her side. She raises it ba
ck to her lips as Holden and Tara make out shamelessly in the center of the room.

  “Okay, we’ll come back to that one I guess.” She flips to the next card and waves it around before she speaks. “Looks like we’ve reached the main event.”

  She doesn’t have to say who’s next. The crowd speaks for itself and has risen to a deafening level.

  “Come on out, Judah Holloway. You’re on!”

  I hold my breath as the curtain is pulled back and Judah steps out. He squints into the light shining directly at him. He couldn’t see me if he tried.

  “Cornell’s resident player, quarterback of our beloved team and a jaw line so sharp you can cut yourself… let’s start the bidding at five hundred.”

  “Five hundred!” Ainsley cries.

  “I got seven-fifty,” the girl beside her chimes in. This earns her a glare, but it doesn’t deter Ainsley.

  “Nine hundred.”

  I gather all the courage I’ve been carrying with me and step forward. “One-thousand.”

  A small gasp goes through the room and Judah looks through the crowd, searching for the voice that just made the bid.

  Ainsley sees me and winks. “Nice try, cupcake.” She lifts her arm higher. “Two-thousand.”

  My heart sinks, while Judah continues to examine the crowd for the last bid. I grab Zander by the shirt and give him a tug. “See. This was pointless.”

  Zander doesn’t budge, instead, he raises his own hand. “Five thousand!”

  Several girls turn back in disgust. “You can’t bid Zander!” She giggles. “Although that would be kind of hot.”

  Small arguments break out among the girls until the microphone screeches again, causing everyone to cover their ears. This time, Judah is holding it.

  His eyes finally find mine and they never leave them as he speaks. “It doesn’t matter who bids. My heart isn’t for sale.” He points the mic to me. “It belongs to her.” He lets it drop to the stage with a clang and leaps down. The excited girls part a path for him like he’s a modern day Moses, and he stops right in front of me.

  “A thousand bucks, huh?” he says with a smirk.

  I grip the front of his T-shirt and pull him closer. “I would have paid a million,” I whisper against his lips.

  “I would have given it to you for free.”

  Chapter 37

  Three Words, Eight Letters

  Judah

  Mackenzie and I are full-on making out in the center of a crowded room and I don’t give a single fuck. All I can focus on is how sweet it feels to have her body pressed against me and her tongue melded with mine. When the small hums reverberate from her throat, I know I need to pull away. She’s had enough public displays of intimacy to last a lifetime.

  I break our kiss, keeping my hands on the sides of her face. “You came.”

  My voice is a whisper and her smile lights up her face. “Of course I did.” She runs her hand through the top of my hair. “Where else would I be?”

  I kiss her once more. “This isn’t how I planned this. I had so much I wanted to do for you… I…”

  She silences me with another kiss. “I know, babe. Zander told me.”

  My term of endearment makes me smile. “There’s still time for the last part of the date. If you’re willing?”

  She laces her hand with mine. “I’d go anywhere with you.”

  I lean down to kiss the side of her head before giving a wave to the guys. Some show appreciation for my happiness, while other continue to glare. Fuck em, right?

  We take hurried steps out of the sorority house until he we reach the sidewalk. I pull her to a stop. “Um, my truck isn’t here.”

  “I didn’t bring my car.” Her eyes narrow. “I still owe you for that, by the way.”

  I shrug. “Consider it done. Besides, it was Perry’s idea. Who would argue with him?”

  She presses her lips into a firm line. I make an excellent point, but I think she sees through it.

  I look down to her shoes. “The walk to the field is about a mile. You think you can make it?”

  “The field? That’s where we’re going?”

  I nod. “You think your stripper heels will hold up?” I pause, smirking. “Or I could carry you?”

  She laughs. “I’ll be fine. I’m no damsel in distress.”

  Her confidence is adorable, but we only make it two more blocks before she is catching a ride on my back. I can’t say that I mind though. All the warm spots of her are pressed against me.

  When we reach the field, I set her down, and she tosses her heels into the grass. She crosses her arms and takes in the expansive stadium.

  “It looks so different when it’s empty.” She turns to me. “Are you sure we’re allowed to be in here?”

  I nod. “Of course, babe. I’m the quarterback, after all.”

  She shoots me a look and I laugh.

  “Okay, I may have called in a few favors.”

  I watch her take in the lights, the stands, the crisp lines on the field. It’s like seeing something you’ve seen a million times, but from a different perspective. She stops again, confusion etching her features.

  “Judah, why did you bring me here?”

  I reach into a bag I have hidden behind the bench and pull out a football. I walk toward her. “Well, you hate football, right?”

  “I don’t hate football. I just don’t have a lot of good memories about it.”

  I toss the ball to her and she catches it against her chest. A smile perks up on her lips.

  “I’m going to change that. It’s something I love and I want you to love it too.” I stop in front of her and take the ball back, kissing her once. “You just need a new viewpoint.”

  Her look remains skeptical as I motion for her to follow me with my finger. She walks with me until we reach the fifty-yard line.

  We face each other and I watch her take a deep breath. I almost laugh at the short length of her fitted grey dress. It should make this game interesting and a lot of fun for me.

  “Now what?” she asks?

  “The rules are simple. I throw you a pass, and if you catch it you get to ask me a question. Every time we take ten steps back until someone misses.”

  She shakes her head. “That’s not fair, is it? You’re like amazing.”

  I wink at her. “I’ll go easy on you. There are a lot of things I want to know about you, Mackenzie Michaels.”

  “Well, all right then, Judah Holloway. You’re on.”

  I twirl the ball into the air and catch it. “Oh, and if you do, the first one to make to the opposing goal wins.”

  She laughs. “I take it you’re going to win.”

  I shrug. “We’ll see.” I toss her the ball again. “You’re first.”

  It lands awkwardly in her arms, but she doesn’t drop it. “You ready?”

  “Ready when you are.”

  She bites down on her bottom lip while positioning the ball for the perfect spiral. It barely makes it to me, but I catch it anyway.

  “Ask away.”

  She pauses with his finger pressed to her lips. “Why football? I mean, you’re so smart and can do so much more with your life.” When she catches my expression, she sidetracks a bit. “Not that football isn’t amazing, but you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I do.” I twirl the ball on my fingertip while I contemplate my answer, then I smile. “My father is amazing. That’s no bullshit either, he’s literally the best person I know. He taught me from a young age his trade and that’s why I’m here. I love architecture, I love buildings and lines, and symmetry. The pride you get from knowing you made something so beautiful based solely on your own imagination. For me, that’s pretty cool.”

  Her eyebrows pull in. “What does that have to do with football?”

  “Ah, you see, that’s the one thing we don’t have in common. It’s something that I’m good at just in case I don’t measure up.”

  She smiles and I can tell she wants to come to me. “I think
you will. I’ve seen you achieve things most people think you can’t.”

  I lower my head. “We’ll see.”

  “Come on, there’s more.”

  I shake my head. “One question at a time.” I pull my arm back and she moves back ten steps. “You ready?”

  She nods and I send a light toss directly at her. It lands into her chest with a huff. “I can see this getting very difficult,” she says with a laugh.

  The question I want to ask is simple, but I choose something easy first. “Why Art?”

  She laughs again. “Okay, I saw that coming.” She takes a breath. “I think it’s a family thing for me, too. Perry is an amazing artist. Him and his friends starting doing tattoos when they were still in high school and Perry was known for doing it free hand. So, I guess I got that talent from him.”

  She tosses the ball back at me hard, I have to take a few steps back to catch it. “You’ve been holding out on me. You have a nice arm.”

  She shrugs. “Also because of my brother.”

  Her next question comes without hesitation. “Do you still love Elliot?”

  “Yes.”

  The air escapes her in a puff in the crisp fall air.

  “Mack, just because you love someone doesn’t mean it holds the same meaning. Yes, I care about her, I want her happiness and I would go to her if she needed me, but the love I have ends there. There’s no intimacy—just unconditional love.”

  She crosses her arms and makes small circles on the AstroTurf with her toes. “I get that.”

  “Mack,” I call to her and wait until she meets my eyes. She looks up at me and I smile. “Do you?”

  “Yes, I think so. I trust you, Judah.”

  I can’t hide my grin. “Good, because there’s only one girl I want waking up beside me every morning and she’s playing football in a cocktail dress.” I let out a growl. “So hot.”

  Even from this distance, I see her blush. She steps back and I toss the ball again. This time she almost drops it. I may have to rethink this distance soon.