by Kaci Rose
Texting Titan
By Kaci Rose
Copyright © 2020, by Kaci Rose. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of very brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Book Cover By: The Write Designer
Editing By: Nikki @ Indie Hub
Blurb
A football player, a secret crush, and the Hail Mary text that would change everything...
Avery had no idea who the mystery text came from, but she owed them a thank you. Because of their message, she showed up at a party for the football team and caught her boyfriend cheating. But the messages didn’t stop there. Whoever the person she nicknamed ‘Titan’ truly was, they offered her support and friendship when she needed it most. Now, she finds herself longing to meet her hero face-to-face.
Denver isn’t sure if Avery even remembers the kiss they shared freshman year, but he’s thought about it every day since. As much as he wanted to be with her, family obligations pulled him away. It was torture watching her date another member of his football team, yet he never would have intervened if they were happy. One thing he wouldn’t do was stand back and watch as his buddy cheated on her time and again. When it’s revealed that he is her mysterious ‘Titan’, Denver prays it will be the beginning of his second chance.
But his family responsibilities haven’t lessened. And her trust in football players has been destroyed. Can the pair score a touchdown into their happily-ever-after under the scrutiny of the stadium lights?
This is a Steamy, Small Town, College Football Romance. No Cliffhangers.
As always, there is a satisfying happy ever after.
If you love steamy romances with insta love, hot love scenes, small towns, and football, then this one is for you.
Dedication
To all those waiting for their second chance.
Table of Contents
Texting Titan
Blurb
Dedication
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Epilogue
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Prologue
Avery
College is the time to do stupid things and make mistakes. That’s what Mom told me when she dropped me off last week. Although, I’m not sure she meant the kind of mistake I made tonight at the welcome freshman party.
My roommate Kelsey and I bonded almost instantly over our love for Outlander, both the TV show and the books. We also love watching The Big Bang Theory when nothing else is on.
So, it made sense when she suggested attending this party that we go together. It’s part of the college experience and we made a vow on day one to have as many college experiences as possible.
The party is more of a bonfire gathering, but the whole football team is here. The music is good, and the food isn’t bad. Mountain Gap University is known for its food. It might be their Southeast Tennessee roots.
I am at the food table picking up another fried chicken slider when the handsomest guy I’ve ever seen comes over. He walks over with a confidence that seems to dwindle once he’s in front of me. He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and looks at his feet. His dark blue Mountain Gap Football shirt stretches across his chest, showing he has the kind of muscular football players body all the girls drool after. “Those any good?” he asks, holding my gaze with the most gorgeous green eyes.
I grin and look down at the food in my hand. “This is my fourth one. I can’t seem to stop myself, so yeah.”
He smiles. “I’m Denver.” He’s quite a bit taller than me and when I look up something draws me to him, making me want to know more.
“Hi, I’m Avery.”
“Nice to meet you, Avery. Where you from?”
“Nashville.”
“You didn’t want to go to school there?” He grabs a few of the sliders.
“My mom and dad came here and met each other, so did my dad’s parents. I figured I’d carry on the tradition. What about you?”
“Cookeville, it’s an hour north of here.”
“Football player? I’m assuming.” I point to his shirt.
He laughs. “Yeah been playing since I was about ten.”
“Your dream to play football here?”
“Well, the coach here was a Tennessee Titans player, and a good one. I wanted to learn from him. I had my pick of schools with my football scholarship, but I wanted to play for the best.”
“And Mountain Gap Football is the best.”
“They’ve won more national championships than any other college.”
“Impressive.”
“So, I’m going to be honest and hope you’ll help me out. The football team has a tradition of having freshmen do dares at the freshman party. My dare was to come over here and kiss you. My momma raised a gentleman so I’m asking for your help.”
“You’re asking my permission to kiss me?”
He laughs and rubs the back of his neck, looking at the ground before looking back up at me. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“College experiences,” I whisper and shake my head.
“What?”
“Nothing. I guess I can help you out. A simple kiss, nothing more.”
“Promise.” His eyes lock with mine. His hand moves to my waist as he gently pulls me closer and his lips land on mine.
I’m expecting a sweet simple kiss, but from the second his lips touch mine it’s like he’s lit a live wire. Flames travel across my skin. He moans into my mouth and brings his free hand up to cup the back of my head and deepen the kiss. I gasp from the sensation and place my hand on his chest to steady myself.
I’ve never been kissed like this before. I hold on to him for dear life. This is the kiss all the romance books talk about, one that my mom describes when she kissed my dad for the first time. When the kiss softens, I can’t seem to catch my breath.
“Avery,” he whispers against my lips. The moment is shattered by a cell phone ringing and Denver pulls back to take his phone from his pocket.
“I have to take this.” He looks at me like he doesn’t want to leave, like he is waiting for me to say something, but I have no idea what. “Wait here for me?”
I nod and he walks off, talking to whoever
just interrupted the best kiss of my life.
I touch my lips thinking about that kiss, his lips; the heat between was unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. But it was all for a dare. Wait until my mom hears this one, it should make her happy until at least Halloween when I know she will demand I dress up and attended at least one Halloween party.
“Hey, are you okay?” a male voice asks, breaking me from my daydream. I turn and find another guy in the team football shirt behind me.
“Oh, yeah I’m fine.”
“That was kind of a dick move.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“He kissed you like that and then walked off. Probably to take a call from his girlfriend he was talking about earlier.”
My stomach sinks; of course, the gorgeous football player has a girlfriend. He was honest with me though; it was a kiss for a dare. No matter how it felt. Apparently, he didn’t feel the same.
“It was a dare, wasn’t it? I know how the football team works.” He smiles and looks at his feet. “Yeah, that was a shitty thing to do. I’m Kyle, also a freshman but I swear I’m not here on any dare.”
“I’m Avery. What was your dare?”
“To get a cheerleader’s phone number. I got it and gave it to a senior on the team. I’m not interested.”
“Isn’t every football player interested in the cheerleaders?”
He grins. “No. We don’t all fit the stereotype.”
Kyle is easy to get along with, and we talk a good part of the night and part ways with plans for dinner next week.
Chapter 1
Denver
I’m in my room trying to study when the sounds of someone stumbling up the stairs pull me from my book.
“Kyle!” I hear someone squeal, and a high-pitched giggle fills the room. Great, Kyle brought home another girl and he’s still dating Avery. They have been dating since they were freshman, but over the summer he started sleeping around, saying that junior year is the year to have fun. I suggested he break up with Avery, but he laughed and said there was no need since the team will keep his secrets.
I know coach would have my ass if I outed him. He is always going on and on about trust and how the team falls apart without it.
I still think of that kiss with Avery in freshman year. I have never felt anything like it. Then my mom called and needed help. She’s a single mom and it’s always been just me and her. She worked hard so I could play football, but in my senior year of high school I started to make a name for myself. The good is always followed by the bad it seems. My popularity drew attention to Mom, and she seems to have developed a stalker. We’ve gone to the police and they say they can’t do anything because he’s just left notes and gifts on her doorstep with no real threats but enough veiled ones to scare her.
When I bailed the night of the freshman party, I drove the hour home and helped her move to a new place outside town that was a bit safer. With the help of my mom’s best friend I put the lease in my name so it can’t be tracked as easily, and made my mom take some self-defense classes.
I wish I could get her into a high-security building, but money is tight with me in school. I can’t work since I’m here on a football scholarship, but I have a room at the football house and food is taken care of. My mom still works to pay things like my cell phone bill and any extras I need.
I’ve been going home when I can, taking jobs around the neighborhood, mowing lawns for cash to help Mom out. I add the money to her wallet, and she pretends she doesn’t know I do it.
After I helped Mom get settled after the incident that night, I went straight back to Avery, but by then she had gone off with Kyle. It hurt to watch them together and see her smile at him. They seemed happy and as long as she was happy, I stayed away, but no other girl has held any appeal for me. I haven’t dated, kissed, or even slept with anyone since that night I kissed Avery. Even though we’re not together, it just feels wrong being with someone else.
It doesn’t matter what I say though, the Jersey Chasers still surround me wherever I go. Now Kyle is taking advantage of those opportunities, it’s harder to stay away from Avery. I’ve tried to talk to her, but she doesn’t want anything to do with me. Part of me wonders if she remembers that kiss.
I’m trying to concentrate on reading this book for class, but my mind keeps returning to Avery. She is every part the southern belle from Tennessee you would expect. Angelic blonde hair in waves down her back, rich milk-chocolate eyes, and a smile that lights up her whole face.
I toss my book down on my desk, it’s useless trying to study any more tonight. I head out to the loft on the third-floor landing where my room is, to get some water, and notice Kyle has left his keys and his phone on the coffee table.
His phone that has Avery’s number programmed into it.
I shouldn’t touch it, I know that. Thinking I’ll be stopped by a password on his phone, I’m shocked when there isn’t one. What an idiot. I find Avery’s number and see several unanswered messages from her tonight. I add her number to my phone and head back to my room.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I take a chance, a hail Mary pass.
Me: Avery?
Avery: Who is this?
Me: A friend.
She sends a laughing emoji.
Avery: How did you get my number?
Me: From your boyfriend.
Avery: He gave it to you?
Me: No. I might have taken it without him knowing. He needs to put a password on his phone.
There are a few minutes where I start to doubt myself before she replies.
Avery: So, are you a football player?
Me: Yes.
Avery: Have I met you before?
Good lord, have we met? I want to tell her we met when she turned my world upside down and I made the dumbest move ever by walking away from her. But I can’t find the right words.
Me: Yes.
Great, one-word answers, it’s a miracle she’s still talking to me.
Avery: Okay, tell me something about you.
I know at this moment that I need to tell her the truth, because I know I can’t tell her who I am. So, when this all blows up in my face, I can at least say I never once lied to her in our texts.
I don’t see this ending any other way. If Kyle finds out I don’t even want to think of how it will affect the team.
Me: I’m tired of the football player stereotype. So many guys use it to their advantage, even when in relationships.
Like your boyfriend Kyle, I want I add, but I know I can’t. I wait for the three bubbles to pop up to tell me she’s typing and when they don’t, I send another text with the hope to keep her talking.
Me: Hence why I am holed up in my room alone again while they are all out doing their thing.
Finally, the three bubbles pop up.
Avery: Spend a lot of time alone?
Me: Every night.
Avery: So, you know me already. I feel like it’s only fair I get to know you because, like you, I am holed up in my room alone tonight. So bored!
Me: No Boyfriend?
Avery: No, he has a light training session with a few teammates. You aren’t with them?
Me: No, I did some training earlier today because I had a paper to finish.
Some training session. I’m sure his endurance is improving, and I don’t doubt he was out with some team mates when he met Giggles. A great way at twisting words, Kyle. How many other lies has he told her that she doesn’t know about?
Me: Well, if we are going to get to know each other, let’s make a promise: Never lie to each other. Always be honest and open.
Avery: Deal. So, you’re a football player. Is your plan to play for the NFL?
Me: Yeah, I guess so. I know a year in the NFL would provide the financial security I want and that my mom needs.
Avery: If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do?
Me: I’m good at football so I’d love to coach. That’s what I’m hop
ing to do after my NFL time. Now the same question to you. What do you plan to do and what would you do if money wasn’t a factor?
Avery: I’d love to write books all day. Get lost in new worlds. Instead, I’m going to be a copywriter and sell people things they don’t need or never knew they needed. If you could pick any NFL team to get drafted to, which one would you pick?
Me: Tennessee Titans.
Avery: Why?
Me: It’s not here, it’s not back home, but it’s still in the south, still in Tennessee. I’ve been to Nashville a few times and I think my mom would really like it there.
Avery: Seems fitting. As I don’t know your name, I think I’ll call you Titan.
Me: I like that. Well, it’s late, you need to get to sleep, beautiful.
Shoot. She isn’t mine and calling her beautiful is crossing yet another line, but it just slipped out and felt right.
Avery: Okay, and you need sleep for practice.
Yeah, I won’t be getting any sleep tonight. I already know I’m going to read these messages over and over until I have every word memorized. I’ll picture her lying in bed texting me.
Me: Don’t worry about me. I will always have time for you.
Avery: You’re a football player. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Dammit, Kyle. How much has he fucked up any chance I might ever have with her based on the simple fact that I’m a football player?
Me: I don’t make promises I can’t keep. You will learn that about me. I PROMISE I will always have time for you.
