If You Were Mine

by Jennifer Sucevic

  Holding Max in her arms, Gia leans towards me, before whispering, “I wonder what’s going on with JT.”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I keep my mouth firmly zipped.

  I have to pretend like this is any other game and I could care less about what’s going on with JT Higgins. It’s not like I can tell Gia about the plans we have to sleep together. Although part of me does wish I could sit down with her and discuss how everything has suddenly changed between us. Gia and I have always been close. Like sisters. She’s usually the first person I turn to when I need to hash something out.

  But I can’t do that with this.

  I can’t tell her about JT.

  I’m sure she would think it was a humongous mistake on my part. And I’m not altogether certain that I would disagree with her.

  When I remain silent, Gia asks, “Is everything okay, Claire?”

  Tugging my lips into a smile, I lie through my teeth. “Just thinking about classes next week.”

  “And your student teacher placement?”

  “Yep, that too.” It’s what I’ve been focused on since I was twelve years old. It may not seem like much, but it’s a dream come true for me and I’ve worked hard to make it happen.

  “You’re going to be great.”

  The smile on my face warms under her praise. “Thanks.”

  Now that the game is over, fans are exiting the stadium en masse. There are several sports reporters in the process of interviewing players out on the field, doing their best to get sound bites to run on the air.

  Scanning the field, I don’t see JT anywhere. My guess is that he’s already made his way into the locker room.

  There’s some kind of meet and greet taking place after the game here at the stadium. One of the restaurants on the concourse has been reserved for the event. Because I still have some work to finish up before class tomorrow, I won’t be staying at the party long. Since Liam is the QB, he usually has a press interview afterward along with the head coach and a few other key players. So I know he’ll be one of the last guys to arrive.

  I bite my lip wondering if I should just skip this thing altogether. It’s just so weird the way everything felt so great when JT dropped me off yesterday, and now, for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on, it feels like I should go back to keeping my distance.

  I haven’t even spoken with JT and yet…

  It’s just a feeling I have.

  “You ready to head down there?”

  “Ummm,” I hedge, “I was thinking that I might take off instead.”

  Gia’s dark brows slide together in confusion. “What?” Those all-seeing blue eyes of hers immediately start scouring my expression for insight as to what’s going on. What I’m trying to hide from her.

  “Yeah,” I clear my throat because I am, admittedly, a terrible liar, “I have a ton of stuff to finish up. I should probably get on it while it’s still early.” The only thing holding me together is the fact that I’m not totally lying. I really do have work to finish up for the upcoming week.

  “How about you come grab a quick bite to eat and then you can sneak out.”

  My shoulders fall just a bit. Honestly, I was hoping to avoid JT until I have a better understanding of what’s going on between us. “Yeah, fine,” I finally mutter, “But I can only stay for about thirty minutes, then I have to go.”

  She looks pleased to have secured my acquiescence so easily. In a way, Gia is kind of like a mother figure to me and I have a difficult time saying no to her. Especially when I’m not being completely forthcoming with her in the first place.

  Call it guilt.

  By the time we gather up the children and make our way to the concourse, another fifteen minutes have slipped by. As we enter the restaurant, Gia stops to greet several people she knows. Because I’ve been hanging around for the last three years, I know them as well. I’ve become quite adept at making small talk regarding the season and the team.

  Unconsciously my eyes scan the immediate vicinity until they’re landing on JT and a group of people who I don’t immediately recognize. After a few moments, I find myself asking, “Do you know who JT is with?”

  I’ve been watching them somewhat covertly for the past couple of minutes, and I still can’t place them. There’s an older couple along with a dark-haired man. Actually, it seems obvious that the two men are related. They’re practically carbon copies of one another.

  I narrow my gaze trying to place the younger man. He looks suspiciously familiar, and by his build, I’d have to guess that he also plays football. He just has that look about him. Like working out and pumping iron is his life’s work. Although I know he’s not with this organization.

  He’s extremely good-looking.

  I would have remembered if he were.

  Unfortunately, I’m still staring, trying to figure out just who they are, when his deep brown eyes collide with mine. A small smirk immediately hoists his lips upwards. I’m pretty sure my face flushes before I hastily rip my eyes away, pretending that I didn’t just get caught checking out some random guy.

  “That would be his family.”

  Whatever I was expecting, that wasn’t it. My brows shoot up across my forehead in response. I’ve heard a lot about his family. Not from JT, of course, but anyone who knows Green Bay history knows that his father spent the majority of his career playing and coaching here. Which means that the younger, dark haired man would be none other than-

  “Hello, ladies. I don’t believe we’ve been introduced yet.”

  Joe Higgins.

  JT’s older brother. The one who plays for Minnesota. The very same one who has taken the league by storm. He’s made quite a name for himself, and none of it has been through bad press. Joe is the golden boy of the NFL. He has numerous multi-million-dollar endorsement deals, from underwear to toothpaste. His name and face seem to be plastered just about everywhere right now. I should have immediately recognized him. But I guess when JT is around I have trouble seeing anyone but him.

  Thank goodness Gia is still standing next to me with all three kids. Max is squirming around in her arms. Charlotte is decked out in a fancy, over-the-top tulle skirt and Ty looks like a little mini Liam with his Garrison jersey and eye black smudged under his eyes.

  Even though Joe’s attention is focused solely on me, Gia clears her throat before saying, “Gia Garrison. Nice to finally meet you.”

  His dark eyes immediately swing to hers. Taking in the three kids, his smile only broadens. Just as he opens his mouth, Liam slides a protective arm around Gia before hauling her and Max closer.

  Whatever Joe had been about to utter gets cut off when Liam says in a no-nonsense tone of voice, “This is my wife, Higgins. Stay far, far away from her. In fact, don’t even bother looking in her direction.”

  Not taking offense, Joe merely chuckles before taking Gia’s hand and then shaking Liam’s.

  “Great to see you, man. It’s been awhile.”

  “Not nearly long enough,” Liam grumbles in response. “What, we play each other in three weeks? That’s good enough for me.”

  When my brother says nothing more, Joe’s deep brown eyes finally slide back to mine. “And you would be?”

  “My sister, Claire.” Liam answers before adding, “I probably don’t need to say this but, I will- stay away from her as well.”

  There’s just a little bit more of a growl to his words this time as if it’s an actual warning.

  Apparently not put off by my brother’s rude behavior, Joe grins good-naturedly. “Nice to meet you, Claire.”

  Shaking my hand, he keeps a light hold on my fingers until I find myself tugging them free. A smile continues to grace his lips.

  I’ll say this- Joe Higgins is incredibly handsome. Rather strangely, he looks nothing like his brother. Where Joe has short dark hair and deep espresso-hued eyes, JT has long golden blond hair and unusually vivid light green eyes. Although both men are big. Tall and broad in the shoulders. Not to mention, musc
ular.

  For just a moment, my eyes wander back to JT. The breath catches at the back of my throat when I find his gaze already piercing mine. Joe tosses a look over his shoulder at his brother before his gaze swings leisurely back to mine.

  “So that’s the way of things, huh?”

  I quickly glance at Liam to see if he’s picked up on what Joe just murmured, but his attention seems to be completely wrapped up in his family.

  “No.”

  “Good.” He steps just a bit closer before whispering, “He’ll break your heart, sweetheart. And I’d really hate to see that happen.”

  Everything within me stiffens at his words. Probably because those exact same thoughts have crossed my mind a time or two while watching JT out on the field this afternoon. And I don’t want that to happen either.

  Raising my chin, I say, “We’re just friends.”

  His lips pull up, revealing bright white teeth. I’ve seen him on TV, endorsing some whitening toothpaste.

  “I think we both know that JT doesn’t have women friends.”

  “Then we’re more like acquaintances.”

  Stepping closer, he invades my personal space. “Can I get you a drink or something?” I have the feeling he’s more interested in the something else.

  I quickly shake my head before hastily moving away from him. My quick scramble backward seems to amuse him.

  “If you’ll excuse me…”

  That’s all I say before darting towards the restrooms. I don’t have to go, but I need to get away from him. It felt like JT’s brother was hitting on me and under normal circumstances, I would have been flattered. But not now. Not when I’m feeling messed up inside over his brother and certainly not with JT watching us from across the room. I could practically feel his eyes on me. It was difficult not to squirm under their liquid intensity.

  I splash a little cold water on my face before deciding that I should probably get going. I’ll say a quick goodbye to Liam, Gia, and the kids before heading out. With an escape plan firmly in mind, I step out of the bathroom before heading down the short hallway that leads back into the crowded restaurant. There have to be at least two hundred people here. Everyone is milling around, laughing, making small talk with one another.

  Just as I’m beelining for my brother and sister-in-law, I catch JT and his father out of the corner of my eye. I can’t help but stumble to a halt before staring openly at them. They look as if they’re having some sort of argument. JT looks pissed. His father has his back to me, so I’m not able to see his expression.

  I have absolutely no idea what propels me to change directions, but that’s exactly what I find myself doing. It only takes a few moments before I’m closing in on them. Just as I’m about to approach, JT’s eyes suddenly cut to mine. Only then does his expression change. His green gaze widens just a bit. Every line of his face becomes whipcord tight. Even though he doesn’t say the words, I get the feeling that he wants me to turn away, to leave them alone. But I’m not going to do that. He may not want it, but he looks like he needs rescuing and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

  Stepping closer, I immediately wrap my arm around JT’s solid waist before reaching up on my toes to press a quick kiss against his cheek. There’s just a bit of scruffiness covering his jaw. I’ve always found that look to be sexy. It’s even more so on JT. Whatever his father had been saying quickly gets cut off as I paste a bright, friendly smile on my face. Looking surprised and just a bit thrown, his gaze bounces silently between the pair of us as if he doesn’t quite know what to make of me.

  When neither of them acknowledges my presence, I thrust my hand out in his father’s direction. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Claire Garrison.”

  His dark brown eyes narrow as he quickly turns my name over in his head. You can almost see the wheels turning, wondering if I’m someone worth knowing or just some random hanger-on. I don’t know this man, but already I don’t like him. “Garrison, you say?”

  “Yes, sir. Liam is my brother.”

  The anger that had been brewing on his face instantly clears. Now it’s all sunshine and rainbows. Suddenly he’s reaching out, wrapping his larger hand around mine before pumping it heartily as if we’re old friends.

  “Joe Higgins. Nice to meet you.”

  Even though I’ve only been standing with these two men for a matter of moments, already I can feel the thick, suffocating tension sitting between them. It’s stifling and uncomfortable. It makes me doubly glad that I decided to interrupt whatever was going on between them. I’m almost surprised when I feel JT’s thick arm slide its way around me before hauling me just a bit closer.

  Taking a large swallow of his drink, his father continues to eye me speculatively before finally asking, “And what exactly is it that you do, Claire?”

  “I’m a student at UW- Green Bay. I’ll be graduating this spring with a degree in elementary education.”

  Slowly he nods his head. His eyes are hooded as he continues studying the pair of us, as if trying to figure out what exactly is going on. “We had no idea Jameson was seeing someone.”

  Jameson, huh? I didn’t realize that’s what the J in JT stood for.

  His eyes flick towards his son. There is absolutely no fondness within his expression. Only cool disdain. That knowledge arrows clean through my heart, leaving it to throb for JT.

  “In fact,” he continues to muse, “I didn’t think he was capable of it. The only thing he seems rather adept at is wreaking havoc in a woman’s life before tossing her aside.”

  His ugly words, said in such an offhanded manner, leave my eyes widening. Before I can say anything- even think of a scathing retort, he’s leaning towards me before imparting a piece of unsolicited advice.

  “I’d be careful if I were you, my dear. You don’t seem like my son’s usual type. I’d hate for him to sully your good name.” He gives me a little wink before adding, “Don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

  For just a moment, I stand there wondering if his father really just said that when I feel JT’s fingers bite into the skin at my waist. I almost wince, but don’t. I know he’s unconscious to the pain he’s inflicting.

  “JT and I are just friends.”

  The man snorts as if that’s the most far-fetched thing he’s ever heard before excusing himself to talk with someone across the room.

  Feeling stupefied, I silently watch him go before finally refocusing my attention on JT. I’m almost scared at just what I’m going to find. Already his gaze is fastened on me, those beautiful soft green eyes bore into mine. Even though I don’t want them to, they somehow manage to steal my breath away.

  Quite honestly, I wish they didn’t. Every time I’m around him, I feel myself falling a little bit harder. A little bit deeper. Becoming a little more ensnared. And I don’t want that. I want whatever this is between us to remain uncomplicated.

  Unfortunately, it feels anything but.

  “Are you okay?”

  He nods. “Yeah. Believe it or not, you actually caught him on a good day.”

  I cringe, hoping that he’s simply exaggerating, but somehow, I don’t think so. Quite honestly, JT’s father seems like an jackass. And I’ve had just about enough of those already.

  Now that his father is gone, I pull out of his arms, needing some distance. A strange sort of silence falls over us as I do. It’s only after a few seconds that feel like minutes slowly drag by that I shuffle uncomfortably from one foot to the other before pointing unnecessarily towards the exit.

  “I should really get going. I still have some studying to do before tomorrow.”

  Not once do his eyes release mine before he’s shoving his big hands into the pockets of his khakis. “I have to stay a bit longer.” He throws a look full of longing at the exit. “At least another hour or two.”

  My eyes slide around the room until they’re once again settling on his father. For some reason, I don’t like the idea of leaving JT alone when he’s still here.
Which is crazy, I know. It’s not like we’re involved in each other’s lives. If all goes well, JT will be the one who takes my virginity. That’s it. End of story. And then we’ll both move on with our lives as if nothing ever happened between us.

  That’s the plan.

  I take a quick step back, only wanting to flee at this point. The way he continues watching me leaves my body feeling all tingly. “Well… okay then.”

  He nods, but doesn’t stop me from leaving. And so I take another step before turning towards the exit that leads to the concourse. I’m about five feet away when his deep voice slices through all the chatter surrounding us, making it feel as if we’re somehow alone.

  “Want me to pick you up in an hour or so?”

  Glancing over my shoulder, I catch his eyes.

  I really shouldn’t.

  In fact, it would probably be for the best if I took a few days to clear my head after the last forty-eight hours.

  “Sure.”

  His entire body loosens as that one softly spoken word leaves my mouth. Something unexpected flips in my belly at the possessive look that now fills his eyes.

  “I’ll text you when I’m on my way.”

  I nod just once before turning and swiftly walking away from him.

  Chapter Twenty

  JT

  Bringing the bottle of ice-cold water to my lips, I watch Claire as she hugs her brother and his wife before kissing each of the kids goodbye.

  “What the hell have you gotten yourself tangled up in now?”