Hard Pass: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by K. G. Reuss

  “In simple terms, lose my number and stop bothering me and Lexy.”

  “Y-you said this was just for your project—”

  “She’s my wife, Steph. For real. I’m not leaving her until she tells me to go. You and I made some bad choices together one night. That’s it. I’m sorry if I made you think our friendship was anything more than that.”

  Steph’s eyes wavered as she looked between me and Travis.

  “I know what you said not that long ago, Travis. You said this was nothing that would stick. I know it won’t. So when it falls apart and you get bored, I’ll be here waiting.” She didn’t wait for an answer before marching off.

  “Psycho bitch,” Ava muttered. Rory nodded.

  “Honey pot, that was hot,” Travis murmured in my ear, giving me a squeeze.

  “What was?” I asked, wondering why the hell Travis would tell her we had nothing that would stick.

  “Saying I was yours.” His lips brushed against my cheek once more.

  “Are you mine?”

  “If you’ll have me, Lexy. Do you want me?”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yes.”

  “Then we’ll talk later.” He pressed another quick kiss to my cheek before breaking away from me. It was just in time because Alex and Mason came out of the locker room and strode towards us.

  “Ava, wait!” I called out as she turned tail and rushed away. I shot a look at Travis who gave me a quick nod.

  I really needed to get Ava and Alex back together if any of us were going to have any peace.

  Fifty-Eight

  Travis

  “Travis?”

  “Yeah? Coach?” I called out, getting to my feet and trying to find better reception in the frat house.

  I’d only been home for a few hours after untangling myself from Lexy after another incredible night with her. Typically, I’d have gone out and celebrated with the guys our victory and status as conference champs, but I found myself only wanting to see her, needing to celebrate with her. After she got Ava calmed down, Lexy called me over. I’d crept into her bedroom and wasted no time in showing her my appreciation for how she handled Steph. But I’d gone home in the wee hours, so it looked like I still actually lived at the frat house. Coming clean with Alex had to happen soon before word really got out to him. I suspected he was already growing more suspicious.

  “Owens, I need you to come down to my office right now,” Coach’s voice called out through the phone, hauling me back to the moment.

  “Uh, I’m kinda busy—” I’d been getting ready to go back to Lexy’s.

  “Well, unbusy your dick and get down here. Tell whatever co-ed you have over to get the hell out.”

  I rubbed my face and groaned. “I’ll be there in a few.”

  “Hurry. I have news you’re going to want to hear.”

  The line went dead on Coach’s end. I tossed the phone on the bed, my heart in my throat. Was this it? Was this when my dreams finally came true? I’d had the game of my life, delivering a conference championship win to my school. Knowing Lexy was in the stands watching, fueled my fire to impress her. I focused more when I knew she was watching me.

  I hurried around and finished getting ready before shooting a text off to Lexy to let her know I’d be late. We’d planned a day of project work followed by a movie and pizza with Ava.

  “Owens, about damn time you got here!” Coach greeted me at his office door and gestured for me to come in.

  “Sorry, Coach,” I said, settling into the chair across from his desk.

  “How’s your old man? Been doing good?”

  “Uh, yeah. He and my mom took a cruise for Thanksgiving.”

  “Well, good. You might want to give them a call and let them know you’re an official candidate for the Heisman.” A wide grin swept over his face as I gaped at him.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Got word this morning. You’re in. Hell of a game, Owens. Hell of a game. If I had to guess, I’d say you’re on your way to one hell of a long career. Congratulations!”

  I stared stupidly at him, my heart in my throat. I’d been officially nominated. Heisman. Everything I’d ever wanted was falling into place.

  “Aren’t you going to say something?” Coach called out.

  “I-I’m in shock.” I laughed nervously and shook my head. “I’m seriously in?”

  “You’re in, Owens. Now let’s hope you win the damn thing.”

  I got to my feet, feeling numb inside. “I-I gotta call my parents. And Lexy.”

  “I’d call that wife of yours first. How’s that going?”

  “Amazing. She’s perfect.” I walked to the door, my hand itching to grab my phone and call her.

  “You’ll have to introduce me to her one of these days. A good woman is always there to set her man straight. You’ve been a hellion, but I can see her influence is paying off. Good work, Son.”

  “Thanks, Coach. Wow. I can’t believe this.”

  He clapped me on the back and chuckled. “Go announce it to your friends and family before they hear it elsewhere. I’ll let you know when the ceremony is. Let that wife of yours know, so she can come support you. Again, congrats.”

  I booked it out of there and got into my truck. I wanted to call Lexy, but this felt like news I should tell her in person.

  The moment I arrived at her apartment, I rushed upstairs and banged on the door until Ava pulled it open.

  “What the hell are you doing, Travis? Didn’t Lex give you a key?” she grumbled. In my excitement, I’d forgotten about my key.

  I pushed past Ava and rushed to Lexy’s room and shoved the door open. She stood in her bra and panties. Her eyes widened at my intrusion.

  “Travis? Is everything OK?” Her brows crinkled as I stalked purposefully across the room and swept her into my arms.

  “Better than OK, baby.” I pressed my mouth to hers as she melted against me. When we broke apart, we were both breathless. “I got it. It’s official. I’m a candidate for the Heisman.”

  “What?” she breathed out. “Really?”

  I nodded, unable to keep the grin off my face.

  “Oh my god!” she squealed loudly, wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a fierce hug. “Congratulations! You did it!”

  I lifted her up and held her, my eyes burning and my throat tight. She pulled away only to look up at me.

  “Aw.” She kissed my cheek and thumbed away a tear that had slipped out. “I’m so proud of you, Travis.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  She laughed softly and kissed my lips. “This was all you, Travis. You know it.”

  I hugged her again. “No. I share my victories. You’re my driving force.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Ava called from the doorway. Lexy and I laughed as we broke apart.

  “I’m a candidate for the Heisman.”

  “No shit?” Ava squealed, her eyes wide.

  “No shit. There’s a ceremony where the winner will be announced.”

  Ava rushed across the room and crashed into me. She pulled me into a tight hug before reaching out and tugging Lexy into a group embrace. We all laughed and squeezed each other.

  “Congrats, you dick head,” Ava crooned. “I knew you could do it.”

  I let out a boisterous laugh as we broke apart.

  “I’ve gotta call my parents.”

  “Go do that.” Lexy kissed me quickly. “It’s super awkward that I’m standing here half-naked. I’ll grab some clothes.”

  Ava snickered and backed out of the room. “You’re right. I didn’t even notice the clothes thing.” She closed the door behind her, whooping as she went down the hall.

  “I’ll be quick,” I murmured against Lexy’s lips.

  “Take your time.” She kissed me. “I’ll be in the bathroom getting ready.”

  I grinned as she backed away in her bra and panties, looking like a wet dream. My cock sprang to life, eager to burro
w home inside her. She winked knowingly before turning and sashaying into the bathroom.

  I rubbed my chest and swallowed before blowing out a breath and dialing my parents. My dad answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, Dad. Get Mom.”

  “Everything OK?” Worry painted his voice.

  “Everything is great. Perfect.”

  A moment later, Mom came on speakerphone. I looked to the open bathroom door and watched as Lexy let her hair down from her ponytail, the red waves cascading to her waist. My heart jumped in my chest, realization dawning on me.

  “I’m in love,” I whispered into the phone.

  Mom chuckled. “Oh, Travis, it’s about time you realized that.”

  I grinned. “That’s not the news. Wait until you hear this.”

  Fifty-Nine

  Lexy

  “Here’s to the man of the hour!” Alex proclaimed, holding his beer up. It felt like hundreds of people had shown up at the frat house to celebrate Travis’s Heisman announcement. He’d been so busy being congratulated, our interactions had been limited all night.

  After the phone call with his parents, he’d marched into the bathroom and lifted me into his arms. Then he hauled me back to bed and made love to me so thoroughly my legs still shook.

  I watched as he smiled, his eyes bright with both excitement and all the alcohol he’d consumed with his friends. My heart felt full watching him. He’d worked so hard to get where he was.

  The guys sloshed their glasses together, all cheering, before slamming down their drinks. Travis swayed where he stood. My first instinct was to go to him and help hold him up, but then Alex would start questioning us.

  Instead, I drank from my cup and smiled and cheered.

  “This is awesome. I’m so proud of that asshole.” Ava sighed, watching as the guys whooped and hollered Travis’s name while he grinned widely. Her gaze locked on Alex’s. I glanced between them, seeing the hurt on both their faces. Ava cleared her throat and broke the stare off first before muttering about needing a refill and wanting to find Rory.

  I sighed, trying to wrack my brain on how to get them back together.

  The guys broke apart, and Travis stumbled into me.

  “Meet me in my room in ten minutes.” They were the only words he said to me as he moved through the crowded living room. I watched him go, people clapping him on his back as he went.

  “Hey, Lex,” Mason called out. “You seen Rory? I seem to have lost the little minx.”

  “She was on the patio. Ava was going to her.”

  “That’s a fucking mess, huh?”

  I knew he was referring to Alex and Ava, so I nodded.

  “Where’s Travis?”

  I shrugged.

  Mason snorted. “Oh, cut the shit, Lexy. I know you two are together.”

  “What?”

  He grinned. “I knew it in Vegas. He told me he married you that same weekend. I know you’re his mystery girl and that shit is real as it can get with you two.”

  “Shh,” I hissed at him, looking around to make sure Alex wasn’t within earshot.

  “Don’t worry. I haven’t said anything to anyone, but you need to tell Alex. He’s already muttering about shit being weird between you and Travis. He was cool at first, but the more Travis parades your marriage around, the more it’s drawing suspicion. Figure out what you two are going to do and let the rest of us know so we can fucking congratulate you guys.”

  I smiled. “We will. Soon.”

  “Good. Don’t let him fuck this up. You’re good for him.”

  My cheeks heated at his words. “I-I’ve gotta go.”

  Mason winked knowingly at me. “Go get ‘em, Tiger.”

  I laughed and pushed through the crowd and made my way to Travis’s room. I’d only been up there twice and neither time while we were together. We did all our secret meetings at my place because he lived with my brother and all the other guys.

  I knocked softly on his door before pushing it open to find him sitting on his bed. I entered and then closed and locked the door before approaching him. He looked up at me and smiled.

  “There you are. I was worried you’d forgotten about me.”

  “Never,” I murmured, kneeling between his legs.

  He reached out and cradled my face and smiled down at me. “I missed you tonight. I’m sorry we couldn’t be together.”

  “It’s fine. I’m happy you’re happy.”

  He closed his eyes, the grin still on his face. When he opened his eyes, he reached out and pulled my hair out of its high ponytail.

  “I love your hair,” he murmured. “It’s like fire.”

  I chuckled softly and undid the button on his jeans.

  “Baby, what are you doing?” he asked softly, his words slightly slurred.

  “Well, Mr. Football, I figured if you invited me to your room, you wanted something from me. And it just so happens I want to give it to you.”

  “Fuck,” he choked out as I pulled his dick from his pants. He quickly shimmied out of his jeans as I stroked his thick length.

  I kissed the tip of his dick, making him hiss. His eyes were locked on my movement, and his fingers brushed through my hair.

  His cock thickened in my hold. Desire hooded his eyes as his muscles tightened. Eager to please him, I sucked him into my mouth amid his low moan.

  “Honey pot,” he groaned out, his breathing ragged as I sucked him. “Fuck, you’re going to make me come.”

  Travis had always stopped me before spilling himself into my mouth. But tonight, I wanted him to keep going. I wanted to taste him.

  His fingers tangled in my hair as his breathing picked up.

  “Oh god,” he choked out as his dick twitched in my mouth before his hot fluid coated my tongue and throat. I swallowed him down eagerly before giving his dick a final lick that made his lips part and his body tremble.

  “Come here, dirty girl,” he called out softly, pulling me up into his arms. He moved us back onto his bed before rolling me onto my back, his hands making quick work of disposing of the rest of our clothes.

  Before long, he was situated between my legs, staring down at me. His gaze was so intense. So many emotions swirled in his beautiful eyes.

  “What?” I murmured, looking at him.

  “I love you,” he whispered back. His eyes wavered as my breath hitched in my chest. The world spun. Tingles rocketed through me. “I really, truly love you. I don’t want this to ever end. Tell me it won’t. Promise you’re mine. No matter what.”

  “Travis—”

  “Lexy, I’m not as drunk as you think I am. I want this. I want to share all these moments with you and more. Come to the Heisman ceremony with me as my date. My wife. We’ll tell Alex and your family. We’ll have a real wedding where you wear a beautiful dress and we invite all our friends. We’ll have kids and get a dog. You’ll be a doctor. I’ll play football. And I’ll love and cherish you every fucking moment of it all. Say yes to me, honey pot. Say you want me back.”

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  Travis’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  “Yes,” I repeated, cradling his cheek. “I love you too. I want it all.”

  “Oh, baby,” he choked out, peppering my face with kisses. “My baby.”

  He thrust forward, filling me completely as I let out a moan of pleasure, his lips on mine. Each of his thrusts had me panting and clawing at him as he made love to me in his bed.

  When he pulled me into his arms after, he kissed my temple. “I love you, Alexis Owens. Forever.”

  “I love you too, Travis.” I cuddled into him, bliss coursing through me. But worry was also there. We’d taken that final step. We’d make it work. We had to.

  I was in too deep to make a full recovery if things went south. He gave me a gentle squeeze and let out a contented sigh that made me smile.

  We’d figure everything out as it came. In the meantime, I needed to buy a dress for his ceremony and work on telling Alex the tr
uth and then getting him and Ava back together.

  It was going to be a busy next few days. I closed my eyes, eagerly anticipating every moment.

  Sixty

  Travis

  Things changed between me and Lexy after I told her I loved her. We were closer for sure, but life came at me fast the next week. Interviews. Practice. Fans. I barely got to see her. I was so exhausted from everything.

  Worry coursed through me over the thought that maybe I’d made a mistake by trying to keep our relationship going. Not that my feelings had changed. In fact, they’d only grown stronger. But I saw how busy things got and how little time I got to devote to her.

  She smiled at me from across the courtyard as we passed each other on the way to class, and she sent me cute texts that made me want to say to hell with whatever I was doing and go to her and wrap her in my arms.

  I didn’t want this life for her though. Cameras in my face every five minutes. Girls pawing at me. I’d seen the look of disdain on her face more than once the past week when some girl would approach me and ask me ridiculous things, like to sign her bare breasts. I’d decline and offer to sign something paper instead.

  And we still hadn’t told Alex. My worry had made me even more withdrawn from her. I didn’t know if I’d made a huge mistake. Deep down, my heart ached at the thought of losing her. It wasn’t an option. I just needed to figure out how to make this work for us. I knew one way to start making it work.

  Date night.

  I wanted us to feel normal for a moment again. That was my plan. An epic date night. But I wanted it to be comfortable. So, I decided on a simple movie night at her place. She’d been going on about wanting to watch another documentary. I figured I’d hit the stacks and pick out some outrageous one. After we watched it, I’d shower her with kisses and then ask her to marry me for real, complete with the ring I’d bought her in Vegas.

  Nerves twisted my insides at my plan. She’d already said she was mine. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous about proposing for real. Maybe because I was worried about this life not being the one for her. I hated those doubts.