Always Mine: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Natalie Lux

  “Bullshit,” I said, standing, clutching my book. “Just admit it, I was never good enough for you, that’s why you went after the cheerleader. If I remember correctly, your dad never liked me. Why suddenly stop seeing me after he ‘tells you to’? You could have at least texted me after you knew I’d seen you!”

  Reid stood, facing me in the darkening corner of the little bookstore. It was getting late and I needed to get home for dinner or Sheila would have a fit.

  “Look, Eva, I didn’t mean for things to happen the way they did. Like I said, I was a stupid kid. That’s it. You’ve always been the only girl for me,” he said, his jaw tightening.

  “I’ll see you around, Reid. Don’t follow me again.”

  8

  Reid

  Football practice went much better today. I finally learned how to block all distractions, including the biggest one in Eva, and focused completely on the game. Considering we didn’t have to run any extra laps at the end of practice, Coach Tanner seemed pleased enough with me.

  “Good stuff today, bro,” said Dom as coach dismissed us. “Think we have a shot next week?”

  “We’re set. They don’t stand a chance against our offense and they don’t have the firepower. We’ll take them, easy.”

  And with any luck, I’d finally get looked at by any number of agents that’ll be there. We’d be flying out to California next Thursday and playing in the national championship the day after. It was the perfect setting to meet some people and I knew the entire country would be watching us play out there.

  “You have a date for the retreat yet? Or are you gonna suck and go by yourself for the fourth time in a row?”

  I grimaced. Each year the football team went on an annual retreat to a big lake house a few days before we’re scheduled to fly out for the game. It had become so much of a tradition at this point, coach actively encouraged us to go. And it almost always turned into a shit show.

  We’re only supposed to bring one date with us but most guys bring three or four and it just turns into a massive party we have at a private beach with caterers and bartenders and everything. 53 football players and about twice that many girls and it gets crazy, fast.

  I hadn’t taken anyone in the four years we’d done it because it was usually more fun to go by myself. I’d be getting laid anyway, why bother bringing a date?

  I shrugged and took my helmet off.

  “Yeah, probably,” I said, following him.

  “Well, there’s the girl from the bar.”

  “No, she’d never agree to go with me. She’s—”

  “No, dummy, I mean there’s the girl from the bar,” he said, pointing to the bleachers where the cheerleaders usually hung out during practice.

  Fortunately, I’d gotten better at blocking out distractions today because I wouldn’t have been able to think straight had I gotten a good look at the people on the sidelines who had been watching us.

  There was the usual gaggle of cheerleaders waiting for practice to be over so they could scoop up anyone on the team they could. I could see Sydney Coplin right in front, her gaze zeroed in on me as though she knew me and Eva had just been talking about her the night before.

  And further along down by the edge of the field stood Eva and her two friends, Morgan and Tracy. Her friends had bright smiles on their faces, but I could see Eva had an annoyed look on her face as though she’d rather be anywhere else. Dom took his helmet off and sprinted over to them.

  Without a second thought, I followed him over to them, ignoring the daggers I was getting from Eva’s gaze. Like Sydney, she was zeroed in on me, but probably for very different reasons.

  For a moment last night, I was sure I’d gotten through to her. She’d never really given me the chance to explain myself because she was so pissed—and rightfully so. Even though my dad had told me not to see her again, I should have just ignored him and broken up with her properly. She’d have been pissed, but it was better than ghosting her.

  But of course, I’d fucked things up again with her last night. Why did I talk myself into wearing those stupid yoga pants yesterday? She could see exactly what I was doing and I knew it wasn’t going to work.

  “Hey guys,” said Dom, an easy smile in place. Eva’s friends giggled and blushed. I wondered which one of them he had his eye on.

  “Hey,” I say, talking directly to Eva, her eyes still boring into mine. “What are you guys doing here?”

  “Dom invited us to watch your practice!” exclaimed Morgan, grinning. I couldn’t help but grin myself: for all Eva’s talk, she didn’t have to come to see me today, but here she was.

  “What’d you guys think?”

  “You guys should have run the ball more,” said Eva. “You had a wide-open hole for 88 to run through and could have run for way more yards than you threw for.”

  My mouth fell open. Eva Campbell, supposed hater of all things sports—and she’s talking like she knows our damn playbook!

  She noticed everyone staring at her and blushed.

  “My dad always made me watch football with him,” she said, staring at the ground as though she wished she hadn’t said anything. Goddamn, this girl couldn’t have been any more perfect. In all the years I’d known her, not once did she show any interest in football or sports or anything. And now she was sounding like a fucking football coach? I wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in my arms and fuck her right there on the bleachers.

  “Maybe you should be the one calling our plays instead of coach,” said Dom, grinning.

  “I’ve gotta get home,” Eva said, turning to her friends. “I’ll see you guys at the wedding tomorrow?” they nodded at her.

  “Wait,” I said, my voice booming with authority. “I’ll walk you to your car. It’s getting kind of late.”

  “I took an Uber,” she said, looking anywhere but at me. I could tell she was majorly flustered just being around me and that gave me hope.

  “Well, how about you walk me to my car? Just in case things get rough out there in the parking lot.” The blush creeping up on her face told me she caught the entendre. To my surprise, she nodded.

  “Fine. I’ll see you guys later,” she said to her friends.

  I saw Dom mouth good luck and flash me a thumbs up. I needed all the luck I could get right about now.

  9

  Eva

  “Look, I’m only here because my friends dragged me over to watch,” I said. “I didn’t come for you.”

  I made sure to stay a few steps ahead of him, which was proving difficult because of his long legs.

  “That’s fine. Hey, let’s take a detour to the locker room, I need to change out of these clothes.”

  “I don’t want to go to any disgusting football locker room, not least of all one with you in it,” I said, ignoring my pounding heart.

  “Oh come on, it’ll just be a few minutes. How many times are you gonna be able to see an actual college football locker room?” he asked as though being in a locker room was the pinnacle of achievement.

  I rolled my eyes and followed him down the road that presumably led off to the locker room.

  “We’re not doing anything,” I said, very aware of what I thought he was trying to pull.

  “I know, I know,” he said, waving a large hand. “But I could use some company. You don’t know how it is only being able to hang out with a bunch of sweaty jocks all day. It takes a lot out of you.”

  “You talk as though you aren’t a jock yourself,” I said, now trying to keep pace with him.

  “I’m not.” He shrugged. “Most football players are classified as jocks because most of them fit the bill. We fight other people and ourselves, we flirt and fuck everything that moves. And sure, those things are fun, but I like to think I’m more than that. Not all actors or actresses are the stereotypical Hollywood asshole, right?”

  “Well no, I guess not,” I admitted. I was surprised at how much his tone had shifted. It was almost as though he was opening up to me a
nd though we were best friends, that was one area that Reid had always struggled with, even when we started dating.

  The most he opened up to me was about his family situation, but we never talked much about what his dreams or ambitions or life’s goals were. He would always laugh them off or change the subject to something else when I brought it up.

  “That’s the same with football players,” he continued. “We all have dreams and ambitions just like you do. I told you I’m engineering right? If the whole football thing doesn’t work out, at least I have that to fall back on. I’ll have job offers start rolling in if I don’t—if I don’t make the NFL.”

  “And that’s what you really want, isn’t it?” I asked as we approached the double doors to the gym. I didn’t know why I was indulging in this conversation with him since I still hated him. But I knew he’d changed, at least a little bit now. The fact that he was opening up in the first place, even a little, showed he had changed. Maybe even for the better.

  “It really is,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “You know how much football meant to me, even though it didn’t help our relationship. But to me, it’s all I’ve ever known.” He pushed open the door to the locker room and we stepped inside.

  “Well here it is,” he said, grinning. “Take a look around if you want, but don’t look while I’m changing. I’m a little shy.”

  I rolled my eyes at him again and followed him to his locker, glancing around the place. It was mercifully empty other than us. There was the standard set of lockers on each wall, with the two biggest being Reid’s and what I assumed was Dom’s. I guess they really were the stars of the team.

  “I noticed Sydney Coplin is still in town,” I said keeping my voice casual. As much as I wanted to tell myself it didn’t bother me to see her again there cheering on Reid’s team, I could barely concentrate on watching their practice. I don’t think she noticed me next to Morgan and Tracy, which was lucky, because I probably would have marched right over there and smacked her in the face had she seen me.

  She’d been a pain in my ass ever since middle school and was one of the first people I’d met who really taught me the meaning of the word “bitch.” I knew the only reason she went after Reid in the first place was because she was jealous of me, and seeing them make out that day was all the more painful.

  “Yup,” he said, his back to me. “You know we aren’t seeing each other, right? She’s just a cheerleader here at Evendale. That’s it. I’ve spoken to her like three times ever since high school.”

  “No big deal,” I said, sitting on one of the benches. I couldn’t deny the feeling of relief seeping through me at his words. And that was before he started getting changed.

  “No peeking,” he said, turning around again to face me as he removed his clothes. God damn it, he knew I wasn’t going to listen to him. I could only sit there and gaze as he removed his shirt. I could feel myself getting wet as I gazed at his shirtless, incredible body, his muscles rippling in the dim light of the locker room.

  His pants were off next, revealing a pair of blue underwear with a massive bulge between his legs, looking even bigger than yesterday if that was possible. He grinned as I stared at him, transfixed.

  Sure, I’d seen him without clothes before, but he wasn’t half as big (in more ways than one) back in high school than he was now. He was easily the hottest guy I’d ever seen in person, and you run into those a lot in Los Angeles.

  “Hey, I said no peeking!” he exclaimed, flashing me that perfect smile as I turned around quickly, my face turning beet-red. Fuck, I don’t want him anymore. He’s not mine, he’s just a football player you met a few years ago when you were a kid. Nothing else. You have your whole life ahead of you girl. Get it together.

  It took all the effort in the world to keep from turning around as I heard him change, but somehow I managed.

  “Okay, all ready Miss Hollywood,” he said, grinning at the dumb nickname he’d given me. I couldn’t help but laugh—he was the only one who wasn’t a friend or relative that didn’t seem to care I was a Hollywood star. He still saw me as the same girl he’d grown up with and nothing would change that.

  I was almost sorry he pulled his clothes back on, following him out the door and trying to ignore the tingly feeling that had suddenly spread all over my body after he brushed past me. What the hell was wrong with me? I wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near him and now I’m walking with him to his fucking car. I’d already seen him shirtless and wanted nothing more than to jump him.

  But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t bring myself to like him again. His explanations made sense, but there was something in the back of my mind blocking him out, something that had been lingering ever since the day he’d ghosted me. Sure, he’d grown since then, but had he grown enough?

  “Well this is mine,” he said with that insatiable, ever-so-slight husky edge, eyes tilting over to me as we approached the familiar-looking blue Chevy he’d had back in high school. Memories of losing my virginity came flooding back as I gazed into the back seat, smiling in spite of myself.

  It was there we’d fucked for the first time after he said “yes” to go to homecoming with him. All it took was one “yes” and I was all over him, straddling him in his driveway when his parents weren’t home, his cock sinking deep into me.

  I could never forget that first bolt of pleasure as he’d fucked me like he was a pro, sliding in and out of me, even then showing hints of the man he’d become later.

  No. Ignore that memory, girl. Ignore your body crying out to you right now. When was the last time you’ve been laid anyway? Morgan was right, you need to have sex.

  “Why did you want to take me on this walk anyway?” I asked suddenly, waiting for him to get into his truck. He just looked at me curiously as though the answer was obvious.

  “I just wanted to talk to you,” he said simply. “And what were you doing all the way out here? Aren’t you supposed to be here for a wedding? Why did you decide to come all the way to Evendale University to watch our football practice?”

  “I-I told you, your friend invited us to come watch,” I stammered.

  He grinned and took a step closer to me, my back pressed against the hood of his truck. I looked around, noticing the emptiness of the parking lot. It was starting to get dark and it was completely deserted.

  “Whatever you say,” he said, his voice getting deeper, more mature. I felt another tingle between my legs as I looked up at him, drinking in the sight of his gorgeous face. I still couldn’t believe how much bigger and hotter he’d gotten since the last time I’d seen him. His jawline could chisel steel and his eyes seemed to pierce my soul, staring straight through me hypnotically.

  “Look, Eva, I really am sorry about everything. You never returned any of my calls or anything. I’ve missed you.”

  “Oh really?” I said, fighting his hypnotic spell. “Well, I’m doing great, thanks for asking,” I spat. “Now if you don’t mind I need to get going-”

  “I shouldn’t have left you. I should have called right after. You were everything to me, Eva. You still are.” His words brought back memories of us together, going to senior prom with him, kissing him under the big oak tree in his back yard. My lower lip trembled as he stared into my eyes.

  “Reid, I-”

  Without warning, his mouth covered mine. I whimpered as I responded to his touch, his warm, hard lips crushing against mine as he kissed me deeply. His tongue pushed into my mouth hungrily, tasting me.

  I couldn’t resist and he goddamn knew it. Fuck.

  My tongue battled his for control of our mouths as we kissed, hotter, more passionate than ever before. God, even his kissing had gotten better. I melted into his arms as his tongue flicked inside my mouth, tasting me as his hot lips slid over mine…

  “Get a room!” came a loud voice from across the parking lot. Immediately, I broke it off, blushing harder than I’d ever blushed in my life. I was completely wet now, my body aching for his touch o
nce more.

  “You should probably get going,” he said casually, as though nothing had happened, though his expression was much more intense. “Unless you want a ride?”

  I shook my head against my will. I couldn’t have him—he was just a college jock, nothing more. He was meant to fuck cheerleaders and sorority girls. I was meant to end up with an actor or producer or something. Football players had never been my style. It was oil and water—we were never going to work.

  “No, I need to get going. I’ll see you around, Reid,” I said shakily. He stared at me with that intense expression for one more moment before flashing me a grin and hopping into his truck, leaving me with a whirlwind of emotions to battle with. Would I see him again? Did I want to risk getting burned again?

  10

  Reid

  I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I knew I couldn’t have her, but I’d gotten so close…

  I got home later that night still breathless, unable to forget the taste of her sweet, plump lips, those thick, creamy legs in between mine, the sexy groan of pleasure she gave as I slid my tongue into her mouth…

  It took me a second to get myself together before I went into the old house I’d inherited from my dad a few years ago. I’d gotten his old farm after he died, which was about the only thing I was thankful to him for.

  There were no animals anymore, but it was still a nice place to live, even with all the unpleasant memories. Somehow in those final drunken years, he’d managed to pay the entire thing off and left a nice chunk of money in the safe. My bet was gambling money since I was the one with a job for the last few years of his life.

  It was enough to get me through college without having to take out loans, which was fortunate because I would have been dirt poor otherwise. I stepped into the old house and breathed a sigh of exhaustion.