My breath lodges in my throat as she pulls out the twenty-five-page paper I've been working on in my spare time. It's not like I have a ton of it, but it's funny how much time opens up when you stop playing video games and hanging out with the guys."I don't understand," she mumbles, thumbing through the pages before glancing up at me.Even though I shrug, wanting to play it casual, my heart jackhammers painfully in my chest. It's only now that I wonder if she'll be pissed off. What if she's mad that I wrote it up myself without asking for her input? We've been emailing back and forth, so I was able to take what she sent and synthesized it into a cohesive piece about vaccinations. I also spoke with my childhood pediatrician and got his professional opinion on the matter before emailing a spokesperson from an anti-vax group, the National Vaccine Information Center, along with The World Health Organization who is a proponent for vaccines. In the end, I feel like it's a pretty damn
Book Two: ShamelessI rap my knuckles against Derek Andrews' office door before poking my head inside the cramped space. "Hey, Coach. You got a minute?"A bright smile flashes across his sun-weathered face as he pauses the game film he's watching and waves me in. "You don't need to knock, Mason. You work here now. Walk in any damn time you want."The corners of my lips tug upward as I settle on the worn chair parked across from his desk. "That's gonna take a little time to get used to." As I glance around the office, my gaze slides over all the team photos that line the wall since he's been head coach for the Claremont Cougars.That's fifteen years.This is the man who recruited me when I was a junior in high school. I spent my freshman and sophomore years in college as his starting quarterback before my parents died in a boating accident. That day changed the course of my entire life. Instead of starting my junior year, I was forced to drop out and work full time as a mechanic
Book Two: ShamelessI tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear and yank open the door to the men's locker room before stepping inside the space. Since the guys are on the field running drills, there's no chance of me walking in on a situation.Been there, done that, and caught quite the eyeful.It's only happened a couple of times, but the guys all grinned before hooting and hollering, calling my name with a wave. They don't seem to care in the least that they've been caught bare assed. A few of them actually seemed to enjoy strutting around and putting on a show.Me, on the other hand?My face turned about fifteen shades of red until it felt like I was in danger of self-combusting.Talk about embarrassing.The pungent stench of sweat and humidity hangs thick in the air as I walk past a long row of lockers and metal benches. When my phone buzzes, I fish it out of my messenger bag and glance at the screen.A text from my roommate pops up. There's a bonfire at the beach tonight and s
Book Two: ShamelessI yank open the door to the lecture hall and grind to a halt as my gaze coasts over the roomful of students laughing and chatting with one another. That's all it takes for uncertainty to crash over me again.What the hell am I doing here?I don't fit in.Or belong.I'm too damn old to be an undergrad.I shift my backpack. The heavy weight resting against my shoulder feels more like a blast from the past than my current reality."Hey, you gonna move or what?" an impatient voice says from behind.I blink and realize that I'm standing in the middle of the aisle near the door, holding up traffic. One glance over my shoulder shows a handful of annoyed people waiting to file into the spacious hall.A dull heat creeps into my cheeks as I step aside."Sorry," I mutter, feeling even more like a dumbass.It's so tempting to swing around and plow my way toward the exit. To forget about this idiotic idea of finishing up my degree and finally graduating.What do I really nee
Book Two: ShamelessProfessor Lindstrom flips the page of the syllabus, going over every bullet point in pain-staking detail. I wish I could say I'm paying attention, hanging on every word, but that would be a lie.I'm much too distracted by Mason Price, who's sprawled out a couple rows behind me. Every once in a while, I'll pretend to grab something from my messenger bag that sits on the thinly carpeted floor next to my desk. The excuse allows me to swivel just enough to glance in his direction and stare at the dark-haired guy who has been a constant presence in my thoughts since we ran into each other the other day.God, he's good looking.And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Most of the girls in his vicinity are turned in his direction, trying to catch his interest. It's a relief when he continues to stare straight ahead as if absorbed in the material.Levi nudges my shoulder. "This is so freaking boring."Knocked from my thoughts, I straighten on the seat and nod. "Yeah, it
Book Two: ShamelessI drag a hand through my hair before pressing the doorbell. When a couple seconds tick by, I shift and glance at the bottle in my other hand. The guy at the gas station wasn't any help when it came to picking out the wine. We both stood in the cramped aisle, staring at the limited selection before I finally decided that one at the midlevel price point was probably my best bet.I don't know shit about wine.What I know is beer.Here's my advice when it comes to beverages with hops and barley-the colder, the better.It's as simple as that.The forced smile falters when the front door opens and I find Poppy standing on the other side of the threshold.Well, shit.It never occurred to me that she might be here for dinner. Is it too late to bail on this evening?I'm thinking it is.Plus, when your boss gives you a time to stop by for supper on a Friday night, you show up.No ifs, ands, or buts."Hi," she says, hugging the edge of the door.The hesitant smile simmerin
Book Two: Shameless If there were any lingering doubts in my mind that Mason Price doesn't like me, they've been laid to rest this evening.He barely glanced at me the entire time he was here.I made several attempts to draw him out of his shell by asking questions or making comments. His gaze would reluctantly flicker in my direction before he'd give me a clipped response. It was like I was talking to a Neanderthal who couldn't do anything more than grunt out his answers. After a while, I gave up. There's only so much teeth pulling I'm willing to do.I have no idea what his problem is. My mind tumbles back to the other day. He must have taken offense when I offered my assistance. I was just trying to be friendly. All right…so maybe I was trying to come up with a way to spend time with him in order to figure out what it is I find so fascinating about the guy.I hate to admit it, but the more he holds me at a distance, the more tempting it is to break through the roadblocks h
Book Two: ShamelessWhen she remains frozen in place, staring at me like I'm an ax murderer come to chop her up into tiny pieces, my temper explodes. "What the hell are you doing out here alone on the side of the road?"She blinks as I eat up the asphalt between us with a handful of quick strides. I see the exact moment recognition dawns."Mason?" she whispers, relief flooding her voice as air rushes from her lungs."Yeah. You didn't answer the question. What are you doing out here at this time of night?"She swallows, the delicate muscles of her throat constricting, before glancing at the Volkswagen. "I don't know what happened. It just died."I shift my stance and look at the car. "Did any warning lights come on? Were there any noises right before it happened?""Um…" Her brow furrows as her teeth rake across her plump lower lip. "I don't think so."I narrow my eyes. "Weren't you paying attention?"Her gaze turns frosty as she straightens like I just rammed a two-by-four up her