EXTRAS
These stories contains mature themes, explicit language, and sexual content intended for adult readers only. Reader discretion is advised.
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES scene - Cole's POV
Chapter 6: Readers may want to re-read this chapter (in Beautiful Broken Rules) before reading the alternate scene in Cole’s POV
I was pumped today. I had an insane amount of energy coursing through my veins. We finally get back out on the field this evening. I was playing ball with my best friend again, and even though I wished Jace was throwing the passes like old times, it was great to have Jaxon at least. I woke up before the sun and eventually had to run off the excess energy, or I would have exploded before the game even started.
Football was my happy place. Well, that and Quinn, but every time I felt like I was close to pouring out my sorry-ass feelings to her, something got in the way. Right now, my roadblock’s name was Bryce. I had tried to think of everything in the book to sneak into their tutoring sessions, but she was starting to catch on, so I might have to cool it. I just couldn’t stand the idea of those two together alone. The fact that she dressed up for that douche bag made my blood boil. If he couldn’t see that she was gorgeous when she was only wearing cotton shorts and an old t-shirt, he was fucking blind.
“Hey dude, I’ll leave the girls’ tickets today. You don’t have to worry about it,” Jaxon said, as he peeked his head in my door.
“Quinn’s mine, don’t touch her ticket.” I packed my gym bag with everything I needed. He raised his eyebrows at me in surprise, and just because those two jerks loved to torture me, Jace came up and stood next to his brother in the doorway with a shit-eating grin on his face. I continued packing, not wanting to acknowledge what I had just let fall from my mouth. In my head, Quinn was mine, but I tried to keep those possessive thoughts to myself.
Jax finally held up his hands in surrender and said, “Alright man, I just wanted you to know I’ve got Emerson covered.” Thankfully, he walked away, but his annoying look-alike came in further and sat at my desk.
“So does this mean I can’t ask Quinn out?” Jace inquired while leaning back in my chair. Before I could stop myself, I stalked toward him with a murderous glare.
“Chill! Chill! I’m fucking with you!” he laughed out loud. “I think the fifty warnings we got before we even reached the California border were good enough.”
“Just don’t joke about Quinn,” I cautioned.
“When are you going to make that a real thing, and not some made-up relationship in your head?” he questioned.
I sat down on the edge of my bed and dropped my head into my hands. “Shit, I don’t know. If she doesn’t feel the same, I’ll ruin everything. I’m crazy about her, and Emerson is like my sister. I can’t fuck this up.”
“Take it from me. Just tell her. You’ll regret it if you don’t, and that sucks a whole lot more.” I eyed him suspiciously, trying to figure out who he was actually talking about here, but he got up and left before I could ask.
~~~~~~~~~~
That definitely wasn’t how I had pictured the first game of the season going. In one way, though, it was a hell of a time having my boy back out there. Jax and I moved in sync—when I dropped low, he rose; when I shifted left, he cut right. It was like second nature after all the years we’ve played together—no words needed.
Today I undoubtedly went down. And out. One second, I was catching Fisher’s pass and tucking it in, and then before I knew it, I was waking up to Jax’s panicked shouts in my face while lying flat on my ass. I would have called him a coward, but the pure terror in his face made me realize what he must have been thinking.
All I wanted to do now was change out of my sweat-drenched jersey and watch movies on the couch with Quinn. Maybe she would fall asleep, and I could hold her all night again. I was still surprised she hadn’t figured out why I continually asked for one more movie, but I wasn’t complaining because every time she stayed, I was in heaven.
As I was walking back to the locker room, I slowed down to let Jax and Jace catch up. Suddenly, my favorite person in the world barreled toward me with a terrified look on her face. My heart plummeted when I realized that I was the reason for that look.
“Babe?” I asked, worried.
She reached up on her tiptoes, placed her hands on either side of my face, and I almost nuzzled into the contact.
“I was so scared! Are you okay?” she questioned in a small voice.
All I can do was nod my head up and down because the look in her eyes had me mesmerized. There was something different there, and my body was reacting to it, begging for it to be true. I had known Quinn for a little over two years and not a day had gone by that I hadn’t fantasized about kissing her. I played it out in my head over and over in every imaginable way possible. But, never in any of those dreams had it been her taking the initiative. When I felt her soft lips smash into mine, I was on fire. I was Mount St. Helens, and she was the 5.1 earthquake that triggered my eruption. If she kept it up, I might burn to ash right at her fucking feet.
I handed my helmet back, almost dropping the thing before someone grabbed it. When I latched onto her hips, she moaned into my mouth, and I immediately started walking her backward. There was a bench over here somewhere. I thought. Hell, if we didn’t reach a bench, we would eventually make it to my car, where I could have her alone.
She was eventually forced to sit down when the bench hit the back of her knees, breaking our kiss long before I was ready. I instantly knelt in the mud, not caring about my bright white game pants. Now that she had broken the seal, I couldn’t have my lips too far from hers.
“Quinn, we’re kissing?” I had to know if this was for real. She nodded her head. “Are you only doing it because you were afraid I was hurt?” She shook her head back and forth but still didn’t say a word. “Babe, I need to hear your voice,” I pleaded.
“I kissed you because I needed to...” her little voice trailed off.
“Quinn, please tell me what you’re thinking because I’ve been crazy about you since the day I met you. We became friends so fast that I’ve never wanted to ruin that. Even saying these words right now fucking terrifies me, babe...”
She cupped my face again. “Cole, I think about you every day, all day. I hate when you bring girls back to your place, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been when I get to be around you.” She blew out a cleansing breath, and I leaned in closer because I needed her strength to say what I was about to say.
“Quinn, I’m not just crazy about you... I love it when you fall asleep with your head in my lap. I love when you make me grilled cheese sandwiches cut into strange shapes,” I said, and she giggled, giving me the courage to continue. “I love it when you ask me to help you study. I love it when you practice your plays in front of me. I love that when you fell and fractured your ankle during your dance rehearsal last year, you immediately searched me out for help. I love that out of everyone there you looked for me. I’m not just crazy about you, Quinn. I love you.”
For ten agonizing breaths, she was silent. With her watery, green eyes, she looked up and said, “I love you so much, Cole West.”
Without being able to hold it in my mouth, I shouted, “Really?!”
While she was still trying to nod her head with an exuberant smile, I reached out and pulled her into my body, melding our lips together. Forget trying to trick her into falling asleep with me on the couch. This was heaven. She was finally mine, and I got to do this whenever I damn well pleased. I would never get enough. She was grabbing at me, and I was clutching onto her for dear life. It was time to go home. Now.
I was pumped today. I had an insane amount of energy coursing through my veins. We finally get back out on the field this evening. I was playing ball with my best friend again, and even though I wished Jace was throwing the passes like old times, it was great to have Jaxon at least. I woke up before the sun and eventually had to run off the excess energy, or I would have exploded before the game even started.
Football was my happy place. Well, that and Quinn, but every time I felt like I was close to pouring out my sorry-ass feelings to her, something got in the way. Right now, my roadblock’s name was Bryce. I had tried to think of everything in the book to sneak into their tutoring sessions, but she was starting to catch on, so I might have to cool it. I just couldn’t stand the idea of those two together alone. The fact that she dressed up for that douche bag made my blood boil. If he couldn’t see that she was gorgeous when she was only wearing cotton shorts and an old t-shirt, he was fucking blind.
“Hey dude, I’ll leave the girls’ tickets today. You don’t have to worry about it,” Jaxon said, as he peeked his head in my door.
“Quinn’s mine, don’t touch her ticket.” I packed my gym bag with everything I needed. He raised his eyebrows at me in surprise, and just because those two jerks loved to torture me, Jace came up and stood next to his brother in the doorway with a shit-eating grin on his face. I continued packing, not wanting to acknowledge what I had just let fall from my mouth. In my head, Quinn was mine, but I tried to keep those possessive thoughts to myself.
Jax finally held up his hands in surrender and said, “Alright man, I just wanted you to know I’ve got Emerson covered.” Thankfully, he walked away, but his annoying look-alike came in further and sat at my desk.
“So does this mean I can’t ask Quinn out?” Jace inquired while leaning back in my chair. Before I could stop myself, I stalked toward him with a murderous glare.
“Chill! Chill! I’m fucking with you!” he laughed out loud. “I think the fifty warnings we got before we even reached the California border were good enough.”
“Just don’t joke about Quinn,” I cautioned.
“When are you going to make that a real thing, and not some made-up relationship in your head?” he questioned.
I sat down on the edge of my bed and dropped my head into my hands. “Shit, I don’t know. If she doesn’t feel the same, I’ll ruin everything. I’m crazy about her, and Emerson is like my sister. I can’t fuck this up.”
“Take it from me. Just tell her. You’ll regret it if you don’t, and that sucks a whole lot more.” I eyed him suspiciously, trying to figure out who he was actually talking about here, but he got up and left before I could ask.
~~~~~~~~~~
That definitely wasn’t how I had pictured the first game of the season going. In one way, though, it was a hell of a time having my boy back out there. Jax and I moved in sync—when I dropped low, he rose; when I shifted left, he cut right. It was like second nature after all the years we’ve played together—no words needed.
Today I undoubtedly went down. And out. One second, I was catching Fisher’s pass and tucking it in, and then before I knew it, I was waking up to Jax’s panicked shouts in my face while lying flat on my ass. I would have called him a coward, but the pure terror in his face made me realize what he must have been thinking.
All I wanted to do now was change out of my sweat-drenched jersey and watch movies on the couch with Quinn. Maybe she would fall asleep, and I could hold her all night again. I was still surprised she hadn’t figured out why I continually asked for one more movie, but I wasn’t complaining because every time she stayed, I was in heaven.
As I was walking back to the locker room, I slowed down to let Jax and Jace catch up. Suddenly, my favorite person in the world barreled toward me with a terrified look on her face. My heart plummeted when I realized that I was the reason for that look.
“Babe?” I asked, worried.
She reached up on her tiptoes, placed her hands on either side of my face, and I almost nuzzled into the contact.
“I was so scared! Are you okay?” she questioned in a small voice.
All I can do was nod my head up and down because the look in her eyes had me mesmerized. There was something different there, and my body was reacting to it, begging for it to be true. I had known Quinn for a little over two years and not a day had gone by that I hadn’t fantasized about kissing her. I played it out in my head over and over in every imaginable way possible. But, never in any of those dreams had it been her taking the initiative. When I felt her soft lips smash into mine, I was on fire. I was Mount St. Helens, and she was the 5.1 earthquake that triggered my eruption. If she kept it up, I might burn to ash right at her fucking feet.
I handed my helmet back, almost dropping the thing before someone grabbed it. When I latched onto her hips, she moaned into my mouth, and I immediately started walking her backward. There was a bench over here somewhere. I thought. Hell, if we didn’t reach a bench, we would eventually make it to my car, where I could have her alone.
She was eventually forced to sit down when the bench hit the back of her knees, breaking our kiss long before I was ready. I instantly knelt in the mud, not caring about my bright white game pants. Now that she had broken the seal, I couldn’t have my lips too far from hers.
“Quinn, we’re kissing?” I had to know if this was for real. She nodded her head. “Are you only doing it because you were afraid I was hurt?” She shook her head back and forth but still didn’t say a word. “Babe, I need to hear your voice,” I pleaded.
“I kissed you because I needed to...” her little voice trailed off.
“Quinn, please tell me what you’re thinking because I’ve been crazy about you since the day I met you. We became friends so fast that I’ve never wanted to ruin that. Even saying these words right now fucking terrifies me, babe...”
She cupped my face again. “Cole, I think about you every day, all day. I hate when you bring girls back to your place, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been when I get to be around you.” She blew out a cleansing breath, and I leaned in closer because I needed her strength to say what I was about to say.
“Quinn, I’m not just crazy about you... I love it when you fall asleep with your head in my lap. I love when you make me grilled cheese sandwiches cut into strange shapes,” I said, and she giggled, giving me the courage to continue. “I love it when you ask me to help you study. I love it when you practice your plays in front of me. I love that when you fell and fractured your ankle during your dance rehearsal last year, you immediately searched me out for help. I love that out of everyone there you looked for me. I’m not just crazy about you, Quinn. I love you.”
For ten agonizing breaths, she was silent. With her watery, green eyes, she looked up and said, “I love you so much, Cole West.”
Without being able to hold it in my mouth, I shouted, “Really?!”
While she was still trying to nod her head with an exuberant smile, I reached out and pulled her into my body, melding our lips together. Forget trying to trick her into falling asleep with me on the couch. This was heaven. She was finally mine, and I got to do this whenever I damn well pleased. I would never get enough. She was grabbing at me, and I was clutching onto her for dear life. It was time to go home. Now.
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES scene - Cole's POV
I was stuck in that damn dream again—the one that made me wish I’d never open my eyes. The one where Quinn was finally mine to touch, to keep. If I had died right then and there, I wouldn’t have had a single regret.
I knew I was in my bed, but Quinn was there too. I kept my eyes squeezed shut because I loved what she always did next. Her body was fire above mine, and I groaned out loud when I felt her hands running up my chest.
“Good, you’re finally awake,” her soft voice said, thick with sleep.
Fuck, she had never said that before…
Then I felt her bare chest press against mine and my eyes snapped open—because this was too real to be a dream. She peeked her head out from under the sheets, and just like that, I saw my angel. She was straddling me, her eyes dark with intention, and for a moment, everything else disappeared… until I jerked my head up, suddenly remembering Emerson had crawled into bed with us after one too many drinks.
“Jax came and got her last night, remember?” Quinn said softly.
Slowly, she moved up my body, and damn, that sweet, sweet friction. She crawled up so we were eye-level and whispered in my ear, “I love you.”
I wrapped my arms around her petite body and groaned. “Are you real?” I whispered. “Because I’ve loved you for so long.”
“I’m real and I’m ready for you, Cole,” she said into my chest as she made her way back down.
“Babe, we don’t have to rush anything. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
All I wanted in that moment was to finally sink deep inside her, but I didn’t want her to feel like we had to jump right into things. Yesterday, after the game, I’d raced her home and we explored each other under my covers. It had been agonizing and mind-blowing all at the same time—but we still hadn’t had sex.
“Seriously, Cole? I think we’re past the getting-to-know-you phase.” She lifted the sheet with one arm and eyed me from down below.
Thank God, because I was already in pain with anticipation. When I saw her look further down my body, I knew exactly what she was aiming for. In the next breath, I was suddenly surrounded by hot, wet heat. I sure as hell hadn’t been expecting that.
“Quinn! Quinn, Quinn. Baby, you can’t fucking do that.” I scrambled to pull her up, even though my body was screaming at me for removing her. “Shit…” I took a deep breath. “Babe, you almost set me off just then.”
“I think that’s the point,” she said, licking her lips. Damn, damn, damn.
“Yeah, well I don’t think you understand how long I’ve fantasized about this—and never mind the fact that guys are wired for mornings.”
I pulled her up and flipped her underneath me. My turn. As I started kissing my way down her lean body, she moaned shamelessly.
“Not fair, Cole,” she pouted.
The little vixen slipped out from under me and slid over to the edge of the bed. She opened the drawer of my nightstand, and I cringed. I hated that she knew those were there. She’d had to watch me bring home other girls, and I wished I could take it all back. But her beautiful, seductive smile made every single regret fade, and I didn’t think I could love her more than I did in that moment.
“I don’t need foreplay, Cole. I need you. Now,” she demanded.
That was exactly what I needed to hear. I snatched the foil packet from her hands, tore it open, and hastily put it on. She giggled as I pulled her back down under me, but the laughter stopped cold when I positioned myself between her thighs.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I whispered against her lips. As I began to push inside her warmth, I felt her body tremble—and I froze instantly.
“Quinn?” I tried to find her eyes, but she buried her face in my shoulder. I began to retreat, cursing myself for not waiting longer to take this step. Her nails dug into my back, halting me and dragging a groan from my chest.
“Quinn, what’s wrong, babe? I need to hear your voice or I’m stopping,” I said, my voice strained.
“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” she breathed.
At her words, I sank fully inside her—and she felt like fire. Excruciating, beautiful fire.
“I never want to leave here.”
Once she’d adjusted to me, she started moaning and whimpering. With her legs in the air, I pushed forward and moved in and out of her. When I picked up the pace, we moaned together. Holy shit, her sweet voice was going to be my downfall.
I pushed one leg higher than the other, hitting her soft spot on the next thrust, and she screamed—loud. I doubted my roommates were still asleep.
“Cole…” she said breathlessly.
I wanted this to last all damn day. I wanted to pull out, tease her for hours, and bury myself back in her. But my plans changed the moment she dragged her nails down my back and begged for it harder.
Without warning, pleasure shot up my spine, and I felt her clench around me. We came together.
She started kissing me—my lips, my cheeks, my nose, my eyelids. She couldn’t get enough, and I let her do it. I pulled off the condom and reached over without breaking contact with her skin. I opened the drawer and grabbed a handful of square packets.
When I ripped one open, she looked down at me. “Again? Already?” Her face lit up, and I loved how impressed she looked.
“Babe, I have two years to make up for,” I said, dipping my head to kiss her. “So don’t plan on leaving this bed for a long time.”
I knew I was in my bed, but Quinn was there too. I kept my eyes squeezed shut because I loved what she always did next. Her body was fire above mine, and I groaned out loud when I felt her hands running up my chest.
“Good, you’re finally awake,” her soft voice said, thick with sleep.
Fuck, she had never said that before…
Then I felt her bare chest press against mine and my eyes snapped open—because this was too real to be a dream. She peeked her head out from under the sheets, and just like that, I saw my angel. She was straddling me, her eyes dark with intention, and for a moment, everything else disappeared… until I jerked my head up, suddenly remembering Emerson had crawled into bed with us after one too many drinks.
“Jax came and got her last night, remember?” Quinn said softly.
Slowly, she moved up my body, and damn, that sweet, sweet friction. She crawled up so we were eye-level and whispered in my ear, “I love you.”
I wrapped my arms around her petite body and groaned. “Are you real?” I whispered. “Because I’ve loved you for so long.”
“I’m real and I’m ready for you, Cole,” she said into my chest as she made her way back down.
“Babe, we don’t have to rush anything. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
All I wanted in that moment was to finally sink deep inside her, but I didn’t want her to feel like we had to jump right into things. Yesterday, after the game, I’d raced her home and we explored each other under my covers. It had been agonizing and mind-blowing all at the same time—but we still hadn’t had sex.
“Seriously, Cole? I think we’re past the getting-to-know-you phase.” She lifted the sheet with one arm and eyed me from down below.
Thank God, because I was already in pain with anticipation. When I saw her look further down my body, I knew exactly what she was aiming for. In the next breath, I was suddenly surrounded by hot, wet heat. I sure as hell hadn’t been expecting that.
“Quinn! Quinn, Quinn. Baby, you can’t fucking do that.” I scrambled to pull her up, even though my body was screaming at me for removing her. “Shit…” I took a deep breath. “Babe, you almost set me off just then.”
“I think that’s the point,” she said, licking her lips. Damn, damn, damn.
“Yeah, well I don’t think you understand how long I’ve fantasized about this—and never mind the fact that guys are wired for mornings.”
I pulled her up and flipped her underneath me. My turn. As I started kissing my way down her lean body, she moaned shamelessly.
“Not fair, Cole,” she pouted.
The little vixen slipped out from under me and slid over to the edge of the bed. She opened the drawer of my nightstand, and I cringed. I hated that she knew those were there. She’d had to watch me bring home other girls, and I wished I could take it all back. But her beautiful, seductive smile made every single regret fade, and I didn’t think I could love her more than I did in that moment.
“I don’t need foreplay, Cole. I need you. Now,” she demanded.
That was exactly what I needed to hear. I snatched the foil packet from her hands, tore it open, and hastily put it on. She giggled as I pulled her back down under me, but the laughter stopped cold when I positioned myself between her thighs.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I whispered against her lips. As I began to push inside her warmth, I felt her body tremble—and I froze instantly.
“Quinn?” I tried to find her eyes, but she buried her face in my shoulder. I began to retreat, cursing myself for not waiting longer to take this step. Her nails dug into my back, halting me and dragging a groan from my chest.
“Quinn, what’s wrong, babe? I need to hear your voice or I’m stopping,” I said, my voice strained.
“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” she breathed.
At her words, I sank fully inside her—and she felt like fire. Excruciating, beautiful fire.
“I never want to leave here.”
Once she’d adjusted to me, she started moaning and whimpering. With her legs in the air, I pushed forward and moved in and out of her. When I picked up the pace, we moaned together. Holy shit, her sweet voice was going to be my downfall.
I pushed one leg higher than the other, hitting her soft spot on the next thrust, and she screamed—loud. I doubted my roommates were still asleep.
“Cole…” she said breathlessly.
I wanted this to last all damn day. I wanted to pull out, tease her for hours, and bury myself back in her. But my plans changed the moment she dragged her nails down my back and begged for it harder.
Without warning, pleasure shot up my spine, and I felt her clench around me. We came together.
She started kissing me—my lips, my cheeks, my nose, my eyelids. She couldn’t get enough, and I let her do it. I pulled off the condom and reached over without breaking contact with her skin. I opened the drawer and grabbed a handful of square packets.
When I ripped one open, she looked down at me. “Again? Already?” Her face lit up, and I loved how impressed she looked.
“Babe, I have two years to make up for,” I said, dipping my head to kiss her. “So don’t plan on leaving this bed for a long time.”
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES scene - Jaxon's POV
Chapter Seventeen -
Championship Game Scene - Jax POV <3
When Jace and I were sixteen, college recruiters began coming around to watch our games. Since our school had started winning the state championship every year, they wanted to know the players responsible. I remember laying out on the lawn one night after catching all of my dad’s passes and talking to him about the future.
“One day, you’ll be suiting up in your University jersey and stepping out onto the field to play a championship game in front of thousands,” he said while tossing the ball in the air and watching it spiral back down.
“Those are some pretty big dreams, old man,” I remember laughing.
“Don’t doubt your abilities, Jaxon. You and Jace are a force to be reckoned with together on the field, but I know you’ll do a damn fine job without him.” He sat up to look at me. “Just promise me that when that day comes, no matter what’s going on in life, you’ll leave it off the field. Chances like that won’t come around often. Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.”
Now here I am, suited up in our brand-new, special edition NCAA Championship jerseys and I’m trying my damnedest to remember every word my dad said to me that day. I need to recall the tone of his voice and the way he emphasized the words ‘no matter what.’ If he were here today he could repeat all of this to me, but he’s not. Even though Jace is not my biggest fan right now, he still tried to give me a pep talk me this morning. But for some reason, nothing is sticking. She is the only thing I can think about.
When my cleats connect with the freshly manicured grass on the field, I try to push her out of my head. I love you like crazy Emerson, but damn it, you don’t belong here right now. I’ve worked too hard for this moment and I can’t even enjoy it. I’m so fucking pissed... at myself for not being stronger, at Emerson for running away, and at the fact that I won’t be getting a good luck kiss. Damn, Jace would tear me a new one if he heard how whipped I am.
When I step up to the metal barrier in front of my brother and Quinn, they both give me pitying looks. If they could stop doing that as soon as fucking possible, that would be great. I don’t need any more pity. I got enough of that from mom today when she called to apologize for not being here, and then continued to talk about Emerson.
“You ready for this?” Jace asks.
I ignore his question and ask Quinn, “How is she?” Why the hell am I asking this?
“I know I shouldn’t be but I’m pissed at you, Jax. Don’t ask me about her right now,” Quinn snaps back, but I can see the apology in her face too. She’s protective over Emerson and I'm glad; she needs that.
“I just need to know.” Do I need to know that she’s doing as piss-poor as I am?
“Dude, she cried all night. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Cole says, from behind me and then walks away, obviously not wanting to hear my answer. He has some kind of brotherly-protective instinct over Emerson that’s really starting to piss me off.
And call me an asshole, but that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Because if someone tells me that she went out, partied her hot little ass off and ended up in some dude’s bed last night, I won’t make it through this day without ending up in jail. I saw the looks she got every time we walked into a room. I saw the lust in their eyes and the jealousy, knowing that they couldn’t touch her anymore.
Like a magnetic pull, I look over, just in time to see Emerson step up into the stands. Fuck me.She looks completely amazing and utterly terrible at the same time. I’m gutted and I can’t pull my eyes away from her. She’s wearing the cowboy boots I bought for her in Texas and that dress... I’ve been salivating thinking about her wearing it since my mom pulled it off the rack. Just like I remembered in the dressing room, her tits look fucking phenomenal in it. I’m not the only schmuck who thinks so either. In my peripheral, I can already count five idiots who are about to get their lights knocked out if they don’t avert their gazes.
I could hop over this barrier right now and end our pain. I could tell her how big of an asshole I was yesterday and how I should have never let it get that bad. I could tell her how, every second since then, I wish I hadn’t let Cole carry her away or how her CD ripped my heart from my chest last night and I cried like a baby listening to it.
But none of that would be fair to either of us. She’s already started her grieving process and the fact remains that we aren’t good for one another. Contrary to what I thought, I was never making her stronger. I don't want to be the one to tear her down and have her panic again like she did the other day. I also can’t handle being constantly pushed away. I thought that once we were officially together, it would be all sunshine and rainbows. Obviously, I was fucking delusional.
Before any of my friends yell at me for publicly drooling over Emerson, I make my way back to the team to get ready for kick-off. When I’m out on the field, I allow myself one more glance. Jace has her wrapped in his arms and her sexy little boots are dangling off the ground. My fists clench and I silently curse her for creating these murderous intentions toward my own brother. As I watch him whisper something in her ear, she peers over his shoulder to look at me, and I can see the agony in her eyes.
I did that. I put that there. Every cell in my body is telling me to screw this game and fix this, but I know she’ll get over it. Once the shock of it all wears off, she’ll realize that we’re better off apart.
“Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.” I hear my dad’s words repeat in my head.
That’s exactly what I attempt to do. For the entire sixty minutes of game-time, I manage to think about football and only football. She was only able to sneak in during halftime and timeouts. Just as Cole crosses the end zone for the winning touchdown and I hear the final whistle, I give a fist pump and smile toward him. When he gives me an exuberant one back, I know he’s not as mad at me as he's trying to make me think and that we’ll be okay. I let him run off toward Quinn and the gang, and I turn toward the locker room to go change.
My dad always taught us to be humble. "Celebrate your victories son, but don’t make yourself look like a jackass." He would have wanted me to stop and appreciate this moment, but right now I just want to go home.
As I’m lost in thoughts of how much better this would be if my dad could have actually been here, I misstep when Tatum jumps in my arms. My helmet falls from my hands as I fumble to keep her from crashing to the ground. What the hell is she doing?
She runs her fingers through my sweat-soaked hair and says, “Congratulations! You were so great out there.”
When I realize I’m still holding her and she has her legs wrapped around my waist, I immediately set her down, not caring about the pouty look she’s giving. I quickly look back to see if I’m out of sight from Emerson, and am thankful that I am. “Uh… thanks Tatum.” I continue toward the locker room but she follows.
“Let’s go out tonight. You need to celebrate.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I’ll let you come home with me,” she purrs nauseatingly, while grabbing my bicep.
“I’ll pass.”
“Jax, get over her. Em is nothing special.”
“Man, that’s a great way to get me in bed, Tatum. Insult the one girl I would walk through fire for. It’ll always be her, you’re not even--”
“Whoa… hey there, buddy!” Cole interrupts me by jumping in between us and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Great game. Let’s go get dressed!” When we get out of earshot of a sad-looking Tatum, he continues, “You were just about to make a royal ass out of yourself.”
“She was being a bitch.”
“No, she was being normal. You’re just a heartbroken asshole. Let's just keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut till you're over Em and won't run the risk of pushing away every eligible girl on campus," he says, grabbing my mouth and pinching it hard.
"Dick." I punch him in the arm as we walk toward the locker room, knowing deep down inside that there's a good chance I won't ever completely get over Emerson.
Championship Game Scene - Jax POV <3
When Jace and I were sixteen, college recruiters began coming around to watch our games. Since our school had started winning the state championship every year, they wanted to know the players responsible. I remember laying out on the lawn one night after catching all of my dad’s passes and talking to him about the future.
“One day, you’ll be suiting up in your University jersey and stepping out onto the field to play a championship game in front of thousands,” he said while tossing the ball in the air and watching it spiral back down.
“Those are some pretty big dreams, old man,” I remember laughing.
“Don’t doubt your abilities, Jaxon. You and Jace are a force to be reckoned with together on the field, but I know you’ll do a damn fine job without him.” He sat up to look at me. “Just promise me that when that day comes, no matter what’s going on in life, you’ll leave it off the field. Chances like that won’t come around often. Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.”
Now here I am, suited up in our brand-new, special edition NCAA Championship jerseys and I’m trying my damnedest to remember every word my dad said to me that day. I need to recall the tone of his voice and the way he emphasized the words ‘no matter what.’ If he were here today he could repeat all of this to me, but he’s not. Even though Jace is not my biggest fan right now, he still tried to give me a pep talk me this morning. But for some reason, nothing is sticking. She is the only thing I can think about.
When my cleats connect with the freshly manicured grass on the field, I try to push her out of my head. I love you like crazy Emerson, but damn it, you don’t belong here right now. I’ve worked too hard for this moment and I can’t even enjoy it. I’m so fucking pissed... at myself for not being stronger, at Emerson for running away, and at the fact that I won’t be getting a good luck kiss. Damn, Jace would tear me a new one if he heard how whipped I am.
When I step up to the metal barrier in front of my brother and Quinn, they both give me pitying looks. If they could stop doing that as soon as fucking possible, that would be great. I don’t need any more pity. I got enough of that from mom today when she called to apologize for not being here, and then continued to talk about Emerson.
“You ready for this?” Jace asks.
I ignore his question and ask Quinn, “How is she?” Why the hell am I asking this?
“I know I shouldn’t be but I’m pissed at you, Jax. Don’t ask me about her right now,” Quinn snaps back, but I can see the apology in her face too. She’s protective over Emerson and I'm glad; she needs that.
“I just need to know.” Do I need to know that she’s doing as piss-poor as I am?
“Dude, she cried all night. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Cole says, from behind me and then walks away, obviously not wanting to hear my answer. He has some kind of brotherly-protective instinct over Emerson that’s really starting to piss me off.
And call me an asshole, but that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Because if someone tells me that she went out, partied her hot little ass off and ended up in some dude’s bed last night, I won’t make it through this day without ending up in jail. I saw the looks she got every time we walked into a room. I saw the lust in their eyes and the jealousy, knowing that they couldn’t touch her anymore.
Like a magnetic pull, I look over, just in time to see Emerson step up into the stands. Fuck me.She looks completely amazing and utterly terrible at the same time. I’m gutted and I can’t pull my eyes away from her. She’s wearing the cowboy boots I bought for her in Texas and that dress... I’ve been salivating thinking about her wearing it since my mom pulled it off the rack. Just like I remembered in the dressing room, her tits look fucking phenomenal in it. I’m not the only schmuck who thinks so either. In my peripheral, I can already count five idiots who are about to get their lights knocked out if they don’t avert their gazes.
I could hop over this barrier right now and end our pain. I could tell her how big of an asshole I was yesterday and how I should have never let it get that bad. I could tell her how, every second since then, I wish I hadn’t let Cole carry her away or how her CD ripped my heart from my chest last night and I cried like a baby listening to it.
But none of that would be fair to either of us. She’s already started her grieving process and the fact remains that we aren’t good for one another. Contrary to what I thought, I was never making her stronger. I don't want to be the one to tear her down and have her panic again like she did the other day. I also can’t handle being constantly pushed away. I thought that once we were officially together, it would be all sunshine and rainbows. Obviously, I was fucking delusional.
Before any of my friends yell at me for publicly drooling over Emerson, I make my way back to the team to get ready for kick-off. When I’m out on the field, I allow myself one more glance. Jace has her wrapped in his arms and her sexy little boots are dangling off the ground. My fists clench and I silently curse her for creating these murderous intentions toward my own brother. As I watch him whisper something in her ear, she peers over his shoulder to look at me, and I can see the agony in her eyes.
I did that. I put that there. Every cell in my body is telling me to screw this game and fix this, but I know she’ll get over it. Once the shock of it all wears off, she’ll realize that we’re better off apart.
“Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.” I hear my dad’s words repeat in my head.
That’s exactly what I attempt to do. For the entire sixty minutes of game-time, I manage to think about football and only football. She was only able to sneak in during halftime and timeouts. Just as Cole crosses the end zone for the winning touchdown and I hear the final whistle, I give a fist pump and smile toward him. When he gives me an exuberant one back, I know he’s not as mad at me as he's trying to make me think and that we’ll be okay. I let him run off toward Quinn and the gang, and I turn toward the locker room to go change.
My dad always taught us to be humble. "Celebrate your victories son, but don’t make yourself look like a jackass." He would have wanted me to stop and appreciate this moment, but right now I just want to go home.
As I’m lost in thoughts of how much better this would be if my dad could have actually been here, I misstep when Tatum jumps in my arms. My helmet falls from my hands as I fumble to keep her from crashing to the ground. What the hell is she doing?
She runs her fingers through my sweat-soaked hair and says, “Congratulations! You were so great out there.”
When I realize I’m still holding her and she has her legs wrapped around my waist, I immediately set her down, not caring about the pouty look she’s giving. I quickly look back to see if I’m out of sight from Emerson, and am thankful that I am. “Uh… thanks Tatum.” I continue toward the locker room but she follows.
“Let’s go out tonight. You need to celebrate.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I’ll let you come home with me,” she purrs nauseatingly, while grabbing my bicep.
“I’ll pass.”
“Jax, get over her. Em is nothing special.”
“Man, that’s a great way to get me in bed, Tatum. Insult the one girl I would walk through fire for. It’ll always be her, you’re not even--”
“Whoa… hey there, buddy!” Cole interrupts me by jumping in between us and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Great game. Let’s go get dressed!” When we get out of earshot of a sad-looking Tatum, he continues, “You were just about to make a royal ass out of yourself.”
“She was being a bitch.”
“No, she was being normal. You’re just a heartbroken asshole. Let's just keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut till you're over Em and won't run the risk of pushing away every eligible girl on campus," he says, grabbing my mouth and pinching it hard.
"Dick." I punch him in the arm as we walk toward the locker room, knowing deep down inside that there's a good chance I won't ever completely get over Emerson.
EVER LONELY scene - Rhett's POV
This extra scene is between Chapter Twenty-three and Twenty-four (before they finish the album and go on tour) -
"Rhett, stop glaring at us like that!" Lola laughed as she sliced another piece of my Camembert cheese. Some fancy ass cheese that I knew nothing of before I learned about appetizer boards for tonight.
Everything was supposed to be perfect. I had planned tonight for over a month. I had a lot of help putting this all together. Some of those people were sitting in this room tonight. But they weren't supposed to fucking be here right now.
"Seriously, dude, don't look so unhappy to see us." Nix, my bandmate, chuckled and snatched a few grapes off my board.
I swatted his hand away. "I've done nothing but see all of you guys. Tonight was supposed to be ours," I grumbled.
I looked across the marble floors into the living room, where Ever was checking out the apartment. All the curtains had been pulled closed earlier, and I needed to distract her before she peeked outside. It was hard enough sneaking her into this building in Rockefeller Center without her putting two and two together.
I cleared my throat loudly and got Lola's attention. Gage had been whispering in her ear and trying to find ways to get his hands on her. My eyes cut over to Ever, hoping Lola would know what I meant.
"She can't see out the windows yet," Alex whispered.
"Oh!" Lola jumped from Gage's hands. "On it!" she whispered.
Sienna poured herself a glass of my Dom Perignon champagne, and Alex lifted the lid of the silver serving platter, taking a giant whiff of our Buffalo mozzarella Panzanella. The tray in the kitchen held our mushroom and walnut pasta. It was all supposed to be so romantic. I had studied hard for tonight and tried to ensure all the boxes for the most romantic date were checked off. Unfortunately, extra guests weren't on the list.
"EVERLY JAMES!" Lola screeched. "Is that what I think it is?"
"What?" Ever laughed with her raspy voice that always got me hard.
"Is that the Saint Laurent dress currently waitlisted for months?" Lola gasped.
"It is." Ever walked away from the window and ran her hands down the sleek dress. "Sienna managed to snag it for me."
Lola, Ever's best friend and makeup/hair stylist, whipped around to look at Sienna, one of my best friends and Ever's newest stylist. "Oh, I bow down to your greatness. Your fashion connections far outreach mine. I'm so glad you took that job."
"I don't get it," Gage whispered to me.
"Yeah, looks like any normal sparkly dress," Alex added. If any of the girls heard them, they would have their heads.
I didn't get it either, but I sure as hell appreciated the dress. It hugged her body almost better than I could.
"What are you guys doing here, anyway?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"We missed you two." Sienna smiled sweetly.
I rolled my eyes. "We were with Ever's dad for three days over Thanksgiving."
Alex nodded his head. "And that's the longest I've ever gone without seeing you."
"Same," Gage added.
"Same for me about Ever," Lola piped in.
I had to think back if that were actually true. It probably was. We even vacationed together when we were kids. "That's sad." I looked at Gage and Alex.
Hands grazed my stomach and dipped inside my suit jacket until I could feel their warmth through my thin button-up oxford. I looked down at the prettiest set of green eyes and kissed the top of her head.
"I think it's sweet," Ever said, keeping her arms tightly around my midsection. "We missed you too. Even if Rhett is being grumpy." She scrunched up her nose a little and looked up at me. It was so fucking cute.
I leaned down to whisper into her ear, "I just wanted you to myself tonight. I worked hard to plan this for you."
"And I'm loving every minute of it." She beamed at me, and I softened a tiny bit toward our meddlesome friends.
"Whose place is this, by the way?" Alex asked.
"I actually don't know them." Everyone turned to give me curious and confused expressions. "I needed a place around here. So I knocked on a few doors. Found what I needed and offered this nice family an incentive to let me use their apartment." I shrugged my shoulders as if it had been that easy.
In reality, it hadn't. I knocked on twenty-two doors. Seventeen of them answered. Only one had the view I needed. Even then, it took a pretty penny and a lot of convincing for the Walton family to let me use their opulent residence for two hours. Of course, dropping Ever James' name didn't hurt, either.
Ever eyed me cautiously, trying to figure out what I was up to.
I checked my watch and realized I didn't have much time to stand around and chat. "Pipes, it's time."
"Time?" she asked, looking to everyone for what it could be time for.
I took her hand and pulled her toward the elaborate living room. Someone had spent a lot of time and money decorating it for the holidays. There was fresh garland draped over every surface, and tiny little lights peeked out in between the leaves. A twelve-foot Christmas tree towered in the corner, the lights were a deep blue at the base, but as they progressed toward the top, they were lighter and lighter. It was amazing. As I brought her closer to the window, I realized the lights would kill the total effect of my surprise.
"Alex… Gage… can you kill these lights?"
"What?" Ever asked. "But it's so beautiful!"
I smiled because she loved Christmas so much. The holidays had always been special in my family, but Ever almost vibrated with delight over them. In my opinion, there was no better place than New York City to celebrate it either. You just couldn't beat the atmosphere that became charged with holiday spirit like it did in the city. Every shop window had the most elaborate displays, trees were on every corner, and every inch was decorated. Christmas was the only time in New York when we felt the usual hustle and bustle but then also a serene magic. The skating rink had been a favorite of mine as a kid, and of course, the tree lighting ceremony was the crown jewel.
The apartment lights faded as the guys found the switch for them. One button at a time, we were clothed in darkness. I moved behind her and turned her toward the window. My hands grazed around her waist until they were holding her hips tightly. She wiggled against me, and I squeezed to get her to focus on the surprise at hand. Her smirk almost made me want to ditch the whole idea and drag her back to one of those luxurious bedrooms.
I glanced at my watch and realized we had thirty seconds. The only problem was that I needed to pull back the curtains, but didn't want to leave her side. Just then, Nixon and Alex appeared in front of us with their hands ready to do the job for me.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Still hate that we're here?"
"Thank you," I offered. I lifted my watch up again. Fifteen seconds. Ten seconds. "Now, guys."
The thick cream drapes pulled away from the floor-to-ceiling glass, and we were still shrouded in darkness. Ever had been holding her breath, but when she couldn't see anything new, the air whooshed out of her, and she leaned to look up at me. Confusion troubled her face.
"Baby, look," I whispered in her ears while looking toward the window. I felt the air suck into her lungs as she gasped in surprise. "Merry Christmas," I whispered and kissed her temple.
"Rhett…" she gasped.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree sparkled to life only feet from us beyond the window. I knew this apartment would be the perfect setting for her. This was New York's legendary tree — you couldn't get any better than this. We heard the thousands of people eight stories below us down in the center clapping and cheering as the Mayor pressed the button to officially begin the Christmas season for the city.
I leaned forward to look at her face and was genuinely surprised to see the lone tear trailing down her cheek. "Pipes…" I breathed against her face as I inhaled her scent. My lips grazed her soft skin.
Ever had lived here for eight years and had never seen the Christmas tree lighting in person. Crowds weren't the best for celebrities, and her security got twitchy when she tried to enter them. When I informed the head of her security, Beau, about my plan, he beamed. He also knew how badly she loved everything about Christmas and how she had always wanted to see the lighting of the tree. It was a big deal in New York — we were proud of that damn goliath tree here.
"I didn't even realize this was happening today… and you…" She spun around and hugged me tightly, her face burrowing into my chest. "You did all this just so I could see the tree." I felt her quiet cries, and I squeezed her tighter.
"No one should live in New York and not see the tree lit." As a local myself, it was still breathtaking to see it. Especially higher up off the ground with a front-row view. Just because she was in every tabloid didn't mean that she shouldn't be able to have real-life experiences. I was her first real boyfriend. Well, that was something I had started calling myself because her music label appointed all her previous ones. But as her first real boyfriend, I had taken it upon myself to give her adventures she hadn't been able to encounter before because of her high-profile appearance.
It was something I planned on continuing throughout our lives together. Hopefully, experiencing a real-life wedding with her wasn't too far off. Ever was it for me. And seeing her face tonight when she saw the tree reminded me how much I loved her. I loved putting that look in her eyes and that smile on her face.
"I love you," she whispered.
And I damn sure loved hearing that.