The Hardest Fall

by Ella Maise

Football players—we’re practically catnip to college girls.

This is facts... I know from experience

“You’re gonna tell me your name, right, Flash?”

Not the FLASH?!

“We don’t have the best timing in the world, huh, Flash?”

I would die for someone to nickname me the Flash

“What do you mean by another shot?” “You know what I mean.” “Actually, I’m pretty sure I don’t.” “The kiss.”

I would kiss him

“Do you guys really study? I mean jocks, athletes—I always wondered. I thought you had other students do that for you.”

most do

“I’m sorry for your loss, Flash.”

again with the Flash... I love that

“For you, Flash, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of that.

Okay I'm a simp for the nickname

“This Flash thing, the nickname—that’s gonna be a thing isn’t it?”

“This is the strangest thing, but I think you’re going to be my best friend, Zoe Clarke.”

gray sweatpants on a guy was heaven on earth, especially when they wore them in the morning—and

TRUTH TO THAT!!!

“Well…it’s…too big.”

That’s what she said

“Let’s bet on a kiss,” I said, deciding to end her misery. “I think we’re gonna end up kissing one of these days, and I bet you’ll be the first one to beg for it.”

I'll beg Dylan

and maybe those tight, tight pants affected every girl on campus.

I was belting out the lyrics to my heart’s content because it was one of my favorite sex songs. Everyone had those, right? I’d never had sex while it was playing—it’d be weird if nothing else—but whenever I listened to it, I could definitely see it happening if I closed my eyes.

No because I do the same... especially if it's Trey Songz or Jeremiah

“I think I heard…’pussy growl’ at one point? That stuck for some reason. Let’s say it was a little before that.”

The second hand embarrassment...

Have you never watched 2012 or San Andreas? I just rewatched them last week so I’m thinking that’s not really helping at the moment.”

“So what you’re saying is that I’m a special friend, huh?”

You can be my special friend... okay I'll stop now

“I like that,” he murmured in a low voice,

The audiobook did not help with what I felt

“He’d know you’re scared of earthquakes, right? If he is your boyfriend, he knows. I just thought he’d call to see how you are by now. If my girlfriend was afraid of earthquakes, I’d be there for her.”

“I already saw it, remember? It’s not that big. Sure, it looks impressive since you’re a shower, and if I remember correctly, I already congratulated you on that. I don’t think it’d get any bigger though, which takes me back to…not that big.”

Her eyes softened. “I won’t steal your money.” I smiled at her and didn’t think before speaking. “I know you won’t, baby.”

“I’m not freakishly tall, Flash,”

“It’s like this: it’s better to know I have them than not have them, and if I have them, I won’t eat them because then they’ll all be gone. I like that they’re there. Oh, let’s look at it like this.”

“I bet you eat your favorite food on the plate last, right? Let’s say you have meatballs, broccoli, and…rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes. Which one would you leave for last?”

The grin I gave her was a little filthy, a little lazy. “You’re so fucking fascinating, Zoe Clarke.”

My eyes dropped to the dress she was wearing: black and tight on her upper body, leaving nothing to the imagination as far as the size of her boobs, and looser on her hips—not by much, but still. It ended a few inches above her knees.

“Wow, Dylan. I don’t expect you to know me in a month, or however many weeks you’ve been here—hell, we barely see each other some days—but…actually, you know what? Maybe I did. Maybe I did think you’d figure out at least that much. I’m the last person who’d date someone for the amount in his bank account.”

“I just got in about ten minutes before you. I wanted to wait, but I wasn’t sure what time you’d be back, and the smell got to me.” I tried not to think where she’d been or who she’d been waiting for.

The loud groan she let out made my dick surge to life in my pants.

she took her first bite and released another groan, this one longer and somehow more erotic than the one before.

My eyes drifted down to her throat where I could see the exact moment she swallowed. Then my gaze dipped lower and I watched the swell of her breasts rising and falling with each breath. I was in so much trouble.

“Awww, you guys love each other. Either my eyes are watering or there’s a dust storm happening where I’m sitting. I would’ve never guessed that football players would be this emotional,”

For some reason, that image of her didn’t sit well with me. Was she getting all worked up over Chris?

Zoe chose that moment to pick up the pizza box and offer it to Chris. “Would you like to have some pizza?”

Oh, hello, I’m your long-lost sister you never knew you had. So, how have you been? Oh, also, the woman you know as your mom is actually not. Do you want to know about your real mother?

“Can I get you guys something or are you just here for the show?” If my question had come out as a snarl, I had no control over it. “If you’re not here to drink, move to one of the tables, or maybe just head out since we’re pretty full tonight.”

It was a done deal—he had basically given me permission to kick his ass the next time we were on the field. He must’ve known I wouldn’t like his hands on my friend…around her waist, touching her, feeling her body.

“Zoe,” I said, my voice lower since we were now closer. “You’re rambling again. It’s too cute, and it’s completely okay if you think of your friend as hot. I think you’re hot, too.”

“And I thought you were shy, Zoe—seemed like it since you can’t even manage to look into my eyes for more than a few seconds—but that girl dancing up there didn’t look all that shy.”

“That’s not my boyfriend, Dylan. He is my friend, Jared, and just so you know, shy doesn’t mean I can’t function or dance with my friends or just be around people. I only get shy and awkward around certain people, and you happen to be one of them, that’s all.”

“Oh, that’s Jared. He’s not my boyfriend, just Jared, my friend,” Zoe repeated. I closed my eyes in relief.

“He is my friend, and he also happens to be gay, not that it should matter.”

“You look beautiful,” I said honestly. “You always look beautiful, but tonight you look happier. I like your smile tonight. I always like it when you smile, Flash,” I said sincerely.

“Netflix and chill?”

“No! I mean, I know what that means, and I didn’t mean it that way. I meant literally. We could pick a movie and chill out, not pick a movie and have sex while said movie is playing, not chill in that way, not Netflix and—”

“Sure. Actually, I think you already know Kayla—you guys kinda dated—and Jared is a fan, so he’d like that too. We’ll come over”—she looked around—“when it’s not so crowded. I already took too much of your time, I’m sorry.”

“Stop by before you guys leave, okay? We’ll talk. Keep me company. Let me see my friend for a while longer.”

“What did I do to deserve the fries on top of the cheeseburger?”

“Is this okay?” he asked, his eyes glued to our intertwined hands. “Am I allowed to do this?”

“Is this what buddies do, Zoe?” he continued, his voice harder. Is he angry at me? What the hell did I do?