Page 26 of Forever Defiant
“You weren’t complaining,” I bit out.
“And this is Noah Matthews,” Dante continued effortlessly, as if neither of us had spoken. “He’s our starting middle linebacker.” Noah raised his hand in a wave. “I understand you’ve also met him?”
“Not officially,” she said, and I saw her shoulders relax slightly. That’s what Dante did — he relaxed people, he was calm and measured, and the press loved him. I glanced at her, and it seemed she wasn’t immune to the Lions QB either. “Hi.”
“Hadley, right?” Noah asked, leaning forward and extending his hand to her. She looked pleased as she shook it.
“Are we done?” I growled, my patience running out. “Why are you here?”
“Thedeanassigned her,” Dante said. “Let it go, man.” He spoke under his breath, but Hadley had heard him, her gaze sharpening as she looked at us.
What the fuck? That was the complete opposite of what he’d saidjustlast night.
“I’m not letting anything go,” I argued, keeping my eyes on her and ignoring whatever U-turn Dante just did.
Her long brown hair was in a messy bun that looked full and heavy. I remembered her hair fell almost to her ass. It wasthe first thing I noticed about her the first night I met her. She looked like the actress fromThe Vampire Diaries— the sweet version, not the crazy vampire one. It was Naya’s favorite show, and I had heard more sighs and gushes about ‘Delena’ than I ever needed to.
But Hadley looked like her. Same long brown hair, only longer with thick waves, warm brown eyes, and a warm skin tone that gave her an exotic flair compared to the girl on TV. Her lips were full, and I knew from experience they were as soft as they looked.
I had no business thinking about that right now.
“You look agitated.” Hadley’s lip curled up in a smirk. “Not used to your hookups turning up at the training facility, and not being here for you?” She lifted her notebook and waved it back and forth. “Relax, this isn’t about you, Slater.”
I scowled. “I am relaxed.” I absolutely wasn’t.
Noah decided to be helpful. “Why would the dean need to assign you?”
Hadley’s gaze shifted to his. “Your head coach is very protective of his team,” she lied glibly. “I think he worries I’ll be a distraction.”
Yeah.Thatwas what he was worried about.
“Which is probably why he asked me to cover Mike.” She looked back at the field. “Second team, striving to get to the first team. I’m excited to get involved.”
I bet you are.
“I really won’t need to speak to you guys.” She faked a pout. “Sorry.” She turned her attention back to me. “I’m sure you guys won’t even notice me.” I don’t think any of the three of us reacted, but she sighed, dropping her arm and putting her notebook back in her bag. “Look.” I saw a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. “I’m here to do my job for my course. You three can go back to... whatever you were doing.”
We didn’t move. Not an inch. I wonder if my roommates were also waiting for her to sprout fangs and attack.
Dante moved slightly, and I saw the defensive end jogging back to us.
“Whittaker,” Dante murmured. “Scrimmage finished?”
He shook his head, delighted that QB10 was talking to him. “Um... no. But they said I have to show her around.”
“Hadley,” I told him. “Her name’s Hadley.”
“I’d love to be shown around,” Hadley told him, beaming.
“Nah.” They were all looking at me. “What?”
Dante sighed. “Dude.”
I glared at him. “What? I don’t trust her.”
“Why wouldn’t you trust me?” Hadley asked, looking between the three of us. When none of us spoke, she gave a light laugh. “Ah, it’s likethat.” She looked delighted. “I didn’t know you guys would know about that.”
“Know about what?” Mike asked, the one person in the group who truly knew nothing. The one person I envied for his ignorance. “What’s going on?”
