Hunter (Campus Kings): A Football Secret Baby Novel by Celia Loren Page A

wait for the game to be over, because even though I like
watching Hunter play, we're going out on our first date tonight. I asked if he
wanted to wait until tomorrow so he could rest, but he insisted on tonight.
    "So where's he taking you?" she asks.
    "He wouldn't say. He only promised that we wouldn't be
recognized," I tell her. The game ends with another win for Vanover,
extending our undefeated season. My father and Hunter are both quickly swarmed
by reporters. His performance is attracting more and more heat from NFL teams,
and everyone wants an interview with the star. Danielle and I stand, getting
ready to head out. I try to make eye contact with Hunter, but I can't even see
him now.
    "Britt." My head snaps down and I see my father
standing on the field just below us, his headset around his neck.
    "Great game, Dad," I tell him. "This is my
roommate Danielle."
    She reaches down to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you,
sir."
    "You too," my dad says, serious as ever. "Are
you headed back to the dorm now?" he asks us both.
    "I might head out to a party for a little,"
Danielle replies, and I can hear a hint of nervousness in her voice. Even
though my dad has no power over her, he still manages to intimidate.
    "Hm," he grunts disapprovingly, and turns to me
expectantly.
    "Yep, just heading back to our dorm," I reply,
trying to seem normal. I'm not used to lying to him.
    "Good. Talk to you later, then," he says, and
heads off to the locker room.
    "Jeez, he's even scarier in person, huh?" Danielle
says, taking a deep breath.
    "Yeah. I think he likes you, though," I offer.
    "Really?"
    "I know it's hard to tell," I commiserate, and we
head up the steps and out of the stadium. "I feel so guilty about lying to
him. It's always just been the two of us, and we've always been really open
with each other."
    "Well, as long as you stay safe, that's all he wants,
you know? Maybe the details aren't so important," she reasons. I nod,
hoping she's right.
    It takes forever for us to get out
of the stadium. The mood of the surrounding fans is jubilant, but I'm
distracted by looking at my phone. Finally, I get a text from Hunter. It's an
address, and Danielle catches me frowning at it.
    "What's wrong?"
    "I think he just wants me to
meet him at his apartment," I tell her. She pulls me over to a quieter
spot on the sidewalk, letting the hordes of people pass by us. "What
if...what if he's just trying to sleep with me?" I whisper, giving voice
to my deepest fear.
    "Look, if you get there, and
you feel like that's the case, then you leave," she reasons.
    "That's what you think I
should do?"
    "I can't tell you what to do," Danielle says,
putting her hand on my shoulder. "What does it feel like to you? Do you
think he just wants sex?"
    "It's just, it's hard to believe sometimes that he
actually likes me. He could have any girl on campus," I tell her, and am
shocked to feel a tear slip down my cheek. I hurriedly wipe it away, aware that
we're still surrounded by people, even though it's dark.
    "Yeah, but I'm not surprised that he wants you. You're
beautiful, smart, kind...you know a ton about football."
    I smile. "Thanks."
    "So? What do you think?"
    I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a second, trying
to sense what I want. "I'm going."

 
    Chapter 14
    Hunter
     
    I hurriedly pull off my jersey, tossing it into the laundry
bin, then sit on the bench to unlace my cleats.
    "Fuck, man! That was amazing!" Rob exclaims,
coming up and pounding my shoulder.
    "You did great, brother," I tell him.
    "Naw, man. It was all you," he says. He looks
pumped as hell, and no wonder. He just had the best football game of his
career.
    "In a hurry?" Adam asks, pitching himself down on
the bench next to me and lazily undoing his laces.
    "Uh, yeah," I mumble. "I put off this paper
for a while and I gotta get to it."
    "It's Friday night. Do it tomorrow," Adam says
frowning.
    "Naw, I gotta get it done tonight. Promised my
professor. I already missed a deadline."
    Adam