Hunter (Campus Kings): A Football Secret Baby Novel by Celia Loren Read Free Book Online

I'm
always being watched. For a few minutes, I watch everyone on the dance floor,
and the jockeying for position in line for the kegs. I feel strangely
unattached and empty.
    "The fuck's the matter with you?" Adam asks,
sinking down next to me. He grabs a girl passing by and pulls her down onto his
lap as she giggles. "You forget that we won today?" I look over at
the girl as she smiles at me. Have we slept together? I can't even fucking
remember.
    "Yeah, I know. I think I just need to clear my
head," I say, standing up. Suddenly, staying here seems like an
impossibility.
    "Alright," Adam replies, frowning. "You
coming back later?"
    "Sure," I call back over my shoulder as I walk
away. I glance out the window at the front yard. It's absolutely mobbed, the
party spilling out into the street. I hug the wall and make my way around the
living room and into the kitchen, then slip out the back door. There are some
people out in the alley, but I fix a frown on my face. That’s the thing about
being six foot five and weighing 240. Sometimes I look like one scary fuck, and
no one's inclined to bother me.
    Away from Frat Row, I feel myself relax a little. It's a
beautiful night, and Nashville isn't such a big city that its lights obscure
the stars. Still, it was a big change from the small football town in Texas
where I grew up.
    I walk aimlessly around campus for about twenty minutes, or
so I think. When I finally look up to see where I am, Calhoun dorm is right in
front of me. I run my hands through my short hair. What am I doing here? I
don't even have her number, and I don't have access to her dorm.
    And that's not even taking into account that she's Coach
McKay's daughter. Now that I think about it, they both have blue eyes,
though Coach's are much darker, and they both have this way of looking at me
like they know everything about me. In Britt's case, though, I actually find it
kind of comforting, like it gives me the sense that we've known each other much
longer than we actually have.
    I sit down on the top step by the dorm's front door, next to
a tall white column that supports the portico. If I'm interested in a
relationship, there have to be other girls that I could go after. Problem is,
I'm familiar with a vast majority of the girls on this campus, and I haven't
been interested in dating a single one of them. In fact, I haven't even gone on
a date since I was fourteen. That was before I became the star of my high
school football team, when I actually had to work for girls to sleep with me.
    But Britt is Coach's daughter. And that prick already hates
me. He'd probably bench me for even being here, and then I'd have no chance at
being drafted in the pros. He'd have to make up some story about why I'm not
playing anymore – I don't think my pursuing his daughter would cut it – but I
wouldn't put it past him.
    I'm jeopardizing my entire future by just sitting here, so
why aren't I leaving?

 
    Chapter 11
    Britt
     
    Freshman campus is eerily quiet as I head back from the
library. I hear the echoes of some partygoer's laughter against the buildings,
but mostly people are already out at parties for the night. I feel a slight
pang of loneliness and frown down at the paved walkway in front of me.
    I'm lost in thought, and head up the first step of my dorm
before I see him. Hunter Phillips, sitting just next to the door. He stares
back at me as I gape at him.
    "Hi," I finally squeak out.
    "Hi," he says. My heart races as he stands and I
feel myself flush. I've never felt so out of control of my body.
    "Look, I was rude the other night," I start,
"and I owe you an explanation."
    "No, I understand now. I know you're Coach's
daughter."
    "Oh. Well…" I drift off. "How?"
    It's dark, but I think I see a rueful smile cross his face.
"You were... noticed at the game today, and Coach made it clear
we're all meant to stay far away from you."
    "I can't believe he did that," I grimace, but then
look up at him. "So he warned you away, but