I set my bags down and walk outside to help Parker with the rest of my groceries.

My brows lift when I see he has every one of them in his hands and a twelve pack of soda under his right arm.

“You need some help there, Hero?” I tease.

He grins, the receipt hanging out his mouth. “Nope. I could add you to the load and still carry more.”

I usher him forward with the swipe of a hand.

After setting everything on the countertop, he heads into the living room, and plops onto the couch while I start putting stuff away.

“So,” he calls out. “A little birdy told me a certain quarterback made an interception today.”

“Weird.” I toss the chips and popcorn into the cabinet. “I wasn’t aware quarterbacks played defense.” I glance at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Exactly!” He shouts in excitement, hopping onto his knees to face me, his forearms resting on the back of the couch.

I toss the gum into the drawer nearest the fridge, closing it with my hip, and lean against it.

“Exactly, what?” I laugh, shaking my head at him.

“Quarterbacks don’t play defense. That’s rule number one in football for dummies.” He grins and I roll my eyes. “But, my boy never played by the rules.”

I kick off the counter and grab another bag to unload. “I don’t doubt that.”

“But he did.”

“You weren’t even there, so shut it.” I stand on my tiptoes to hide the Waffle Crisp behind all the paper products.

Ha! Try and find them there, Mia.

“Hear me out, alright?” I go to nod but he narrows his eyes. “And not with those blinders of yours.”

I open the fridge to put away the milk with one hand, while reaching around and flipping him off with the other, making him chuckle.

“So, I heard Jarrod tried to kiss you, and Nate swooped in.”

“Yeah,” I roll my eyes. “He was a real Captain Save-a-Ho.”

Parker bellows over in laughter.

“What’s your point, anyway?” My tone is bored.

He shrugs, a grin still on his lips. “Maybe he likes you.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

When he sits back on his heels and puffs out his chest, it takes everything in me to hold back my laughter.

“Or, maybe he’s never had to work for ass before and really, really wants to be the first in line to,” I wiggle my eyebrows, “break me in.”

“You win!” He yells, dropping himself back. “That’s definitely the reason!”

Even though he can’t see me, I smile in triumph, but my head takes a second to catch on to the gleefulness of being right.

“So, what’s the plan, Stan?” I call out.

He groans. “I’m out of here, actually. My mom’s headed to my dad’s to pick up some old photos or something for my senior page in the yearbook. I get to go play referee.”

“I don’t envy you,” I laugh, pulling out what I need to make a sandwich. “But real quick, I’ve been meaning to ask…”

He grins. “What?”

“Did you hook up with Nate’s sister?”

His eyes shoot wide and he chokes. “What?”

My mouth drops open. “Shut the fuck up! You did!”

“No!” he’s quick to rush out, “I did not.”

“Okay…”

He groans. “She… showed up at my house one night, crying over some bull shit she shouldn’t have been dealing with in the first place. She was drunk, so I let her crash.” He looks away. “In my bed.”

“And…”

“And apparently, I decided to sleep in my bed too ‘cause I woke up with my arm around her, my morning wood appreciating her ass.”

When I bust up laughing, he rolls his eyes, and makes his way to the door.

“Bye, Lolli Bear. I’ll call you later.”

Once the door shuts behind him, I walk over and lock it, a triumphant grin on my face. I read Kenra’s bashfulness when she saw Parker. She was remembering his dick against her ass. There’s definitely more to that story than Parker chose to share, but who am I to push when I don’t participate in show and tell myself? Not that he would have budged. Parker is as loyal as they come and that wasn’t his story to tell. It’s one of the many reasons why he’s the shit and will forever be my best friend.

With a smile, I walk back into the kitchen.

Right as I do, Nauni comes out of hiding.

“I’m on it.” After finishing my sandwich, I pour her food in her bowl and make my way to my room.

Once my clothes are off, panties included, I jump under the covers and tuck the blankets under my chin. My mind begins to settle and I take a deep refreshing breath. Instantly, my senses are invaded and my eyes fly open.

Nate.

He’s all over my blankets. His grassy fresh sweetness, mixed with leather and man and…

Shit.

Burying my face in my pillow, I sigh.

This is not good. Not. Good.

As I walk into Alrick High, my eyes bulge.

The walls look like a kindergarten class threw up on them. Hand-painted posters cover the walls, surrounded by shiny gold, red, and black crepe papers. They look like mashed-up balls, but are supposed to resemble flowers. I think. Matching streamers hang from the ceiling at all the entry and exit points and a large poster with big bold painted-on letters that reads ‘Knights Kingdom’ hangs – crooked - in the middle of the hall.

An arm wraps around my shoulder. “Cliché, isn’t it?” Parker laughs in my ear.

“Very.” I smile up at him.“Morning, Hero.”

“Mornin’,” he grins.

“I like it.” Mia shrugs, falling back in place next to us. “We are the Knights.” Fluttering her eyelashes, she gives us a bow. “And this is our kingdom.”

Parker releases me, bends and hoists Mia in the air. “That’s right, Mia.” He turns so he’s facing me. “Where’s your school spirit, Lolli?” Grinning, he reaches up and gives her ass a good smack.

“Damn it, Parker! Put me down!” she laughs.

“Hey now…”

We turn to see Austin walking up with a smile on his face.

Parker laughs, setting Mia on her feet only long enough for Austin to swoop her up and spin her around. She throws her head back and plays the part, making all of us laugh along with her.

“What do you say, wanna be the princess to my prince, Ms. Edwards?” He smiles up at her.

She quirks a brow. “Why not the queen to your king?” she teases, sliding her hands around his neck.

He plants a quick kiss to her lips. “Because, we already know who the king is.” He laughs, turning his head to look over his shoulder, and our eyes follow suit.

And there he is, the unofficial king of Alrick High himself.

Nate’s striding down the hall, looking all kinds of tempting. How he makes a plain black tee and jeans look like a walking, talking, life-size ad for Guess, I’ll never know.

My eyes collide with his.

People call out to him, pat his arm, do everything but flash him to get his attention as he meanders down the line, but his dark eyes never leave mine.

I know what those eyes look like when pleased.

A throat clears behind me.

I turn to find Liv leaning against a locker, a nasty smirk in place.

With a roll of my eyes, I turn to my locker she just so happens to be leaning next to. “Why, might I ask, have you decided to grace me with your presence?”

She stops admiring her manicure and narrows her eyes at me. “I told you once, I’ll tell you again.” Her eyes flick over my shoulder quickly.

He’s getting closer.

“Stay away from Nate. He’s better than you’ll ever be. You may pretend to be a part of the football world, but he’s going somewhere in it.” She stands up taller. “He doesn’t need some wannabe getting in his head.”

I close my locker and lean one shoulder against it. “You’re right, Liv.” I nod my head with a smile on my face. “He is going somewhere.” I eye her for a few seconds. “You plannin’ on going with him?” I raise an eyebrow.

“I’ve been accepted on early admission to every college I’ve applied to.” She crosses her arms, smirking like she’s won something.

He’s almost here.

I laugh. “Let me guess. They all happen to have Division 1 teams?” Her smirk falters a little and my mouth drops open in humor. “Oh, my God, they do!” I gape at her. “You plan on picking based on who he commits to.”

“Listen, slu-” She cuts off and plasters a huge, silky smooth smile on her lips. One that falls right off as his chest comes flush against my back.

One of his large hands wraps around my waist, and he brings his mouth to my ear. “Good morning, Kalani.”

“Handsome,” I answer, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, my eyes trained on Liv’s.

He lifts his head, jerking his chin in the wannabe Barbie’s direction. “Liv.”

She forces the corners of her lips up and pushes her chest out. “Hey, Nate,” she practically moans, and I couldn’t hold in my eyeroll if I tried. “Can I talk to you?” She cuts me a quick smirk. “In private?” I swear to God, she just slithered.

“Actually-” He’s cut off when the bell rings.

“That would be the bell.” Stepping back from me, he grabs on to my elbow and pulls me away from the lockers.

Throwing his arm protectively around my shoulder, he calls out, “Bye, Liv,” never bothering to turn around.

As soon as we turn the corner, I bend over laughing, shrugging Nate’s arm off in the process. “That was pretty smooth there, Handsome.” I look into his eyes, finding them narrowed in on me. “What?”

He opens his mouth to say something but decides better of it. Shaking his head, he walks ahead of me into class.

By the time lunch rolls around, I’m beyond starved. Food in hand, I go to take a seat next to Mia, only to have Jarrod drop down before me and pull me onto his lap.

My brows shoot up and I grin at him. “Hi.”

I set my Funyuns and drink on the table, strategically keeping my Twix in hand. Never know when a thief with a sweet tooth might come along.

He smirks at me. “Hi, Lolli.”

Ugh...

His clammy hand runs down my left arm. “I think we need a repeat of our date from Sunday.” He leans in as I lean back. “We didn’t quite make it to the good part, now did we?” he whispers. His voice is striving for seductive, but his eyes have a hardened glare behind them.

“You mean the food wasn’t the good part?” I joke, and shift to stand, but he misses the hint and adjusts me on his lap.

He pushes my hair over my shoulder. “I was referring to-”

Somewhere behind me, I hear an, “Oh shit,” before I feel him.

I turn to find Nate making his way through the tables. Unfortunately, turning involves a shift of my waist and I feel a little excitement from Jarrod – no pun intended, but in this case, sadly, it works.

Nate sees my eyes widen and drops his narrowed gaze to where Jarrod’s body and mine are touching. His jaw ticks and there is no doubt he knows exactly what just happened.

He masks his rage on a blink and casts me a warning with his eyes, telling me to ‘run girl, run,’ unless I’m ready for what’s coming.

Curiosity did kill the cat after all...

He’s almost to me now, his eyes burning into mine, but the closer he gets, the clearer they become – for me.

You’d never see it – or believe it, for that matter - with the way his body’s moving. With his arms hanging loose at his sides, his easy strides, a shadow of a grin tipping those lips, and his chin held high, he oozes confidence. Or smugness, depending on how you look at it.

His face is a cold mask for all around us to see, but for whatever reason, I see the vulnerability hidden deep in his dark orbs. He’s not hiding it from me. He wants me to know what he wants; what he’s hoping for... secretly begging me for.

I give it to him.

Never breaking our eye contact, I push Jarrod’s hands off me and stand right as Nate’s feet land in front of mine, bringing us chest to chest.

His eyes shine instantly and I don’t even care it’s his cocky smirk that comes out to play. “You forget what you promised me last night, Gorgeous?” he whispers for only me to hear, his eyes narrowing.

My tongue slides out to wet my suddenly dry lips, I shake my head. Because, no, I didn’t forget. I also didn’t think for a second he was serious.

“Good.” He winks.

Next thing I know, his soft lips are on mine.

His kiss is more demanding and territorial than anything, but right now, I don’t mind.

Not giving a damn about the gasps and giggles and screeching chairs, I throw my hands around his neck and kiss him back. Not even caring when my candy falls to the floor.