Agony (Entangled Hearts Duet 1)

Welcome to Central University.We won by two touchdowns. The rush of winning my first ever college game is real. I’m floating on cloud nine. My high school team always had a winning season, all four years. This, however, this win is on another level. It’s heightened. Playing at the college level is the best of the best. At high school, almost anyone can make the team. In college, you have to have the skill, the drive, and the talent. I made three of our four touchdowns. The moment I stepped out on that field, the game was my focus, and my stats are evidence of that.

“Good game, rookie,” Levi says, stepping up to his locker that’s beside mine. His hair is wet, and he has a towel hanging around his waist.

“Thanks. It was a team effort.”

He shakes his head. “Modest. I like it. But you were on fire out there.”

“Just love the game.”

“You coming to the house tonight?” he asks.

The house, as he refers to it, is a huge old Victorian just off campus. The house is occupied by the football team. Well, not all of them, but the juniors and seniors who don’t depend on their scholarship to provide them housing. As a freshman, my scholarship states I will live in the dorms for my entire first year at CU. Grades permitting, I can live off campus after that.

“Yeah, maybe. I need to meet up with my parents and Reese’s.”

“Her parents came to watch you?”

“Yeah, her parents and mine have been best friends as long as Reese and I.”

He nods. “Bring Reese with you. Oh, and tell her Tessa can come too.”

I bite back my snide remark about him knowing her roommate as well. “Yeah. We might see you there.” I keep my reply vague. While I want to hang out with my teammates, I also want to celebrate with my best friend. I just don’t know if I can handle pulling drunk guys off her all night and still manage to have a good time. I’ll just have to see what she wants to do. I might not even be able to convince her to go.

Glancing at my phone, I see a text from my mom telling me that everyone is waiting for me just outside the locker room. I rush to get dressed and toss my stuff in my bag, throwing it over my shoulder. I wave to my teammates, bumping fists and slapping a few high-fives with their words of “good game” and “killed it, freshman” as I make my way out of the locker room.

I find my parents, Reese’s parents, Garrett, and Eve, as well as Reese and Tessa, right where Mom said they would be. I hear a loud squeal, and I know what’s coming. I drop my bag to the floor and brace for impact as Reese rushes toward me. I catch her as she wraps her arms and legs around me. “You killed it!” she exclaims.

I chuckle. Reese has always been my biggest cheerleader. She slowly releases her hold, and I help her to steady herself back on her feet. Her arms go around my waist in a hug. Slinging my arm around her shoulder, I return her embrace. “Thanks.”

“Good game, son.” My dad steps up and shakes my hand.

“Oh, Coop.” Mom has tears in her eyes. Reese sees as well and steps away, letting Mom have her turn. Eve is next, followed by a handshake from Garrett, and a hug from Tessa.

“Do you have time to grab something to eat with us?” Mom asks.

“I’ve got nowhere to be.”

“Oh, Reese said there was a party with your teammates.”

“Levi texted me.” Reese holds up her phone. “I assumed you’d want to be there to celebrate with your team.”

“Are you going?”

“We’re going,” Tessa answers for her.

“Reese,” her dad says. His tone has warning.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t go if Cooper doesn’t.”

Her words seal my fate. She wants to go. I don’t have to convince her, and I know that if I don’t go, she’ll stay home, just like she told him she would. I could easily bow out, but I can see it in her eyes. This is what she wants to do. I’ll just have to keep a close eye on her, and then I need to get the message out to my teammates that she’s off-limits.

How hard could it be?My “how hard could it be” turns out to be a fucking nightmare. Reese and Tessa went back to their dorm to get ready after dinner, with plans for me to pick them up for the party in an hour. I sent them a text letting them know I was outside their dorm. I wasn’t expecting to swallow my tongue when they climbed into my Jeep. Both are wearing short jean shorts, with CU tank tops. It’s simple, understated, and unapologetically Reese, but damn, she looks hot. They both do. Tessa, with her long dark hair cascading down her back, and her bright green eyes, could make any man beg for her to be his.