With Every Heartbeat (Forbidden Men 4)

The mention of my roommate cooled my temperament even more. My face heated with shame. I hadn’t thought of Cora once during the past few seconds as I’d walked up the steps with her boyfriend.

I was such an awful, awful friend.

“Thank you,” I repeated, not even daring to look his way, though it was impossible to miss him next to me. His mere presence took up so much room, his aura invaded my personal space.

“Selfie time,” Reese announced, leaning in toward me so she could aim her camera phone at the both of us. “Quinn, get in here so I can send this to Mason and let him know who I’m sharing a class with.”

Quinn obediently came in closer until his face was nearly brushing mine. Reese was squished in closer to me on the other side, but she still didn’t feel nearly as close as he did. It only took her half a second to click off a picture. It felt like hours, though, that the warmth from his face radiated into the side of my ear.

Then Reese’s phone flashed and she jerked away with a bubbly, “Thanks.”

Quinn shifted away while Reese commanded Caroline and Ten to do the same pose with her as she’d made Quinn and me get into. Caroline paled but agreed, while Ten flipped her off before crossing his arms over his chest and tipping his head back as he closed his eyes.

“Where’s Noel?” Quinn asked his roommate.

“Wrong Gamble.” Ten cracked open one eye to spare Caroline an accusative glance. “Guess we didn’t have to take this class after all.”

“Aww. Were the three of you big, tough football players supposed to share mean, intimidating art class together?” Reese cooed. “That’s so sweet.”

Ten shot her a glare. “Zip it, shorty.”

“Shorty?” Reese gasped and set her hand over her heart. “I’ll have you know I’m two inches taller than Eva.”

“Wow, I’m so impressed. I think I just pissed myself from excitement.”

“What an ass,” Reese shot back as her phone dinged. She glanced at the screen before sniffing. “Hmph. Mason said he was sorry I have to share a class with you.”

Sitting up, Ten leaned across Caroline’s desk to point at Reese. “Well, you can tell Lowe to kiss my—”

“Excuse me.” Caroline set her hand on his forehead and shoved him back before framing her desktop with her arms. “This is my desk. My space. Get back.”

He shot her an irritated scowl before falling back into his seat and rubbing his hand over his face. “This is going to be one long-ass semester.”

I didn’t mean to, but I glanced at Quinn. We shared a look where we both lifted our eyebrows as if to say this was actually going to be an entertaining semester.

“You guys sure are quiet over here,” Reese said, making us jump and tear our gazes away from each other.

Quinn cleared his throat. “Sorry,” he said just as the teacher arrived and started class.

Ten went back to closing his eyes and folding his arms over his chest as he rested his head back, while Quinn, Caroline, and I pulled out notebooks for note-taking. Reese, however, tugged a stack of wedding magazines from her bag and began to flip through them, the glint from her engagement ring reflecting light into my face every time she turned a page.

And so began my first college class.

Blood pumped fanatically through my veins as I a dodged a linebacker and hurdled a fellow teammate who’d wiped out in front of me. Tucking the pigskin more snugly against my ribs, I sprinted up the field, free of the entire defensive line. Feet pounding behind me told me there were more on my heels, though. With fifteen yards left to go before making a touchdown, I bowed my head and plowed forward.

The cheering of my practice scrimmage team told me when I’d crossed into the end zone. A piercing whistle split the air.

“Good job, Hamilton,” the coach’s voice boomed, only to start yelling at the defense for letting me slip through.

Sweat clouded my vision as a hand pounded me on the back. “God damn, Ham. You’re in rare form. What’d you eat for breakfast? Or should I say...who? I’m thinking it can’t be the same nasty Cora you have every day.”

I ripped my chinstrap open and pulled my helmet off to glare at Ten. “Not funny. That’s my girlfriend you’re disrespecting.”

He lifted both hands as if to surrender, but his grin was still as cocky as ever. “I’m just saying, man...you have a lot more energy than usual.”

“Whatever.” Turning away, I jogged back toward Noel where he was having the team huddle up for another play.

Hot August sun poured down on us, making my heavy pads wet from my own sweat and sticky with every movement. I did feel more energized than usual, though it had nothing to do with what my irritating roommate was suggesting.