The Wrong Quarterback (The Wrong Player #1)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

PARKER

I was in the front of the lecture hall, flipping through some papers I was going to have to hand out during class, pretending to be interested in what I was doing so I could avoid accidentally locking eyes with any potential stage-five clingers. Being a TA for a freshman history class wasn’t exactly thrilling—and I didn’t exactly have time for it, but my agent had said it would look good on my resume. Apparently after the last two years, when the number one draft picks had ended up complete failures thanks to their partying, NFL scouts were wanting to see that prospective players weren’t just good at football—they had their shit together too.

So here I was, faking that I did.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, hoping it wasn’t bad news from Mom’s nurse. I really didn’t need any bad news today. Not with the first game of the season tomorrow.

I grinned when I saw it was Jace.

Jace: What does a hot dog use for protection?

Matty: Please, fuck, no.

Me: Just let him get it out.

Jace: How magnanimous of you, QB.

Matty: Are you going to tell us?

Jace: Tell you what?

Matty: Fucking hell. The answer to the joke.

Me: I believe it’s called a punchline.

Jace: See, this is why we call you “big brain” behind your back.

Matty: I’ve literally never heard anyone call him that before in my life.

Jace: Maybe they say it behind your back. Maybe they don’t want you to get all offended and jealous.

The door opened, and a group of freshman girls filed in, giggling and casting glances my way. There was a reason this class had been the most popular one to get into the last two years—and it wasn’t because Professor Hendrick was an enthralling professor.

Spoiler alert. She wasn’t.

The professor in question shot me an exasperated glance from behind the desk where she’d been going over her lecture plans. I shrugged, because what could I do? I was worth the hype.

My phone buzzed again, reminding me that a pointless conversation was still taking place.

Matty: Why would I get jealous of the title “big brain.” They call me “big dick” behind my back. Which is much better IMO.

Jace: 1) Are you too lazy to write out “in my opinion” now. 2) Literally no one calls you “big dick.” I literally have an inch on you. So it would be a false statement.

Matty: IT’S A QUARTER OF AN INCH, SIR. WHICH STILL MAKES IT HUGE.

Me: So shouty.

I must have laughed because Professor Hendrick coughed and gave me another pointed look. Whoops.

Jace: Thanks, “Big Brain.”

Me: Also, I’d like to note that I have the biggest dick out of all of you.

Matty: Since you weren’t there the day we measured, we can’t be sure of that.

Jace: It’s true.

Me: …

Me: Class is about to start. Are you ever going to tell us the rest of the joke?

Matty: Was…meaning you agree with our assessment.

Me: No.

Jace: …

Me: CAN YOU JUST TELL THE FREAKING JOKE?

Jace: QB is a little testy today.

Matty: Okay, Goldilocks.

Jace: Goldilocks?

Matty: Oh, I thought we were just throwing out nicknames.

I glanced up and immediately regretted it. A few of the girls in the front row had intentionally worn skirts, and their legs were spread open like they were a runway waiting for a jet to fly in.

Not that I was comparing my dick to a jet.

Although I hadn’t had any complaints yet.

Those freshman girls, though, were never going to have the chance to experience my dick—at least not until they were out of this class. Professor Hendrick had given me a lecture when I’d first started with her that she would ruin my life if she heard I was getting it on with her students.

While she hadn’t exactly said that—she had hinted enough about making sure the NFL scouts heard from her about what I’d done to not want to risk it.

My policy was thus very firm that these girls were off limits…at least until they were done with the class.

It had worked out for me so far.

My phone buzzed again.

Jace: Okay, let’s start this over.

Me: You have thirty seconds.

Matty: Countdown starts now.

Jace: Geez, the pressure.

Me: JACE!

Jace: Okay, okay.

Matty: Could have saved time saying “Ok.” Just saying.

Jace: …

Jace: As I was just saying…what does a hot dog use for protection?

Me: What?

Jace: Condoments.

I snorted, eliciting another glare from the professor. But that one was actually funny. Which almost never happened with Jace’s jokes.

Me: Well done.

Matt: I reluctantly concur.

I leaned back, trying to stifle a yawn, when a chair hit the ground hard, the noise slicing through the low murmur of the room. My head snapped up, annoyed at first as my eyes scanned the rows, finding a girl in the back bent over and struggling to pull her chair upright.

I was turning my attention back to my phone when she turned around…

Holy fuck.

I stared in awe as she settled into her desk like she wasn’t completely blowing my mind. Raven hair that fell in soft waves over her shoulders, dark enough to swallow the light. And her eyes—fuck, where they silver? They looked like it from down here. They glinted in the dim light of the lecture hall as she glanced around, an embarrassed flush to her cheeks.

I needed to see those eyes up close.

I froze, completely forgetting what I was supposed to be doing. It was like a literal goddess had been dropped into the fucking room.

I was losing it.

The Davis family had a curse. Or at least they liked to think that they did. Our male family members tended to be one look and that’s all kind of people. When they found “the one,” that was it.

I hadn’t believed that it was true—it couldn’t be true.

Holy shit.

It couldn’t be true…

I swallowed hard, my dick feeling like it had become a giant trouser snake in my jeans. It felt like I had been knocked on my head. Like I’d become someone else. I reached down and tried to adjust my dick, but of course that got the attention of the front row because the fucking desk I was sitting at didn’t have any protection.

A redhead literally licked her lips at me, and I flinched like I’d been shot, my gaze jerking back to the beauty in the back because suddenly any girl’s attention but hers felt unacceptable.

Alright, Parker. Get your shit together. I stared down at the paper, the words spinning in front of me. A few deep breaths. Nope. That wasn’t helping either.

I had to look at her again.

Like she had a magnet attached to her head, my gaze went to hers.

Fuck. She was looking at me.

Something sparked to life inside me. Like I’d had a dead heart all along, and now it was finally beating.

Because of her.

Was this what giddy felt like? Or was I just about to faint? It felt like the same thing at the moment.

The thud of Professor Hendrick dropping a thick stack of syllabi on the desk had me reluctantly drawing my attention away from the angel I’d just found. The professor’s gaze swept the room like she was already disappointed in what she was seeing, and I was a little miffed at the attitude she was giving right then. She had a goddess in her class. She should be behaving accordingly.

“Welcome to History of the Roman Empire,” she began, her voice sharp and clear. “If you’re here for an easy ride, you might as well leave now.”

I glanced frantically at the girl, making sure she wasn’t taking that sentence literally. It would be a little embarrassing if I had to jump out of my seat and run after her.

A few students shuffled uncomfortably, but she stayed put.

Thank fuck. I forced myself to focus on Professor Hendrick again. For a second. But then my eyes were drifting once again to…her name. What the fuck was her name?

I frantically pulled out the class roster, but of course it didn’t have pictures on it. Where was that one? Probably in some email I hadn’t bothered to open because before this moment I couldn’t have cared less what any of these students’ names were. Professor Hendrick frowned at me, probably because I looked as crazy as I was feeling inside. Was I sweating? Yep, I was sweating. My heart was also trying to escape my chest. Maybe I was having a heart attack. This girl was actually making my body have a physical reaction.

Breathe in, breathe out , I coached myself. I wouldn’t pull up her picture right now. I could survive without her name for another half an hour.

Maybe.

Professor Hendrick started rattling off dates and expectations. Something about midterms, paper deadlines, whatever. I got lost in the way the girl was tapping her fingers on the side of her laptop, like she had a rhythm in her head that only she could hear. It was way more captivating than whatever my boss was saying.

“Mr. Davis, why don’t you introduce yourself to the class as our teaching assistant?”

I blinked, and it may have taken me a whole moment to remember that I was Mr. Davis. She was talking to me. Everyone’s eyes were on me as they waited for me to regain the ability to form words—something I’d never had trouble with before. I stood up, clearing my throat as I glanced at Professor Hendrick. She raised an eyebrow, her lips pressed into a line that said she was unimpressed.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” I said, sounding like a complete idiot. “I’m Parker Davis. I’m…the teaching assistant for this course.” My gaze flickered back to the girl for a second before I forced them away, focusing on the back wall. “My, uh, office hours are posted…somewhere.” A few chuckles scattered through the room, and my gaze snapped over to see if she was laughing at me too.

She wasn’t even looking at me, though. She was staring at her desk, like it held the most interesting thing she'd ever seen. Fuck. This was the worst first impression ever.

Professor Hendrick’s frown deepened, but she said nothing, waiting. I took a deep breath, trying to piece together the basics. “You can find me in the department office on Wednesday mornings if you need help with, um, essays or questions. I’m here to assist with anything…related to the class.”

Good thing I’d at least been able to remember the “related to the class” part of the speech. Although that wouldn’t stop the line outside my office from forming with people who wanted help with…other things.

My gaze drifted to her again. Wishing there was some way to tell her that she wasn’t included in that provision. I would help her with anything…literally anything.

I would soon be helping her with everything as a matter of fact.

It took me a second to realize that I was just standing there, gaping like a freak. How long had it been since I’d stopped speaking?

I could literally feel Professor Hendrick shooting daggers into the side of my head…I just couldn’t find it in myself to care.

The professor cleared her throat. “Um thank you…Mr. Davis. And please do use his services if you need help in the class. Mr. Davis got a perfect grade when he took this course, the first to ever do so.”

She’d probably added that last part because of how dumb I’d sounded. My gaze drifted hopefully to the new focus of my existence. Was she impressed?

I just couldn’t tell…her eyes were still glued to her desk, avoiding my stare like it was something toxic.

There was a blush to her cheeks, though. I was pretty sure she was aware of me.

And now my dick was even harder.

Professor Hendrick cleared her throat loud enough that I snapped back to attention just in time to hear her say, “The Roman Empire was built on ambition, and ambition, as you’ll learn, can be both a strength and a downfall.”

Ambition. Yeah, I knew something about that. I’d found a new ambition in life.

Her.

And like the Romans…I wasn’t sure yet if she was going to be my downfall.

CASEY

I walked into the lecture hall, clutching my bag tighter than necessary as the usual low buzz of conversation filled the room. Hopefully I’d just had my first and only freakout of the day, and I could start out the school year strong. Scanning the rows, I looked for an empty seat. Ugh. The only ones available were in the very middle of the back of the auditorium. I made my way down the row, apologizing as I went. I’d have to make a note to get here earlier next time.

I’d just gotten to the seat when my eyes caught on something—or rather, someone—and my heart may have stopped.

It was him. The guy from the banner.

Parker Davis, in the flesh, sitting at a long desk next to the professor’s lecturn. The room seemed to shift, all noise and motion slowing down to a crawl as my pulse thundered in my ears. That banner hadn’t been photoshopped. Not at all. If anything, it hadn’t been realistic enough.

He was even more stunning up close. I didn’t know that humans actually existed that looked like that. For a second I was worried, like maybe I was having one of those final moments, where your brain conjures up crazy images right before you pass away. Because he was too perfect to be real.

I knocked my chair over.

It clattered to the ground with a sound that seemed to cut through the room like a gunshot. Heads turned, eyes darted, and my face felt like I’d somehow gotten sunburned.

Shit.

I quickly bent down to grab the chair and set it upright with trembling hands. Obviously seats needed to be bolted to the floor when I was around.

Great start.

I snuck a peek at Parker Davis, hoping that maybe it hadn’t been as loud as I’d thought and he wouldn't have noticed.

But he was looking. And not just looking. His blue eyes were locked onto me, burning straight through to my insides. Was the room spinning? Or was that just me…and the fact that I didn’t know how to breathe anymore?

Another bolt of heat shot through me, and my fingers went numb for a second.

I frantically dragged my ass into the seat, wincing when I banged my elbow on the little desk attached to it that was somehow supposed to hold my laptop. Could I look up yet? There was no way he was staring anymore…right?

I peeked at the front of the room.

Nope. He was still watching me, his expression unreadable but intent. I frantically glanced around. Because I was just imagining this. He had to be looking at someone else. But although there were plenty of students drooling over him, none of them seemed to be having the visceral reaction that you had to have when you caught the attention of a god like Parker Davis. Sweating, pulse exploding…underwear suddenly damp…

I tried to nonchalantly wipe my mouth. Did I have whipped cream from my drink on my lips? I hadn’t been able to eat anything this morning, so it couldn’t be food…but maybe my lipgloss had smeared?

Okay…it didn’t feel like I had anything wrong on my face.

I pulled out my laptop, keeping my eyes glued to the screen…even though I didn’t have anything on it to look at. Somehow…I could still feel him staring, though, and every second made my skin tingle with a mixture of dread and anticipation and something I didn’t want to name.

The professor, a tall woman with sharp features, began talking, introducing herself as Professor Hendrick. “Welcome to History of the Roman Empire. If you’re here for an easy ride, you might as well leave now.” Her voice cut through the room, but I barely heard it. All I could feel was the weight of Parker’s gaze.

My pulse thudded in my chest, and it took everything I had to keep my breathing steady. A few other students had noticed, their eyes darting between us with interest, like there was something here they wanted to figure out. I swallowed hard, shifting in my seat and gripping my pen until my knuckles turned white.

I forced myself to listen to the professor, catching snippets of what she was saying about expectations and midterms. But even then, the awareness of him didn’t fade. It was like he’d put me in a spotlight, and I couldn’t escape it.

I snuck another glance up and found him still watching, his blue eyes locked on me like he was trying to read every thought in my head. My heart did a strange, heavy flip, and I looked away so fast my neck hurt.

The last two years had been lonely. That was the only thing that could explain how I was reacting to a stranger. None of my friends had wanted to deal with the sad girl that had lost her brother. They hadn’t known how to talk to me about anything…and so they’d just stopped talking to me altogether.

My mother had been so trapped in her grief over the death of her favorite child that her other child…the one that was still living…disappeared in her mind. We passed each other like shadows in the night, and I could count the conversations that I’d had with her on one hand over the past two years.

And Gray…well, I’d lived for his text messages, but if I was honest with myself…they’d been few and far between.

That loneliness had to be the explanation for why I was feeling so crazy right now because of a stranger, albeit a hot stranger, eyeing me.

I just wasn’t used to it.

“Mr. Davis, why don’t you introduce yourself to the class as our teaching assistant?” the Professor suddenly said.

And that got my attention.

I peeked up once…only to lock eyes with him again…and I immediately resumed studying the pencil marks etched into the top of my desk.

Parker started talking…and although a lot less articulate than I would have thought he’d be as a guy who probably had to talk in front of crowds all the time…his voice…fuck. It was deep, rich, a perfect mix of confidence and something rougher that made the air seem heavier. The sound of it vibrated in a way that sank right into my chest, making me feel it more than just hear it. It wasn’t just a voice; it was a presence. Low, commanding, with a hint of rasp that made my pulse quicken and my skin flush hot.

His words seemed to brush over my skin and leave a trail of awareness in its wake, heat pooling low in my stomach like a slow burn. It was as if his voice reached across the space between us and pulled me in, locking me in place whether I wanted it or not.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I only caught a few things that Professor Hendrick said for the rest of class…which was definitely a problem since I was pretty sure she’d given us our first assignment at the end. All I knew was that the second she said the words “Class dismissed,” I was out of my seat, grabbing my bag and hustling down the row as I tried not to trip on everyone else who seemed in no hurry to get out of class.

Maybe it was because they hadn’t been stared at all class by the hottest man alive.

It made a difference when you were the one doing the staring, I supposed.

I had made it two steps out the door and had proudly kept my eyes to myself the entire time, when I heard that voice—calling “hey” behind me.

Even though it didn’t make sense. I knew Parker Davis was calling after…me.

I turned around…and it felt a little like my heart might be breaking. Because now that I’d seen him up close, how was anyone, for the rest of my life, supposed to compare?

His lashes were thick and dark, no doubt the envy of every woman who swooned over him. The light from the windows in this hallway was catching on the sharp line of his jaw, the little flecks of gold in those electric-blue eyes. He was devastating, magnetic…perfect. The rough shadow of stubble on his face, the way his lips tilted in a half-smile—it all sent a wave of heat through me that had me barely able to hold myself together.

“Hey,” he said, simple and casual, but his voice carried that same low hum, like it held secrets meant only for me.

It was really bad that I wanted those secrets.

“Um—hi?” I managed, the word coming out softer than I wanted…and confused. My throat felt tight, like it was suddenly hard to breathe.

His gaze lingered, eyes scanning my face like he was trying to memorize every detail. The world seemed to narrow to just us, the noise of shuffling students, and slamming doors fading away. I felt hyper aware of everything—of how close he was—and how he smelled, like clean, masculine energy…with a hint of something darker. Or the way his presence seemed to fill every inch of space between us.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, just in case my suddenly ridiculously hard nipples were poking through my bra and he could see.

“Did you need something?” I finally murmured, when we’d just been standing there gazing at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

He blinked, as if the sound of my voice had broken him out of a trance.

“What’s your name?” he asked, and my confusion only grew.

“My name?”

“Yeah, I need it,” he answered. His voice was demanding…like he felt it was his right to get it from me.

And something inside me definitely wanted to obey.

“Casey,” I told him hesitantly.

His responding smile was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. I wanted to bask in its warmth. I wanted to see it every day for the rest of my life.

Okay, crazy.

“Casey,” he repeated, almost to himself, like he was savoring the taste of my name. “I’m Parker.” A slightly hysterical sounding giggle escaped my lips, because he was being so polite in introducing himself, when obviously I knew his name already.

Everyone did.

“There you are,” Gray’s voice came from behind me, and a second later his arm was slipping around my waist. The unexpected contact made me stiffen, but I forced a smile as he curled himself around my body. What was he doing?

And why did it suddenly feel so wrong when before this morning it was everything I’d ever wanted…

Parker’s eyes were locked on us, his jaw tightening as he watched. There was a dangerous glint there, almost like he didn’t like what he was seeing. The way his gaze burned through me made the air feel heavy, charged.

Gray pressed a kiss to the side of my head, and that snapped me out of whatever daze Parker had me under. I glanced up at him, surprised.

“Ready for lunch?” Gray’s voice was low, intimate, and I flushed at the sound of it. At this rate, I was going to look like a tomato for the entire day. He looked at Parker before I could say anything. “Oh, hey,” he said, as if he’d just noticed Parker standing there.

Which had to be impossible because I’d never met anyone in my life with such a large presence. Ignoring Parker Davis would be like ignoring a giant naked statue in the middle of a room.

Impossible.

“Andrews,” Parker said stiffly, lifting his chin. All the warmth he’d had before turned into ice.

The two of them stared at each other, a thick layer of tension building between the three of us.

“Do you two know each other?” Gray asked, his arm still wrapped around me.

“No,” I said at the same time that Parker said, “Yes.”

Gray shifted behind me, and then his other arm was wrapped around me as well. It felt like he was staking a claim or something.

Which was laughable.

Because in what world would Parker Davis ever be interested in me…

And besides, I’d been in love with Gray Andrews forever. How could I be interested in anyone else?

How could I…

“Mr. Davis.” Professor Hendrick’s voice floated out from the lecture hall entrance, disapproving, like she didn’t like what she was seeing.

Parker gritted his teeth, turning his attention to me for one more second, all that rapt awareness focused and clear.

“See you later, Casey,” he finally said.

And it felt like a promise.

“Bye,” I answered, forcing the word out while my pulse thudded in my ears. Parker turned and walked away, and it was all I could do to drag my gaze to Gray.

As Gray unwrapped himself from around me and took my hand, I couldn’t help but look back over my shoulder as he led me down the hallway.

I almost tripped when I saw that Parker was paused in the doorway, once again watching me.

And suddenly…“bye” felt like the biggest lie I’d ever told.