3

“It’s okay,” I said, forcing a weak smile. “Nine hours is nothing. We can still see each other at the weekend and at holidays.”

“Damn right we can.” Asher tipped his beer at us. “Nothing, not college, distance or time, is going to ruin this.”

His words settled over the six of us, turning the air thick with anticipation.

College was a big step. Things would change. We would change.

But was Asher right?

Were the bonds between us strong enough to survive?

PART I

Sophomore Year

JASON

“OKAY, GATHER ROUND,” COACH FAULKNER CALLED US IN, AND WE FELL INTO POSITION AROUND HIM. Shoulder to shoulder, teammate to teammate. The anticipation of a new season was thick in the air. Last season, as a freshman, I’d been so close to tasting victory, but in the end it had been Cornell who took the title.

It had been a bitter pill to swallow. I wanted to be the best, to win, to prove myself.

But this year… this year it was ours. We were thirsty for it: training harder, pushing harder. I might have only been with the Quakers for a year, but I felt at home here. We had strong leadership, a strong defense, and one of the best offenses in the whole damn country.

It was our year to bring that trophy home.

So the grim line on Coach’s face had a pit carving through my stomach. Something was about to happen. Something that affected the team. Fuck.

“I’ve got some news, ladies, and you’re not going to like it.” He yanked off his Quaker ball cap and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Manella is out.” A collective grumble filled the air.

Lincoln Manella was our running back, our fucking captain. It was his senior year; he was supposed to be entering the draft next spring. He couldn’t be out.

“Just got word from his old man. He tore his ACL and needs surgery.”

“Fuck,” I breathed, flicking my eyes to my friend Gio. His lips pulled into a thin line. This was bad.

Very fucking bad.

“So, what’s the plan, Coach?” Jared Galloway, our starting fullback and one of the senior players, asked.

“We need a new captain.” All eyes slid to me.

“Whoa.” I held up my hands and stepped back, bumping into the player behind me. “It should be an upperclassman.”

There were guys on the team who had more seniority than me, more experience. Just because I’d arrived last year a true freshman, taking the QB position from the senior player before me, didn’t mean I’d wanted or been qualified enough to be the captain.

“It should be you, son.” Coach tipped his chin in firm reassurance. He believed in me, he trusted me... and it floored me.

I’d led my high school team, carried that responsibility with pride and tenacity. But this was different.

This was college.

“I agree,” Jared said. “You more than proved yourself last year, Jase. You might only be a sophomore, but this is the right call.”

“Anyone got a problem with this?” Coach scanned the fifty young men surrounding him and not a single one of them stepped forward to disagree.

“Decision made. Congratulations, son.” A small smirk graced Coach’s rugged face. “You just became our fearless leader.”

The team broke out into a chorus of hoots and hollers as everyone congratulated me on the promotion. But I stood there blindsided, completely in shock, with only one thing on my mind. I did not see that coming.

FELICITY

Hot wet lips trailed up my neck, kissing and biting, teasing. A soft moan spilled from my mouth, lulling me from my nap, as I tilted my head, welcoming the delicious sensations. “I missed you,” Jason whispered against my throat. “It’s only been a few hours.” Even if it felt like more.

“It’s too many.” He let out an exhausted sigh, tucking my body into the hard curves of his. “What time is it?”

“Six thirty.”

“Crap.” My eyes flickered open. “I was only supposed to have a twenty-minute power nap.”

“Long day?” he asked, nuzzling my neck again. I loved it, the feel of Jase’s five o’clock shadow rough against my soft skin, his arms wrapped possessively around my body as if he might never let me go.

And I didn’t want him to.

This guy owned my heart and soul and I didn’t ever want it back.

“Yeah,” I admitted. It was only two weeks into the semester and classes were already kicking my ass. I shuddered to think how intense things would get in junior year once clinical practice started.

“You’ve got this, babe.” Jason nibbled my earlobe sending volts of electricity shooting through me. “You just need to believe in yourself.” “I actually signed up for some extra tutoring.” “You did?” I felt him tense behind me.

“I almost failed last year, Jason.” My brows furrowed, disappointment sitting heavy in my chest. “But you didn’t,” he reminded me.

“No, but this year is only going to get harder.”

I thought my love of animals, dedication to animal welfare, and determination to succeed was enough. Turns out, it wasn’t.

“Hey.” Jason shuffled us so that I was on my back and he was leaning over me. “You’ve got this.” He slid his fingers into my unruly curls and kissed me, his tongue curling around mine, stirring my body to life.

“I have some news too,” he breathed the words against my lips.

“Tell me.” I cupped his face, pushing his away gently so I could look into his eyes.

“Linc had an accident. He’s out for the season.”

“Oh God, Jason, that’s awful.” Lincoln had really taken Jase under his wing last year, so I knew how hard this would hit him.

“That’s not all...” He hesitated, a flash of fear streaking across his eyes. “Coach wants me to be captain. He thinks I’m ready.”