Page 92 of Campus Muscle

“That’s easy for you to say.” I snagged my bag and pulled the door shut, the lock clicking with a finality that mirrored my nerves. “But laid-back isn’t exactly the vibe I’ve gotten from them so far.”

He shot me a look. A silent reminder that my only interactions with his friends had involved me hunting for skeletons in their closets. I offered a sheepish shrug, the guilt prickling at me because I still wasn’t sure if I’d crossed a line I couldn’t uncross.

“And it’s not just the team.” I kept my eyes on the road as we pulled away from the curb. “You said the whole squad will be there. Cheerleaders too.”

Trace glanced over with a smirk. “Worried about the competition?”

“Yeah, right.” I rolled my eyes. “More like worried that I’m being chauffeured into a whole new circle of hell. If they’re anything like the girls from my high school, that is.”

He snorted a short laugh and patted my thigh. Reassurance, probably. But it wasn’t working. “They’re awesome. I think you’ll actually like them.”

I didn’t have the heart to burst his bubble. He looked so happy to finally have me hang out with him and his teammates. But as far as hitting it off with all of them… the jury was still out on that.

The car hadn’t even come to a full stop in the parking lot before the bass from the bar started thumping against my ribcage. I took a couple of deep breaths, praying for some semblance of calm, but my nerves were completely immune to logic. But there was no more time for pep talks. I stepped out into the cool night air, instinctively reaching for Trace’s hand.

He took the lead, and I stayed half a step behind his shoulder, using him as a human shield. In this world, he was the only thing standing between me and whatever onslaught the Highlanders had planned. My fingers tightened around his, and I could only hope his shadow was big enough to hide in for the rest of the night.

The door swung open, and the first thing I saw was Elizabeth perched on Ethan’s lap. She was whispering something into his ear, and in response, he flashed a dazzling, rare smile that seemed to transform his entire face. Watching them, it was hard not to feel a pang of envy. They were the gold standard. Living proof that you could date a Highlander and actually be okay.

Seeing them like that made me wonder what Trace and I would look like a few months down the line. Our origin story was way messier than theirs, built on secrets and front-page scandals rather than stadium lights and cheers. But seeing Ethan’s guard completely drop around her gave me a flicker of hope.

Maybe there was a seat at the table for me, too.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Malik said, and everyone went quiet. “It’s the MVP and his little pigeon.”

“Ugh, it makes me sick.” Lucas raised his voice so that Ethan and Elizabeth could hear. “First, we had to deal with those two, and now you’re in chains too, Prescott.”

“I swear their sole purpose is to score goals and hook up with the most difficult women on campus,” Dylan added with a snicker.

Cam shook his head in disappointment. “I can’t believe we already lost two in the ranks to the evil wiles of women such as these.”

Trace let go of my hand to get us some drinks, and I just stood there, too stunned to move. I expected a snide remark or an objection to our relationship, but it didn’t seem to faze the guys at all. They were just going about the night as if another set of friends had shown up. Was this what Trace had meant?

“Listen up,” Elizabeth said after downing a shot of tequila. “I didn’t steal anything. Ethan didn’t belong to you either. He was in no-man's-land, and I steered him in the right direction, that’s all. So you should all be thanking me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Malik said, dismissing her with a wave. “It had absolutely nothing to do with your ability to bend in every direction possible. You are a dangerous woman, and you know it.”

“Yeah,” Dylan chimed in. “Just look at how you crushed my heart. I tried to get up your skirt for months and you didn’t even breathe in my direction, but he just looks at you and your panties drop of their own accord.”

“Did you guys know that Trace nearly killed me the first day we met?” I asked, and everyone went quiet. Feeling self-conscious, I just kept talking. “He was running with the ball and I didn’t know how things worked so I had no idea I was in his way…”

“I almost ran you over, but you hated my guts, so I guess we were pretty much on the same page,” Trace said, breaking through the crowd.

The guys burst out laughing, and the tension I’d felt instantly dissolved. The barrier was broken, and it looked like the night wouldn’t be that bad after all.

“Just like the start of your relationship, it’s been a tough season,” Ethan said, raising his glass. “We had wins, losses, and some epic injuries, but we made it through. And this time, we’re heading to the playoffs.”

“We had a fucking luxury bus,” Dylan added, raising a glass as well. “There is nothing about this year that I’m more grateful for than that damn piece of metal.”

“We reclaimed our reputation and designed plays that confused our opponents time and time again. That is something no one will ever be able to take away from us,” Malik said to loud cheers. “And special recognition goes to the most memorable tag-team… Dylan and Trace.”

More rounds of toasts and celebratory speeches filtered through the group until pretty much all of them had had their say. The bar was warm, made cozier by my second drink, and I felt totally at ease.

“Want to dance?” Trace asked, pulling me to my feet.

He led me through the most crowded part of the bar and into a darker, quieter corner. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my forehead. It was such a nice moment that I allowed myself to finally relax and enjoy what the night had to offer.

“I can’t believe we’ve come this far,” I breathed against his chest. “From you nearly running me over, to chasing me away so many times I lost count. And now we’re here. Me in your arms, feeling like it’s the safest place on earth.”