End Game_Bellevue Bullies Series Read online

  I slowly rise out of my seat and go to her, wrapping my arms around her as she takes me into her arms, hugging me so tightly to her chest. When I said I wanted to meet my sponsor, I never in my life thought it would be someone I know. Someone I love.

  With her voice low, she whispers, “I truly believe James sent you to us.”

  Holy crap. I squeeze my eyes shut as the tears leak out. “Or he sent you guys to me.”

  “Oh, Sofia,” she gushes, hugging me close to her. “You are an incredible woman. We all knew it from the moment we met you.”

  I swallow hard as I nod. “I can’t begin to thank you.”

  “Don’t. It’s unnecessary,” she insists, pulling away to look up into my face. “All I ask is that you continue to do what you’re doing. Make your dreams come true, and don’t ever give up. My God, Sofia, you make me work harder. You give me hope that, no matter how much I get knocked down, I will get up. You are inspiring, you are beautiful, and I can’t express how lucky we all are to know you. To love you.”

  Her words knock the air out of me. “I love you too.”

  She gives me a watery grin before hugging me back to her. While I knew it before, I now know I can’t ever give up what I am working for here. Not only would I let down my mom and myself, I’d let down the legacy Mr. Justice has built. I can’t do that. I never knew the man, but if he was even a fraction of what Ryan is, then there is no way I can disappoint him. And if the pressure to succeed weren’t already so ingrained inside of me, it is a billion times over now.

  But what does that mean for Ryan and me?

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Sofia

  When I come out of the building from my Lit class, which I’m pretty sure will be the death of me, I’m convinced my day is crap. It’s a meet day, but that class will ruin me. I hate literature. Why do I need it? I know how to talk to people, and I won’t need it when I’m a gym owner. Dammit!

  But then I see Ryan.

  He’s leaning against the tree outside the building, his hands in the pockets of his hoodie and his backpack hanging off his shoulder, looking so damn fine it’s hard to believe he’s all mine. His hair is a tousled mess. He must have just gotten out of the shower. But that isn’t what has me breathless. It’s the slow grin that comes across his face as he pushes off the tree, his eyes only on me.

  I’ve missed him so.

  Letting my head fall back dramatically, I groan as I go to him, my arms extended, ready for a hug. He laughs loudly, the rough sound tickling my stomach as he envelops me in his tight embrace. His lips come to my temple, then my cheek, before finally meeting my mouth. Sometimes, it’s like kissing him for the very first time. Leaning into the kiss, I wrap my hands around him tighter, needing him to become one with me.

  Maybe then time will stop and the future wouldn’t be looming over us.

  Ryan pulls back first, his lips in a smirk as he gazes down at me. My hands slide up his back, his backpack a heavy obstacle in my way. “What’s wrong with my beautiful girlfriend?”

  “I miss you,” I say with a pout, and he fully grins at me. “This sucks. I want to go back to break-us.”

  “Break-us?”

  “Yeah, when we slept in the same bed, cuddled, and spent every moment together. Campus was empty, and no one bothered us. I happened to really like that.”

  He chuckles, his lips grazing along mine. “So did I, but that’s not real life, Sof.”

  “Real life is overrated.”

  He chuckles as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, and we start for my dorm. We have a few minutes before I have to change and get to the gym for pre-meet activities.

  “That class is going to ruin me. Please tell me you are good at literature.”

  He smirks knowingly. “Don’t you know by now? I’m good at everything.” He nips at my bottom lip, and I giggle, turning into his chest.

  “I don’t know about that,” I tease, and he scoffs.

  “I happen to remember a certain someone riding my face, screaming—”

  “Ryan Justice!” I cry out, smacking his chest.

  “Yeah, that. Ryan Justice, you are a god. The most amazing—”

  His voice is loud, and of course, people hear him, laughing as I smack him some more. “Stop!”

  He chuckles as he nuzzles my neck. “You love it.”

  I roll my eyes when he kisses my jaw. “Whatever.”

  He presses his lips to the side of my mouth and then pulls away. “But, yes, I’m good at literature. I can help. Which reminds me…” He clears his throat, and I take his hand in mine, lacing our fingers, which is sort of awkward since it’s at my shoulder, but I just want to touch him. “My buddy Taylor is on the track team, and he has a sponsorship like you. I don’t know if it’s the same person, but he was telling me that if he finishes with a 4.0, he gets a bonus. You should read your paperwork. That would be awesome for your gym!”

  My heart tightens in my chest. I didn’t tell him what his mom told me. She didn’t ask me not to, but I decided it was implied that I needed to keep it under wraps. I felt sort of bad for not telling him, but at the same time, I don’t want it to make things difficult. It’s already a little weird for me that his dad is paying for my education, but I’m trying not to see it that way. I have a sponsorship, and its goal is to help me succeed. That’s all I really need to know.

  “Yeah, it would. I’d have to check. I don’t remember seeing that though.”

  “I asked where it was, and he told me on the last page, under graduation.”

  “Oh, cool,” I say as we reach my dorm and head inside. “We can check when we get upstairs.”

  “After or before I feel you up?”

  “During?” I suggest, and he nods.

  “Great idea. Two birds, one stone.”

  We laugh together as we head up the stairs. The gymnastics dorm is busy. Everyone is running around, getting ready for our first home meet in a long while. Since we are a new team, we are the ones traveling all the damn time. But today, we are hosting, and it’s gonna be a blast. I feel damn good, and I’m so excited. I’m ready to do this. I’m ready to win for my school.

  For Ryan.

  When we reach my room, I push the door open and enter as he shuts it behind me. Before I can even get far, he pulls me back into his chest, his hands moving down my stomach and cupping my already throbbing center. Dragging his mouth along my neck, he whispers, “Okay, before.”

  “Before?” I ask as his hand moves into my leggings and panties. He opens me up with his fingers, brushing them against my clit. “Oh, oh yes, before.”

  But just as his mouth captures mine, the door comes slamming into his back.

  “Oh, crap, sorry. But damn, move, you big idiot,” Amelia teases, and Ryan removes his hand very quickly.

  He doesn’t move, though. “I can’t kill her?”

  “Nope, we love her,” I say, turning and taking his hand with mine. “But later?”

  “Oh yes,” he answers as I pull him toward my bed. “All night long.”

  “Do you have a place in mind?” I ask as Amelia comes in, throwing her things on the floor.

  He thinks that over and then nods. “Amelia, if I give you fifty bucks, can you not come back to this room tonight?”

  She eyes him, one of her brows rising. “I could be a bitch and take your money, but I already planned on going to Shelli’s tonight.”

  Ryan flashes me a grin, and I grin back. “Cool.”

  “Awesome.” I waggle my brows at him as Ryan sits me down in his lap, kissing my neck.

  “I was going to invite you,” Amelia says to me. “But it’s obvious what the answer will be.”

  Crap. Things have been okay between us. As long as we don’t talk about Drew, we’re great. “Oh. Well, I mean, I can come—”

  “No, it’s fine. You’d be bored anyway. We got some new makeup we want to play with.”

  “Yeah, see? No way,” Ryan whines, and I laugh as I reach for my computer.