By the time I have all the cards shuffled, the pizza has arrived. I'm thankful to see he ordered a salad and wings as well. He warns me that I better grab what I want before it's gone, so I tuck a package of buffalo wings under my knee.

"I'd suggest strip UNO, but then I'd have you naked and under me again. I need to focus on this shit."

"Chicken," I taunt him.

"Chelsea Cheater Pants."

I roll my eyes at him, deal the seven cards, and then review our rules. He agrees to everything and the match begins. He devours his pizza while playing, making some of the cards greasy. It doesn't bother me.

We take turns almost going out with one card left, but then the inevitable Draw Four shows up. I'll hand it to the man, he never lets me get away with shouting UNO first for a long time. His phone buzzes several times, but he chooses to ignore it.

When he finally looks down at the screen filled with text message notifications, I strike.

"UNO," I scream.

The word comes out so loud I scare myself. He quirks an eyebrow up at me and shakes his head.

"That's cheating."

"Whatever, you chose to look down at your phone."

"Cheating," he repeats.

He fans his cards deciding what to play. It's hard to keep a poker face, so I nervously bite down on the end of my finger to throw him off his game. He eyes me carefully before laying down a Wild Draw Four card. He relaxes back down on his elbow and gives me A Gotcha Sucker look.

"State," I whine.

"Told you I've been waiting on this rematch for years."

"You're a jerk." My voice is filled with defeat.

"Some people just aren't made for cut-throat UNO."

I drop my hand to pull from the draw pile, but in a swift change of movement I lay down my Wild Draw Four on his.

"Sucka." I throw both hands up over my head.

"No fucking way." He slams his hand down on the bed.

"Way!" I brush a shoulder off and then the other. "Ain't nobody taking down the Queen of UNO."

"You little cheat."

He pounces up from his relaxed state on his side and attacks me in upright cross-legged position. We both fall back onto the bed. He peeks down my shirt, then runs his hands up my shirt cupping my bra. He squeezes my boobs and even dips a finger down low, running it along the cups.

"What are you doing?"

"Finding where you hid all the good cards, Chelsea Cheater."

"State," I giggle and squirm under him.

He runs his hands down the front of my panties and then rolls me over. He does the same, running his palms over my bare ass.

"Did you kiester them?"

"Stop." I giggle even harder.

He finally settles down next to me.

"The best out of five?" He asks with a hopeful expression.

"I'd love to, but I have to get going."

"I hate this part."

"Me, too." I wiggle my nose on his cheek. "When will I see you again?"

He nibbles on my jawline. "It will be a while, Baylor. Our next game is away. I won't have any time to come see you this week."

I deflate next to him. "Okay."

"We'll fly home Sunday. We usually get in super late. The game is going to be intense, we're playing our conference rivals. They're out for blood this year."

"So, like two weeks?" I ask.

"Fuck, I hope not. I'll do my best."

I'm being selfish and I know it. I prop up on one elbow to look down at him. "It's okay. You're a busy man with lots on your shoulders. I know you'll come to me when you can."

"I am busy and have tons of responsibility with football, but Baylor you're number one in my life. Do you get that? Number one. Day or night."

I nod. "Okay, but seriously State, my name on your back is all I need."

"What do you think of Rowe coming to my next home game?"

"Honestly?"

He nods.

"I really don't think she's ready. I mean football aside, she's really sensitive to loud noises."

"Down the road?" He looks hopeful.

"I'll talk to Miss Tami and we can make a plan."

"I really want her at a game. Hell, I'd love to bring her down on the field."

"I know. She adores you, Shrek."

He brushes off a shoulder throwing my own move in my face. "I'm pretty damn loveable."

"That you are."

Twenty-Three.

"You're crazy. It's still light outside."

"I'm walking your fine ass to your car and sending you off with a proper farewell."

We walk hand in hand past the security guard and avoid another elevator soap opera. State gets stopped by a group of men. I recognize some from the team party, but step back while they talk.

I send out a quick text to Miss Tami while I wait. State holds up a finger to me and jogs off with the men. I can still see him, even though he's like the size of ant in the distance.

"I know you from somewhere."

I turn to see Dylan Burnett behind me. He's alone and eyeing me up and down. My skin fucking crawls. No way he recognizes me. Hell, I didn't even put a name to the face until it was announced at the party.

"Nope, sorry." I turn my body to face the direction that State went in, hoping the fuckface walks off.

"I'm pretty sure I do." He steps in front of me tapping his lips. "You star in any porns?"

"Excuse me?"

"I never forget a face."

"Leave me alone. State's going to be right back. Get away from me. I have nothing to say to you."

He's just trying to upset you. Stay calm. He's one of State's team members. State needs to have a good season. Stay calm.

His hand wraps around my wrist and he tugs me to him.

"Let go of me."

His grip tightens and he jerks down hard. I feel a pop in my shoulder and then shooting pain strike down my arm.

"Rowe, the little retarded girl. You guys ruined my brother. He's serving time."

I react, ignoring the pain. I spit in his face and then knee him in the groin as hard as I can. I connect hard, sending him backward. I'm not finished though. When he hunches over, I send my knee up into the air connecting with his nose.

My kneecap aches with pain because of the brutal connection. Blood spews from his nose, and I bring back my fist to take a swing at his perfect lined jaw.

"Baylor, Jesus." Someone pulls me back by the shoulders.

They're stronger than me, but the anger and rage in me fuels my adrenaline.

"Let go of me." I swing my arms and try to kick whoever has me in their grasp.

I'm spun around and come face to face with State.

"Let me go."

"No." He looks over my shoulder. "Get that fucker out of here."

Campus security shows up and escorts him off.

"I'm not talking to them. Let me go."

"Baby, what's going on?"

"I want to go home. Please."

One of his teammate bends over and picks up my phone. "State, I think it was all caught on video."

I look down at the phone and go for it, but the man holds it up over his head. I begin to tremble and feel my legs go weak. The world spins, I see stars for the second time tonight, but not the good ones.

"Jesus, baby." State scoops me up in his arms. "Do you trust me?"

Sobs wrack me.

"Follow us in her car."

I feel State reach around in my purse for the keys. The sound of them jangling together fills my ears when he tosses him.

"Green, drive my car."

He has me clutched to his chest in the back of the car. "Are you taking me home?"

"No," he whispers into my ear. "You have to talk to me and trust me."

I close my eyes willing everything to disappear. I want to be back home and the Baylor I was before reconnecting with State. I don't want him in my life. This is going to ruin everything.

I'm not sure what happens or even how much time passes before I come to my senses. I'm sitting on a couch in Coach Pete's house. He's sitting across from me with a concerned look on his face. Momma Pete is on one side of me with State on the other.

"Whenever you're ready, sweetie. You need to tell us what happened," she reassures me.

"It's them or the cops," State whispers, clutching my hand.

"Where's my phone?"

"Right here." State hands it to me.