REBECCA'S POV

I remained crabby at the boys until they surprised me with warm brownies after my shower. They regretfully admitted to them coming from a box but they were still delicious, plus it's the thought that counts. We ate supper backwards with dessert first but I made them stop eating that so they wouldn't get sick. After showering, they helped me make a quick pasta dish and chowed down on that instead.

"Are you sore from your workout?" Ryan asked when I flinched a little after he pulled me into his side on the couch.

"A little bit – I can't imagine what tomorrow's going to be like."

"I'll give you a backrub after the game... sound good?" I smile up at the sweet guy next to me and cuddle in closer. We remain attached at the hip once again until falling asleep in Ryan's bed a few hours later.

---

I'm in a lovely coma-like sleep until a scruffy face nuzzles into my neck.

"Time to wake up baby," Ryan says in his sexy morning voice. "I set the alarm a little earlier so you have time to take a long, hot shower." I try to lift my arms and want to cry at how sore the muscles are.

"I can't move," I whine. "How am I supposed to shower?"

Ryan shifts his body and hovers over me while kissing my neck. "I could definitely help you in there..." I know he was joking (partly) but goose bumps immediately covered my entire body at the naughty thought. I really wouldn't mind him joining me if we were further along in our relationship but we aren't there yet.

"Relax babe. I'm kidding." I must have unconsciously been clenched up or something. He kisses my neck one more time and pecks my lips before plopping back on the bed. "Well if you don't get in there soon I'll have to join you so we don't run out of time!"

I quickly hop up and he chuckles. I can't let him get the last laugh so I smirk just before leaving his bedroom.

"Pretty sure we would definitely run out of time if we went in there together..." I disappeared into the hallway but heard his loud groan reverberate throughout his room. I grin, knowing I'd bested him that time, and gently climb into the steaming shower. I'm secretly glad that Ryan woke me up early because it was no question that I needed this hot shower. I seriously might die after tonight's workout with Landon if he's so tough on me again.

Wrapping myself in a clean towel from under the sink, I sneak back into Ryan's room to make sure he's up.

"Jesus Christ Becca," he mumbled when I lean over to kiss his cheek.

"What?" I'm genuinely curious about what the problem is.

"Quit teasing me and then walking around looking all sensual in your towel." I couldn't hold it back – I burst out laughing.

"Sensual?!"

Ryan licked his lips and got out of bed. "Mhm," was all he said as he attempted to sneak out of the room. Although he tried hard to conceal himself, I noticed the definite bulge that stood out prominently within his gym shorts. It makes me blush but I'm not sure if it's from embarrassment or the thought that it kind of revs me up to see that... Anyways, I get to my room and put on a simple outfit including one of the new tops I bought with Bentley over the weekend. She said it would look great with skinny jeans and it undeniably did.

---

Ryan seemed a lot more relaxed on the way to school and I tried not to think about him 'relieving his pent-up energy' but hey, I have a dirty mind, sue me.

We walked into chemistry hand in hand and mentally prepared each other for the boring lecture by chatting about the game this Friday.

"It's against a pretty easy school so I have no doubt we will win," Ryan stated. He wasn't trying to be cocky about it – he simply just knew that the other school lacked in sports ability and ours did not.

"Well it's a home game, right?"

"Yeah..."

"So, I wear the blue jersey then?" He smiled at me widely and nodded.

---

The rest of the day flew by quickly. Mel tried to say something to me in History but Landon got rid of her. She tried again in gym class – which why was she ever there?!? She wasn't in this class!!! – but Kate stood up for me in the locker-room. I would be forever grateful for my new friends sticking up for me.

I found out that Bentley got a job at one of the clothing stores in the mall and had her orientation for that tonight so she wouldn't be coming to the warehouse with me and Landon. Hopefully that would mean he'll take it easy on me today... I literally had a tough time holding my books in one hand while twisting the lock on my locker in between classes and I don't know if I could take another day of workouts.

In the middle of Calculus, I feel my phone vibrate within my pocket and sneak it out.

___

|Becca Hanson > UNKNOWN – 2:44pm|

Received: I'm your legal guardian doll... Did you honestly think I wouldn't be able to find your new phone number?

___

I went frigid and I swear time stopped.

"Becca? What's wrong?" Mason was the first to notice my odd behavior and he quickly nudged Landon to make him aware. Landon responded by swiping the phone out of my grasp and reading the text for himself.

"That son of a bitch." His voice was low and menacing. I was thankful that this was the work time portion of our class so other students were chatting and didn't seem to notice him.

"Landon!" Mason snapped and motioned towards me. I hadn't noticed it, but I was shaking and suddenly felt liquid falling down my face.

"Hey, Becca. It's okay," Landon immediately changed his whole demeanor. His face was calm and voice soft while he pulled our chairs closer together and swung an arm around my shoulders. "Do you want to go to the hall?"

"No, I'm okay. Just give me a second," I mumble and turn my face towards him to hide it without being too obvious. After a short period of time, I'm more relaxed. "Is anybody looking at me?"

"No. You're good." I was surprised to hear it coming from Mason instead of Landon but I shouldn't have been... They were both incredible at looking out for me. I moved my phone towards Mason so he could look at the text. I know he's usually the one kept out of the loop but he deserves to know.

"From her step-father," Landon cleared up when Mason's face raised in confusion after reading it.

"What a sick bastard."

"Screen shot that and send it to Ryan right away okay? Class will be over in about ten minutes and we can talk then if you want." I nod in agreement and shoot Ryan another quick text after so he doesn't worry too much during his practice. The last thing I want is for him to skip because of me and not be able to play in tomorrow's game.

___

|Becca Hanson > Ryan – 2:53pm|

Sent: Hey. Landon told me to send you that screenshot right away. I just got the text... Have a good practice and we can talk after okay? I'll be with Landon until you get home.

___

I almost automatically typed 'I love you' at the end of the text but fortunately caught myself in time. It's not that I don't feel it or don't want to tell him that; I just don't want the first time I say it to be through text. Landon pulls me from my train of thought with a little shake.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I nod and wait for the rest of the class to slowly tick by. Once the final bell finally rings, Landon pulls me back. "Cool it. Mason's going to check outside and see if your step-dad is out there. If there's no sign we'll make a break for it okay?" That was probably a good idea.

"Haven't seen anything suspicious," Mason came back saying. "I gotta get to practice. I'll make sure Ryan got your text." With that he was sprinting down the hallway and Landon was dragging me towards the parking lot.

---

The two of us just hung out at the Bradley's house and ordered in Chinese food to be delivered around the time the other's get home. I was actually getting pretty good at Call of Duty no thanks to Landon's training and we'd been playing for about an hour before we got interrupted.

"Becs?" I heard Ryan's worried voice float into the living room seconds before his handsome face popped into view. "Have you heard anything else?" I barely looked up from the game.

"Nothing else. I'm okay though. You should shower because we have food coming soon."

"Are you sure?" I paused the game and looked away from the screen to see his face filled with concern.

"Promise," I add in a gentle smile, "we can talk about what to do when you don't stink." Landon chuckles from his side of the couch and restarts the game without telling me. "Hey!"

Alex strolls into the living room a half hour later with our Chinese and yells for Ryan to join us. He runs down the stairs and leaps onto the couch landing right next to me that I bounce a little.

"So, I think you should skip my game tomorrow." Landon and Alex turned with their jaws slightly dropped and I was about to fight him when he held his hands up. "Just hear me out."

"No Ryan, I know how important it is for me to support you at your games."

"I don't know Becca, I think he has a good point," Alex butted in. "Kirk showed up at the first home game and the away game. I don't doubt he'll show up to this one..."

I look back to Ryan with sad eyes. "I want to come but if you think it's a better idea that I don't then I can stay home." Landon and Alex sat awkwardly and waited for Ryan's reply as much as I did.

"I love when you come to my games sweetheart but I don't want to compromise your safety just to see me play. That's more important." A little smile makes its way on my face at his thoughtfulness.

"Okay," I whisper and he passes me a plate of food. The other two in the room seem to accept the decision and both offer to stay back with me. Landon wins that argument and we all start joking around for the rest of the night to lift the somber mood.