Adam Watson

"Our parents are on the way?" Terrence asked, peering over my shoulder.

"My parents are on the way," I corrected, rolling my eyes.

"Ours, yours, same concept."

I tossed my phone down on the bed, informing Terrence that I was going to take a shower.

And wouldn't you know that the door is locked.

"Toby, my man!" Terrence called out. "Never fails."

"Every fucking time, this is ridiculous."

I slammed my hand against the door, letting my suitemate know that I needed in. And then I took a seat in Terrence's chair.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Who said you could sit there?"

"Fuck off."

He chuckled. "Why so grumpy?" He paused. "Well, more grumpy than usual."

I flipped him my middle finger to which he just laughed.

"The last thing that I want to do today is showcase my parents around Vandy while they ask me a thousand questions and breathe down my neck all day. No thanks."

Terrence was silent for a few moments, and I waited for his lecture about having parents that are willing to come. It always comes after I complain.

"Well maybe they wouldn't be so worried about you if you straightened up."

I slammed him in the face with a pillow. Hard.

"When did you become my dad?" I asked, as Terrence shot me a smile.

He shrugged. "Just telling it like it is."

I picked my glass of orange juice up off of my mini-refrigerator, downing the rest of it.

"Like that," Terrence said, without glancing up from his book. "You do things like that."

"Drink orange juice?" I asked, causing Terrence to roll his eyes.

"If that was the only thing in there then there wouldn't be a problem."

The bathroom door clicked open, and Toby poked his head in. "It's all yours you impatient dick."

I flashed him a thumbs-up and he disappeared.

"You better sober up before your parents get here," Terrence warned. He flipped to the next page of his book. "Otherwise we'll have a shitshow to deal with."

"I'm not drunk."

"Tipsy, buzzed, drunk, whatever. Your dad will see right through you, as he always has."

I stared at Terrence a few moments, confusion flickering through me. "Since when did you become my personal Jiminy Cricket?"

"Since I became your best friend."

"What is this, emotional breakdown Saturday?"

He glanced up at me, clearly not amused. "Think of me as the angel on your shoulder."

"If you're supposed to represent the angel on my shoulder, then we have a lot more problems to deal with."

"Go take your fucking shower," Terrence muttered, clearly fed up with the conversation.

"Okay, angel, whatever you say."

~*~

"And that's the library," I said, gesturing toward the building. "Where I spend most of my time."

Dad laughed and mom just shook her head.

"Do you even know what the inside looks like?" dad asked, nudging his elbow into my side.

"Of course! Where else would I do the copious amounts of studying that I do?"

"You're full of it, Adam," mom said, causing me to smile.

As I turned my head back toward the path in front of me, I almost stumbled into a lean, pissed-off looking male.

"My bad," I said, holding up my hands.

He studied me for a moment, his eyebrows creasing together. "Adam Watson?"

Great. A football fan.

I nodded, flashing him a weary smile. "I'm actually showing my parents around-"

His eyes narrowed at me, and he was quick to cut me off. "You hurt my sister, you die."

Dad raised his eyebrows, glancing toward me in question.

"Yeah, you've got the wrong guy," I said, with a slight laugh. "Girlfriends are off my radar."

"But peer mentors aren't."

Shit.

"You're a Campbell?" I asked, surveying him. "There's actually more of you?"

"Adam," mom chastised, reaching around to slap me upside the head. "Apologize this instant."

The male chuckled. "It's okay, Mrs. Watson I presume?"

She nodded, offering him a bright smile.

"I'm sure your son is a good person. Just have to look out for the safety of my baby sister."

My mom placed her hand over her heart. "That is so sweet." She nudged me. "Isn't that sweet, Adam?"

"No."

That earned me another slap upside the head.

"We'd love to meet up with you and your family," dad informed him. "Have your sister text our son a time and place."

If looks could kill.

The male shook hands with my dad. "I'll do that, sir."

"And what did you say your name was?" mom asked.

"Joel. Joel Campbell."

Joel, the guy Sarah had mentioned at our last meeting. The one with the eating disorder.

I couldn't help but give him another onceover. He was lean, but more in the muscular way than the skinny way. I'd take it that was a good sign.

My mom flashed him a warm-hearted smile. "It was lovely meeting you, Joel."

The boy named Joel cast me a murderous glare before thanking my parents and heading off in the opposite direction.

"Why?" I asked, once he was out of earshot. "Why do you care about Sarah?"

"Because we'd love to meet the girl keep our son in line."

Dad cast me a look. "That is the case, isn't it?"

"Of course, dad."

"No funny business?"

I shook my head. "No time."

He squeezed my shoulders, offering me a smile. "Good. That's what we like to hear. So where to next?"

"I can show you guys the stadium. My Coach might be out there too."

Dad clapped me on the back. "Sounds like a plan. Maybe I can talk to him about that offense you guys are running, give him a few pointers."

Mom just shook her head.

"Yeah, let's try not to do that," I said, causing my dad to laugh.

~*~

My mom handed Terrence a pair of jeans. "Terrence, honey, you're coming," mom said.

"I don't really think that's necessary-"

"Do I look as though I want to be argued with?"

I raised my eyebrows at Terrence, biting back a smile.

Standing at 5'3, my mom was one of the feistiest women that I knew. And what she lacks in size, she makes up for in attitude.

"No ma'am."

Mom glanced toward me. "And, Adam, you're wearing two different color schemes."

I glanced down at my outfit. "A gray sweater and black jeans?"

"That's a red sweater and blue pastel jeans, honey."

Dammit all.

My eyes narrowed. "Terrence, I swear to God, if you messed with my color scheme I will murder you in your sleep."

"As if I don't have better things to do, Adam."

"Boys, that's enough," mom said, waving us off. "Here's a gray sweater and black jeans, love. I'll reorganize your color scheme, you go get changed."

I changed out of my mismatched outfit, handing them to my mom as she worked on my closet.

"So we're going to dinner with the Campbells?" Terrence asked, shooting me a confused glance.

"My parents." And that explained the situation in its entirety, as Terrence slowly nodded.

"It'll be wonderful to meet young Sarah," mom said. "And to get a handle on what kind of mayhem Adam is causing."

"I told you, I'm clean."

Terrence glanced away from us, the wall suddenly more interesting than our conversation.

"We believe you," dad said, clasping his hand on our shoulder. "Your mom meant it jokingly."

Dad flashed Terrence a smile. "Anyways, I'm sure if you were causing too much trouble, we'd hear an earful from Terrence."

Terrence cleared his throat, nodding. "Yes sir."

My dad gave my shoulders a good shake. "Why are you boys so uptight? Relax."

"You guys ready to go?" I asked, tucking my phone away into my pocket.

The drive was short, and my plan to be late didn't quite work out so well.

Even so, the Campbells had beaten us here.

Sarah was seated at the table with who I could guess were here parents, as well as the male from earlier and another guy, who looked similar to Joel.

I took a seat across from Sarah. "There are more of you?"

She just laughed. "You have no idea."

My parents introduced themselves to her parents, as did Terrence and I.

The fellow named Joel just stared at me as I nodded at him.

"Caden," the other guy said, reaching out to shake our hands. "Sarah's brother."

I glanced down toward the end of the table, where there were still two empty seats and a high chair.

"Are we still expecting people?" my mom asked, with a bright smile.

"Another one of my sons is joining us," Sarah's mom said. "He lives in the area as well."

I raised a questioning eyebrow at Sarah. "Another one?"

"Adam, if my entire family was here, we'd have to rent out a private seating area. Chill."

I exchanged glances with Terrence, who looked just as confused as I felt.

But before I could ask anymore questions, two people came up behind us to the table, hugging Sarah's parents and introducing themselves all around.

They had two kids with them. A toddler and what looked like a newborn.

"Meredith," the woman said, reaching over to shake my hand. "You must be the Quarterback."

"In the flesh," Sarah muttered.

Meredith came around the table and kissed Sarah and then Joel on the cheek. "Hello my lovelies. Talk later?"

They both nodded.

"Nothing for me?" Caden asked.

She laughed before laying across Sarah and Joel to kiss his cheek. "Hello, Caden. Better?"

"You're damn right."

The third guy sat the toddler down in the highchair and passed the baby over to Sarah's dad. And then he came over to introduce himself.

"Ryan," he said, jutting his hand out toward me. "Sarah's brother."

"That seems to be the theme tonight."

He chuckled at that, saying hello to his siblings before going back to the other end of the table.

"So, QB," Joel said, his eyes narrowing at me.

"Yes, Joel?"

Terrence elbowed me in the side and I just rolled my eyes.

"I hear you're a pain in the ass."

"Campbell's opinion is probably biased." And then I realized they were all Campbells. "Sarah, that is."

"Is he always a smartass?" Caden asked Sarah.

"You don't know the half of it."

My mom leaned across the table toward Sarah. "Is our son giving you a hard time?" She shot me a disapproving glare.

"No ma'am," I said, elbowing Terrence.

He cleared his throat. "It's all good, Mrs. W."

She flashed Terrence a grateful smile before leaning back in her seat, rejoining the adult conversation.

"Why does she always believe you?" I muttered.

"Because I'm trustworthy."

"Barely."

And then a tiny human was running past me.

"Unca Joel!"

Sarah picked up the toddler. "Hey, what about Aunt Sarah?"

The young girl squirmed out of Sarah's arms, launching herself into Joel's lap.

I couldn't help but laugh, earning an annoyed glance from Sarah.

"So there's a clear favorite here," Terrence commented.

"Unfortunately," Sarah said, with an eye roll.

"Who are you again?" Caden asked. "Friend of Adam's?"

"Brother," I interjected. "Don't you see the family resemblance?"

Joel laughed at that.

"I lived at Adam's house for a few years, but we're clearly not brothers," Terrence said, with a laugh himself. "Just friends."

"Your parents couldn't make it out today?" Sarah asked.

Terrence was silent for a few moments, contemplating the question.

I stood up, causing everyone to glance at me. "Has anyone seen our waiter? I could really go for some water."

"Sit down, Adam," dad said, ushering me back into my seat. "They'll be around in a moment I'm sure."

Terrence shot me a grateful smile.

"My parents are Adam's parents for all intents and purposes," Terrence said. "My parents aren't really around much anymore."

My dad heard that, and he reached his arm around Terrence's shoulders, giving him a squeeze.

"Which unfortunately means he's around all the time," I said, causing Terrence to shove me.

I laughed at that.

"Why don't you peer mentor him?" Joel asked. "He seems like a better candidate."

Asshole.

Sarah laughed. "Not an option. Looks like I'm stuck with QB 1 over here." She shot me a smile.

"Your brother plays in the league too, right?" Caden asked.

I nodded.

"Watson, yeah I recognize the name."

Joel glanced between Caden and me. "Does he play for USC?"

"Yeah, he's the middle Linebacker over there."

Caden straightened up a bit. "Dude, that man is on fire. Leading sacks in the league, up for the Heisman, right?"

As though the waiter finally heard my silent pleas, he came up to our table to take our drink orders.

"I'm sure that Adam doesn't want to talk football on his one day off," Sarah said, lowering her eyes at her brothers. "Seriously."

"Okay, okay," Caden said. "I can take a hint."

"No you can't," Sarah said, with a laugh.

Joel nodded. "True."

"Yeah!" the little girl in Joel's lap chimed in.

I even laughed at that.

The conversation shifted to the younger girl, Caden and Joel playing a game with her.

"So you didn't mention you were an Aunt," I said to Sarah. "Or that you were part of the Brady Bunch."

"We're far from the Brady Bunch," Sarah said, with a laugh. "But piss me off and I have a few brothers at beck and call."

"Noted."

"Your parents seem sweet," Sarah commented, glancing down where our parents seemed to be getting along better than planned.

"If that's what you want to call them."

She shook her head. "You're always so cynical."

"Call it a reflex."

Terrence leaned in toward Sarah. "Call it an act."

I shoved him hard for that one, causing him to almost fall off of his chair.

"Abuse!" Terrence accused.

"Boys," mom said, leaning across my dad. "Behave."

Terrence saluted her as I rolled my eyes.

"So how are you coming on the bet?" Sarah asked me.

"Swimmingly."

She rolled her eyes at that and I couldn't help but laugh.

"What bet?" Joel asked, tuning back into our conversation.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Absolutely none of your business."

"Does it include sex?"

Do all Campbells think alike?

"Get out of here, Joel."

He laughed, flashing his sister a smile before tuning back into his conversation with the toddler and Caden.

"Sorry about him," Sarah said, gesturing toward her brother. "He's one-of-a-kind."

"As are you." The words slipped out before I thought them through.

Sarah stared at me in silence for a few moments.

"Who's ready to order?" Sarah's mom called out. "Here comes our waiter!"

So what did you guys think about the chapter? I wasn't really a big fan myself. Anything stick out to you?

The picture up at the top was created by oreo2395, the original cover for the book. I'm switching to all Royalty-Free covers now, so unfortunately I had to say goodbye to that one. And it was one of my favorites!

The new cover was created by liveandlove10. What do you guys think?

I know this chapter didn't match up to the teaser in the last chapter. I forgot that it was Parent Weekend.

Oh well! Surprise chapters are always fun :)

Teaser: Adam's POV, part 2. It's the teaser from last chapter, Adam carries out his half of the bet.

This book updates on Mondays.