Finally Mine

By Tania Trozzo

Ethan Thompson is Baylor University's star wide receiver. He's never believed in love at first sight until her. From the first moment he noticed Lily DeMarco, he can't seem to look away. Not when they're at a party. Not from across campus or in the cafeteria. Not even when his girlfriend's there. There's

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tania Trozzo
• Release date: Mar 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088113271

Tania Trozzo

Tania Trozzo was born in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA where she now lives with her three kids and husband. After living ten years in Italy, three of which were spent in the city of Romeo and Juliet, she's a hopeless romantic that always believes love will prevail all. She has been a daydreamer since she was seven, making up stories along the way. A caffeine addict, she actually likes to wake up early when it's all quiet and write before going on her daily run.After her father became ill, she decided to give a voice to the characters and stories that were in her head and write her first young adult book. Since then, she's published two more contemporary novels and is continuing to write even more.

Book preview

1

Lily

Someone bumps into me, Excuse me! See! I have manners even when I’m drunk! I roll my eyes as she cackles like a hyena. My friends and I shake our heads at everyone’s antics. We’re at a party and the place is packed.

I look around and say, Wow! It’s so crowded in there. Took me forever to get through.

Yeah, it is a little out of control. More than usual, Tyler adds.

It’s because it’s almost the end of the semester. Emma starts telling us a few stories from the previous year. I smile at her as I listen. Since Harper and I transferred to Baylor University from our college in South Carolina, Emma quickly welcomed us and became one of our first friends. She also tells amazing stories.

Harper and I moved here about a year ago. Harper was tired of her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, Tyler, so she decided to make the move. When she asked me to come along, I didn’t hesitate. While I liked my previous college enough, I welcomed a change. Actually, I needed it. I hoped it would help me gain clarity with my accounting major, which I hated, but my parents were pressuring me to continue with. To say my parents were surprised about my decision to move, especially when I didn’t have a specific reason as to why, is an understatement. My father somehow convinced my mom to calm down, telling me he trusts I know what I’m doing. I don’t, but I hope to figure it out.

After sitting there for about twenty minutes, I start to get anxious. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good party like anyone else, but there’s this moment, where things sometimes start to go downhill. Where people are past being tipsy and start to become either slobbering idiots or drunk jerks. I can feel it getting to that point and that’s usually the time I like to leave. But when I look at my watch, I realize that it’s actually only 12:30. Not late at all. That’s what happens when everyone starts partying early.

I tell my friends that I’m just going to take a walk around. Tyler, protective as always, says, Be careful.

Yes, dad. Our friends laugh as I tease him. I roll my eyes but it’s all in good fun. I’m very thankful he’s so protective of not just Harper, but me as well.

I walk towards the back of the yard, remembering this little secluded area right next to the shed where they keep who knows what. People probably don’t realize that it’s here with the huge tree. I know it’s not the smartest move to be here alone, but I need some peace and quiet. Especially after an intensely crowded and loud party.

There’s a part of me that sometimes feels like a third wheel. Or rather a seventh wheel. I keep joking around that I need to find some single friends. Between Harper and Tyler, Katie and Joey and Emma and Marco, I’m usually the odd man out. They never let me feel that way, always including me and also trying to set me up with every known available guy, especially lately, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t feel it anyway.

Oops, sorry.

I jolt surprised and turn my head to see Ethan Thompson standing in front of me. Holy moly. He’s even more beautiful this close. Star wide receiver for Baylor University. Over six feet tall. Light brown hair and green eyes. He has this all-American look about him. Chiseled jaw, dimple in his right cheek and a smile that could melt anyone’s panties. I haven’t been here long, but I saw him my first day here and he doesn’t go unnoticed.

My hand is still on my heart, and I don’t say anything, so he proceeds to speak. I didn’t mean to scare you.

I probably look like an idiot since I haven’t spoken yet. I smile at him. No, it’s ok. I guess I should be more aware of my surroundings. Never know who or what’s lurking in the dark.

He laughs. Even his laugh is sexy. I guess so. I promise you’re safe with me.

That’s what all strangers say. I respond and find him looking at me curiously.

He chuckles again and grips the back of his neck. Well, then let’s fix that. He holds out his hand to me. I’m Ethan.

It’s my turn to laugh. Very clever of him. He is definitely charming, that’s for sure. But I already knew that. It’s not the first time that I’ve been in close proximity to him nor that I’ve found him looking at me, even though I haven’t been in the area long. But we’ve never been properly introduced.

I hold out my hand, I’m Lily.

He takes my hand in his and stares at me intently, I know. Just wanted to make sure you knew who I was. He grins but doesn’t let go of my hand yet. He just keeps holding it.

I guess you can stay now since you’ve properly introduced yourself, I add teasingly. His smile grows. I’m also pretty sure that everyone knows who he is, but I don’t say any of that. I feel like that’s rude. He finally pulls his hand away and I’m surprised to realize that I miss the warmth of it. I have to stop myself from pulling it back into my grip.

Thank you. He looks up at the sky and we stay in silence a few minutes and although there may be a little awkwardness because I’m trying to think if I should say something first, it actually feels comfortable.

Thankfully, he starts speaking first. You’re not having fun at the party?

I shrug. I just needed some peace and quiet. It’s about that time where things start going downhill.

He sighs. Yeah, I know what you mean. Sloppy drunk. Tripping over their own two feet. Getting into fights. I know it too well. The way he says it, he sounds irritated and annoyed. I can tell he’s not talking about himself but someone close to him. I’d venture to say it’s about his girlfriend since she seems to have that reputation. Katie and Emma gave me the rundown on almost everyone on campus.

I don’t know what to say to that, but I realize I’m staring at him and quickly look away. He stands beside me against the tree, leaving space but not too much. Enough so it’s not uncomfortable, but close enough that I’m extremely aware of his body. I can feel the heat emanating from him. You don’t look drunk.

He smiles. I don’t drink a lot, with football being front and center. Even in the off season, I may let go a little more, but rarely get drunk. It’s not appealing to me. He looks over and comments, You’re not drunk either.

Same. Not the football part though. I ramble nervously. I can get drunk fairly easily, so I watch myself. I’ve had a few not great experiences and I don’t want to repeat them.

Hmm. I feel a story there.

I am definitely not telling him my embarrassing stories. I grin and shake my head. Not happening.

He laughs and my heart clenches as well as other parts of me. Who would have thought that laughing would turn me on. I have to admit it’s more than that though. I feel as if I’d do anything to keep him laughing. I heard you’re on the basketball team, he says to me. Surprised, I jolt my head up to look at him and I can feel myself blush.

Didn’t know you were a basketball fan.

Ethan shrugs. "I’m usually not, but let’s just say the girls’ basketball team is interesting. What does that mean? I must look confused because he laughs softly again. Instead of explaining himself, he goes to sit down against the large tree and changes the subject. Tell me something about yourself, Lily."

What do you want to know?

He leans his head back against the tree and observes me. It’s almost as if he is searching for something in my gaze, trying to see inside me. My breath catches. It should be unsettling but it’s not. It’s the weirdest thing, I’d love for him to see it all. To know everything about me but I’m not the type of girl who goes after boys that have girlfriends. I break our connection and think of something witty or cute to say. Something a friend would say. We can be friends, I’m actually friendly with some of his teammates, but that’s all we can be since he’s in a relationship.

I clear my throat and blurt out, I love vegetables.

He smiles so wide, that dimple pops out. Veggies, huh? He looks at me from head to toe, but not in a sleazy way, it feels almost like a gentle caress. Doesn’t surprise me that you’re healthy with a body like that.

I can feel my cheeks heat up. What about you, Ethan? Tell me something about you.

His eyes twinkle as if he’s accepted the challenge even though he was the one to start it. He’s quiet a moment before he tilts his head and responds, Can you keep a secret? I’ll tell you something that most people don’t know.

I can. I find it strange that he asks me that, strange as much as him telling me something most people don’t know.

Something tells me that’s true too.

It is. I confirm and it is the truth. I’m loyal to the bone. If people only knew the shit I knew about other people around campus. Things people blurt out to me. Confide in me. I hate gossip so I keep it all locked away.

Again, he’s looking at me. Searching my face for something but I don’t know what. He looks up at the sky, while tugging a strand of grass. I love looking at the stars. My grandpop used to bring me as a kid to watch them on this meadow on the outskirts of our property at home. We used to lay down on a blanket and he’d tell me stories. The stars remind me that I can do anything, because that’s what he used to always say.

It was much more than I expected him to tell me. Way deeper than anything I said, and I’m left perplexed and yet pleasantly surprised at his thoughtfulness. I knew he wasn’t just some jock. His smile is always genuine. He’s super professional on the field and a great teammate. The time from far away when I saw him with his parents at school, there was a lot of affection between them. Now with those few sentences, I’m even more certain that there is more to him. My heart is beating quickly even though I have no idea why he affects me like this. I open my mouth to try to say something, but he begins talking again and points to stars. Look, there’s the big dipper. I lift my head to look, searching the sky. Without realizing it, he’s standing up again but this time behind me grabbing my hand gently, pointing it towards the sky showing me exactly where it is. I turn my head slightly to look at him and find him staring at me rather than looking up. Intently. It’s like we’re trying to figure each other out.

I can feel myself tremble and I hope to God that he can’t feel it too. I tear my gaze away and look back up at the sky as he points out another constellation and tells me the name. He clears his throat and finally let’s go of my hand and then stands next to me. In silence. Both of us are staring ahead. I feel like I should say something meaningful.

Without hesitation I start speaking, When I was around 6 or 7 years old, we had an elderly neighbor named Maria. My parents had to leave for work early most mornings and they’d leave me with her. She always had a smile on her face. For some reason, we’d whisper as if we didn’t want anyone to hear us, and we’d laugh. She’d make me warm milk and put a drop of coffee in there and I felt like such a big girl. I always went to school with a smile on my face. Always. She passed away when I was in middle school but since then I’ve always loved early mornings.

He turns his head to stare at me, his eyes penetrating. I can see him out of the corner of my eye, but I refuse to look at him. I can’t. I shouldn’t look at him. Just like I shouldn’t have told him that. I don’t even know why I did. I swallow hard. It’s just a silly memory that...

No, it’s not. He murmurs. I glance at him and like two magnets our gazes catch. The intensity between us stirs and I know that even if it feels like a magnet I have to pull away. I have to. He’s taken and I have to remember that. No matter how charming or nice he is.

I step back and break our connection and I’m so thankful that I do because we begin to hear. Ethannnn. Woohoo. Ethannn…where are you? Are you hiding from me? It’s his girlfriend Charlotte. He closes his eyes and I notice he clenches his fist. I guess he hates being caught and I feel so stupid all of a sudden as I shake my head. I’m such a fool to think that this is anything special. He has a girlfriend and he’s here talking to me. It should tell me what kind of guy he is, even though deep down I know that isn’t true. He’s not an asshole, if anything, it’s just the opposite. It doesn’t stop me from leaving though.

I should go.

Lily... I glance back at him for a second and immediately notice regret in his eyes. I can’t be sure, but it looks genuine and even in the dark I can feel it’s intensity. I smile softly and nod, letting him know that it’s ok. I quietly exit out of the other side, stepping through the back of the property onto the sidewalk so no one from the party will notice that’s where I’m coming from. The last thing I need is someone starting a stupid rumor over me when nothing happened.

I can hear Charlotte’s annoying voice and I can hear Ethan groan in frustration. Shaking my head, I walk around the corner towards the side of the yard where I know there’s another entrance so I can head to where everyone is and let them know I’m leaving.

We were just going to come look for you, Harper says. I’m glad she didn’t. Not that anything truly happened but I don’t want to share it with anyone. Harper and Tyler are ready to leave so they get up so we can head out. Just as I’m hugging my other friends, an awareness prickles along my spine. Instinctively, my eyes had closed as I hugged one of them, but I open them and find Ethan staring at me. The corner of his lip lifts slightly before one of his friends slaps him on the back and our connection is broken. It’s only a moment, but it doesn’t matter how small or how short it is. It leaves me rattled and yet… warm and fuzzy. I need to leave. Now. Before I start hoping for something that will never happen. Before I hope for someone to be mine.

2

Ethan

Everyone is laughing around me as we head to the locker room. I’m beat and want nothing more than to go to sleep. I was up half the night arguing with Charlotte, who was drunk. It seems to be a pattern lately – one I’m not keen on repeating. I finally relented and called her sister to come pick her up today. Hopefully, she’s gone by now. I know it shouldn’t be the way to speak about my girlfriend, but unfortunately, that is the case.

Even though it’s full summer, July to be exact, the football team is on campus training hard for the fall. I have to focus on football. It’s my number one priority right now. This is my dream and I won’t allow Charlotte to ruin it for me. She should know better. I’ve loved football since I was a kid, practicing and training from a young age. Even though we spent time together as kids because our parents are friends, I didn’t pay her too much attention. At some point, she started following me around and when we were fourteen, she insisted we be boyfriend and girlfriend. I wasn’t convinced, but Charlotte is beautiful and used to be very convincing with her kisses. As we continued to grow, she became a seductress and knew how to use it, especially on me.

When a barbie type girl comes on to you constantly and you’re a horny ass teenager, you don’t put up a fight. Eventually I grew to care for her and I thought I was in love with her. When we were kids, she was a different person; sweet, caring, and nice to almost everyone. Slowly she began to change or maybe I’m just noticing it over the past two years. My brother says she’s always been that way but that she’s kept it hidden from me. Lately, I believe him more because as time goes on, her sweet and demure façade keeps slipping. I’ve been witness to her entitled and spoiled personality both when she doesn’t realize I’m there and when she doesn’t care that I am. I have seen how mean she can be and how she uses her body, her words to get what she wants. I‘ve begun to realize that I mistook my lust for her as love and that while I do care for her, I’m not in love with her.

We’ve broken up so many times, I’m pretty sure I’ve lost count. I’m well aware it’s not healthy and that this needs to end once and for all. I also know it’s not that easy. We have a long history together. She covered for me once when I could have gotten in serious shit over something I did. Not to mention that she accidentally got pregnant and miscarried our senior year of high school although I have doubts about that, because I never actually saw a pregnancy test. I couldn’t tell her that though, it would have started World War III. While there’s a sense of loyalty to her, deep down I know that she’s also my weakness and going to cause me problems. Especially for football. My brother’s words from a recent discussion come back to me. "Loyalty isn’t a shackle. The right woman lifts you up and makes you stronger. Better. We both know she doesn’t do that for you."

He’s right. I know he is. I’m ready to let her go, so I’m planning on doing it next time I go home. I need to. As I head to the shower, Jaxtyn points at me. No excuses, you’re coming out tonight.

Dude, it’s Wednesday. I’m exhausted.

Come on. We’re just going to grab a bite at the pub. We can’t drink anyway, Austin adds.

I grumble. Fine. I’m making it an early night, though. I could use a night out even if I just want to go to bed but hanging out with my friends, will go a long way in making me feel better.

We quickly get ready and head out to a pub that serves great burgers. We sit in the booth, each one of us sore from today’s practice and yet ready and willing to do it all over again tomorrow.

Jaxtyn says, I can’t believe we’re staying here all summer to get brutalized by coach. I can barely stand after pushing that sled so many times. He’s shaking his head.

That’s what champions do, Hunter grunts.

Fuck, yeah. Besides, we did this last summer too, I say and Austin laughs.

Hey guys, what can I get you? I lift my gaze and stare at the server that’s come to our table. Immediately, I no longer feel so tired. I had no idea she worked here. She being Lily DeMarco. I’ve noticed her out and about at parties and on campus. She’s also on the girls’ basketball team and some of her friends hang out on occasion with my friends. It’s been a while since the last time I saw her, too long if you ask me. She’s the type of girl that you can stare at for days. Up close she looks even more beautiful than I remember.

Hey, I didn’t know you work here. Austin comments. I look over at Austin and immediately I’m filled with a pang of jealousy that he’s asking her a question.

Yeah, I just started two weeks ago since I’m on campus for the summer.

Does basketball have you girls train during the summer too? Jaxtyn asks.

Thankfully, no. Although we all keep up some training anyway. I changed my major, so I have to make up a bunch of classes because if not, I’ll seriously be here forever.

So, no going home? Austin grins at her ruefully and it bothers me. I keep telling myself to snap out of it as my gaze ping pongs between her and the guys with their questions.

Just for a month and then I came back. I presume you did the same? They all nod and I see Jaxtyn open his mouth with another question, so I beat him to it.

What’s your major now? I ask, wanting her attention on me. Those warm hazel eyes turn my way and I swear I see her blush a bit before responding. Could it be I affect her like she affects me?

Oh, uh. I just switched to a double major in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.

We can be your first clients, Lils, Hunter says. The nickname does not go unobserved by me. I never realized that Hunter knew her so well. Another pang of jealousy hits me out of nowhere.

Yeah, sure, Hotshot. I’m sure you’ll remember little old me when you go pro. The others laugh but before Hunter can reply with a quick comeback, I interrupt.

I know I am acting strange, but I can’t seem to stop myself. I want to hear her speak and I want her attention on me. What were you studying before, Lily?

Her gaze goes from Hunter to me. We’re probably giving her whiplash. Or rather, I am since not only am I trying to get her attention, but I’m also changing the subject. Accounting.

Why did you switch? I can see Austin sit back comfortably as a knowing grin passes across his face and he stares at me expectantly. I’m not sure why I’m asking so many questions, but I want to know more about her.

She smiles and our gazes lock. I swear for a second the world stands still. It’s always this way with her. It was boring as hell. Just the thought of sitting in front of a computer all day and looking at spreadsheets made me want to pull my hair out. She chuckles and then continues, I just couldn’t do it, much to my parents’ dismay. But I love learning about the human body and food. I’m hoping with a minor in business administration, I’ll be set.

Something about how she says it makes it seem as though not only has she put a lot of thought into it, but that she has ambition. Lots of it. She is determined to make her dream come true. I instantly compare her to Charlotte, whose only goal in life is to be a trophy wife.

The bartender announces that one of her orders in the kitchen is ready, so she quickly leaves after taking our drink order telling us she’ll be back. I look around and notice the place is getting a little busy which isn’t unexpected. Since the food is good and relatively inexpensive, it happens to be busy more often than not.

I try to seem nonchalant as I turn to Hunter with my next question. Do you guys know each other? Even I can hear the slight tone of accusation in my tone. Why is that? What the hell is wrong with me?

Hunter, in fact, looks at me strangely. Yeah, man. I have classes with Tyler - he’s her best friend’s boyfriend. You’ve hung out with Tyler. I have. I’d say that Tyler and I are friends even if we don’t hang out together often. He’s a cool guy though. We met freshman year when we had a lot of classes together. Lately, though, we don’t spend time together and I’m thinking I may have to change that. Hunter’s explanation makes sense but for some odd reason it bothers me that he knows so much.