McGill stood in front of the new grocery store in town, braving the cold. He was trying to make up his mind about going in. It'd been a year since he'd seen Gina and wanted nothing more than to hold her but she seemed busy. A man walked out of the store and held the door for him to enter. Patrick stepped inside, looking around. He approached the counter carefully.

"Nice store!" He said.

Gina stopped what she was doing and slowly turned around. "Patrick…" She then hurriedly ran from behind the counter and into his arms. McGill held her tightly, lifting her face up to give her a kiss. "I can't believe you're here!".

"Yeah…"

"I'm sorry for...you know."

"Yeah, it's okay."

"How are the others taking it?"

"They're fine, I guess. Truth is, I think we all feel...free." he shrugged. "Bombay's flying over, too, by the way.. He should be coming in a couple of days."

Gina smiled with a corner of her mouth. "It'd be so weird seeing him after all this time. Wait, how do you know he's coming back?"

McGill gulped. "Well, we saw him on TV so we went to see his game and we...introduced ourselves."

Gina raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I bet he was more than happy to meet the guys who bullied his team."

"Actually, he didn't seem to mind, it's like the guy is a new person!"

"Aha."

"When do you end?" He asked and kissed her again.

She looked at her watch. "In a few hours, why don't you come pick me up then?"

"Will do." He whispered into her ear, making her giggle.

"Regina! Who are you talking to?" Her mom's booming voice echoed from the back office.

"Shit, that's my mom, if she finds you here, I'm dead! Go go!" She pushed him out the front door and smiled to herself.

Stickler waved goodbye to Mrs. Riley and got back in his car. After a few minutes of internal struggle, he decided to drive up to Winnie's house and demand an explanation for her behavior. He rang the bell. For the longest time there was no answer but then he heard footsteps coming down the stairs, making him even more nervous. When the door opened, he was met with Winnie's ice cold blue eyes, piercing through him. She didn't speak but looked away.

Stickler shrugged. "Well...what's your problem?"

Winnie crossed her arms. "You tell me...you're going to clubs, bars, getting drunk, maybe even fooling around with other girls…"

"What?!" Nathan cut her off. "You think I...cheated on you is that it?"

"Well, I don't know, you tell me."

"Are you fucking kidding me right now? Do you hear yourself? Do you think there's a reality in which I would cheat on you after everything we've been through? I saved your life, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, I'd give my life for you, I've been losing sleep over you not talking to me and you think I'm out there fucking other girls?!" Stickler put his hands on his head in disbelief.

Winnie felt uncomfortable, knowing she'd crossed a line and that he was right. "Nate…"

"What, Winnie? What? Can you please tell me why the fuck you've been acting that way?"

"I...I was jealous, I thought you would be surrounded by hot girls all the time and I wasn't with you…"

He grabbed her arms. "I don't give a shit about any other girls, Winnie, I love you, don't you know that?!"

"I do…"

"Then?!"

"I-I was afraid that because we didn't...you know...that you would look for that elsewhere?"

Stickler laughed nervously. "Wow. You think just because we didn't have sex, I'm gonna go get into some other girl's pants?!"

"I don't know, Nate! Okay! I was desperate, I was missing you, you were far away, we couldn't talk for days sometimes, what was I supposed to think?"

"Uhm, we were busy chasing our fucking dream, Winnie! Me, your brother, the others. Didn't you ask Adam about any of this?"

"Nate?"

"What?!" Stickler asked, his voice higher than usual, desperation in his eyes.

Something came over Winnie and she slammed her lips against his, pressing her body up close. Nathan was shocked and couldn't react and first but he soon pushed her away.

"What is this?"

"I-I want you." She uttered, looking up at him.

Stickler searched her eyes, there was something in them he hadn't seen so far, lust. "Are you for real?"

Winnie nodded. He picked her up as she wrapped her legs around him and carried her upstairs. Locking the door behind him. He put her down before speaking again.

"You know what's funny? I remember doing this exact thing a few years back on your birthday and I'll admit, I wanted it back then but I was happy with what you gave me."

"Do you want it now?" She asked in a sultry voice, running a hand down his chest.

He didn't answer, instead he attacked her lips, his hands wandering to the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head.

"I like you with the shorter hair." He whispered into her ear, sending goosebumps all around her. Chuckling lightly at her reaction, he moved on to her neck and shoulders, her moaning becoming more intense. Meanwhile, his skillful fingers unclasped her bra, dropping it to the ground. Winnie didn't hold back either. She needily unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall to the ground.

"I missed these strong arms." She purred and ran her hands all over his chest and shoulders and arms.

Nathan guided her to the bed, falling on top of her.

"What?" She asked as he was looking into her eyes.

"Nothing, it's just that I've waited for so long for this moment and it was so worth it!" He smiled and kissed her.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be!" Winnie said and bit her lip.

Nathan wasted no time, feeling the desire in him quickly build up. He left a trail of wet kisses down her stomach while playing with her breasts.

"Oh Nate…" Winnie arched her back as he pulled her jeans down, exposing her underwear.

"Cute." He chuckled. "It's coming off though."

Winnie blushed and covered her face.

"You'll want to see this." He said in a low voice.

The next thing Winnie was unlike anything she'd felt up until then. Nathan's tongue was sending jolts through her body, making her thrash around but his strong hands held her down. Winnie would be lying if she said she never pleasured herself while thinking of Nathan before but what he was doing to her was out of this world. She couldn't wait any longer, she wanted to feel him in her. "Nate…" She whined needily, grasping at his jeans.

"What's the matter? You want me so bad?" He whispered in her ear.

"Yes!" The eagerness in her voice was enough confirmation for him. He found it amusing that she was so impatient and wanted to toy with her more so he threw himself on the bed next to her. "Ugh, I got tired…" He tried hard to contain his laughter.

"W-what?" Winnie jumped up, pouting.

"Yeah...why don't you do something for a while?"

Winnie took a deep breath. "Mm okay then." She hovered over him and placed a kiss on his collarbone, moving down to his chest and abs. She couldn't resist tracing them with her finger. "Fuck, Nate, you get hotter every year." She purred. When she reached his jeans, she blushed in embarrassment as she could see his hard member through the fabric. Winnie rubbed it, applying gentle pressure, making him moan. "Seems someone needs to be let out." She thought and pulled the zipper down slowly.

"Is she trying to kill me?" Nathan thought, frowning.

Winnie then reached into his underwear and took his cock out. "Wow." Her jaw dropped. "Lucky you." She smirked.

"Lucky *you*." Nathan winked at her.

"Can I?".

He didn't reply, only raised his eyebrows, knowing very well what she wanted. She ran her hand up and down his length. Nathan placed a hand over hers and squeezed it, indicating he wanted her to apply more pressure. She obliged, evoking another moan from him.

"Mmm Winnie…please." She leaned forward and took him in her mouth.

He arched his back and dug his fingers into her hair. Winnie moved her head up and down in a slow but steady pace while Nathan's breathing became more ragged, his chest rising and falling quickly. "Wait, I won't last long like this…" He uttered between breaths and grabbed her head. She looked up at him, confused. Nathan flipped her over and pinned her down. Not even bothering to take his pants off, he positioned himself between her legs. He entwined his fingers with hers and with one swift motion, entered her. Winnie gasped loudly and frowned in pain.

"It will feel better soon, I promise." He kissed her.

They stayed like that for a moment so she could adjust. "You can move." She said.

Nathan buried his face in her chest, stifling his groans. She felt so good around him, her nails digging into his back and moans filling the air. After a while, he got on his knees and lifted her legs up, seeing all of her. Winnie bit her lip as she watched him. He looked hotter than ever with his eyes closed and head thrown back. His now lightly tanned skin glistened with sweat in the waning daylight. She wanted to touch him, to run her hands all over him. Using her legs, she brought him back down and straddled him. He was shocked but loved seeing her take control. It turned him on even more. Winnie ran her nails up and down his chest and abs while squeezing him inside of her.

"Uhh I-..." She exhaled sharply and started twitching, her orgasm tearing through her.

Nathan felt himself get closer, too, so he grabbed her waist tightly and lifted her up, sliding out of her just in time. Winnie fell back on the bed, getting under the covers. Once they both caught their breath, Nathan propped his head up on his arm and faced her.

"You know what? I'm glad we never did this before because I don't think I could've lived for a year without it." He laughed.

"I was just thinking the same thing!" She gave him a huge smile.

"Nice flip there by the way!"

"I think you'll find I'm full of surprises nowadays!"

"No shit! Like when did you grow up so much, you used to be a peanut even 'till last year! You were so cute!"

She jumped on top of him. He grunted. "You're not that light anymore!"

"You're saying I'm fat, too?" She punched him.

Nathan cried out and rubbed his arm. "Apparently you got much stronger, too!"

She raised an eyebrow. "Told you I'm full of surprises!"

Stickler felt like he had to tell her about what had happened in the club back in LA. "Listen, Winnie, I gotta tell you something…"

"Uh oh. I don't like the sound of that."

"You know how you were worried about me and other girls…" She said nothing but her expression changed to one of hurt.

"That night we won the game and went to the club to celebrate...when I called you, I didn't know what to think after our conversation ended. So, I got very drunk and started dancing with a bunch of girls, nothing happened!"

Winnie sighed. "It's okay, Nate, I realize I only have myself to blame, I pushed you away, after everything you've done for me. I never considered how you must have felt. I'm the one who's sorry."

Stickler pulled her close and embraced her, kissing the top of her head. "I never want to leave you again." He whispered.

"Mom, I'm gonna wrap things up here, I got plans!" Gina gave her mother a peck and quickly got changed.

"What are these plans of yours, Regina?" Gloria looked at her over her glasses.

"With Patrick, don't wait up!" Gloria shook her head.

"You're 19, but I can still ground you if you're being stupid, don't forget that!" Gloria yelled after her.

"Love you too, ma!" Gina replied.

McGill was waiting outside in his car.

"So, what we doing?" She asked eagerly.

He placed a hand on her inner thigh. "Well, I was thinking I take you to a nice dinner and then back to my house and…" His hand moved up and squeezed her leg. "...destroy you."

"Oh? Someone's needy!" She smirked.

"I had to spend a year without you, what do you expect?"

Gina thought for a second. "You know what? Let's skip dinner, I'm pretty needy myself. How about you drive down to that road in the woods instead?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Patrick smiled, knowing very well what she had in mind. In about 10 minutes, they reached. Without saying anything, they both moved to the backseat. Gina straddled him as they began making out intensely. McGill wasted no time relieving her of her clothes as she did the same. Shirts and tops were being thrown around.

"Good thing I wore a skirt." She giggled into his mouth.

Patrick hurriedly undid his belt and zipper just enough. Gina lowered herself onto him, both gasping out in pleasure.

"Mmm fuck yeah…" He grunted and hugged her tightly.

She buried her fingers in his hair, pulling on it and moaned loudly. It was getting very hot in the car as the windows became steamy.

"Gina, I-..." McGill moaned as he felt himself come close.

"Come on, baby." She breathed heavily.

He groaned one last time before resting his head on the seat. Gina got off of him and put her head on his shoulder.

"I'm super happy you're back, can you not go back?"

"Maybe this time you can come with me?"

She looked up at him. "You know I can't…"

Patrick sighed. He felt conflicted and trapped between wanting to be with Gina and chasing his dream. Maybe something would happen that would change her mind but for now, he was happy. "Let's get you back home."