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“I told you, it just felt wrong.” His voice sounds thick.
“Why? Because you gave me a purely transactional pity kiss nearly two decades ago?”
His eyebrows go up. “A purely transactional … is that all you thought it was, even after I explained myself?”
“I’m certainly not stupid enough to think an awkward first kiss meant anything to you, especially after all this time.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Even if you really believed that, you should know exactly why I can’t stand the idea of you and my brother together. If anyone would get that, it’s you,” he explains.
He’s right. Although we were neverreallyfriends, and we’ve barely spoken over the years, we’re probably the only people who truly understand the dynamic we have with our brothers. But that doesn’t excuse him from acting like an ass.
“Right. Just like you ought to know that I wouldn’t appreciate the overbearing-big-bro act.”
He hisses and clutches his chest playfully. “Did you just bro-zone me, Reed?” He’s grinning now.
I roll my eyes. I’m not up for this. I don’t need him to patronize me with his sympathy flirting just so he can make himself feel better.
“Look, my feelings are fine, and all is forgiven, okay?” I return, my tone harsh. “You should go. The game’s about to start.”
“Wait. Just tell me one more thing, please?” He leans in until he’s basically inside the concession stand with me. “How far are you willing to take this plan of yours? I need to know, to prepare myself,” he whispers, staring at my mouth.
My lips part, and I’m momentarily flustered. “As far as it takes to get Tenley good and jealous, I guess,” I spit out once I’ve recovered.
“Just Tenley, right?”
I draw back in surprise. “Well, yeah. Who else is there?”
He nods silently and slides a pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter footballs toward me. “Good, then. See you around, Loren.” Then he winks at me before turning and strutting over to the sidelines, leaving me with my jaw open.
CHAPTER 29
Blake
EIGHT MONTHS AGO (CONTINUED)
JDand I are closing up the locker room when Ethan comes over to ask for help with a flat tire. JD glances at me apologetically, but I tell him it’s a lucky coincidence, since his plan for making Tenley jealous hinges on Ethan getting her to hang around long enough to see JD and Loren walking out together.
He motions for Ethan to lead the way, and I follow closely behind. JD’s more than capable of loosening a few lug nuts without my help, but he looks like he could use the emotional support.
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t bother. I’m not sure I want to be subjected to Loren hanging off JD’s arm again. I didn’t particularly enjoy watching them together earlier today, nor did I appreciate the way my subconscious noticed that she’s only gotten more beautiful since the last time I paid her this much attention and that her long, dark hair looks sexier than I remembered hanging down her lower back and highlighting her petite but curvy form. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Loren since I’d been a jerk and hurt her feelings this morning. It’s also possible that seeing her go out on a limb for my brother has softened my previous claims about her being an annoying know-it-all in general.
Then again, it seems like it’s always gone the same way with Loren and me, ever since middle school. Any time the two of us are alone, my brain misfires, and I end up oversharing or taking it too far. And, sure enough, even though I’d rehearsed my apology ahead of time and gone in with my secret weapon—Reese’s—I walked away feeling like a loser again.
I clear my throat as I continue following the others through the gate and try not to stare after Loren comes out from the concession stand to join us. JD stops when we reach the parking lot and makes an awkward showing of walking Loren to her car, and I peel my eyes away from them for a second to check Tenley’s reaction. She’s absolutely bothered. In fact, it looks as though she’s hiding because she can’t even bear to watch.
“What’s going on with them?” Ethan asks me after a second.
Then I see my brother’s hand brush over Loren’s lower back as he urges her forward, and I’m pretty sure I let out an audible growl.
I try to save face by turning it into a hum, but it’s too late. “Not sure. Must be new,” I spit out before I steal a move from Tenley’s playbook and excuse myself to take a fake phone call at my truck.
I shake my head quickly, realizing this is ridiculous. Besides the fact that this is supposed to be about helping my brother get with the girl he’s been pining over for the past couple of months, I’m not eventhatattracted to Loren Reed.
I redirect my efforts, pulling up Facebook on my phone and searching for her name in the Messenger app. Because I don’t even have Loren’s phone number, despite having a longer list of female contacts than any other man in Camellia.
Blake Bourgeois
It’s definitely working.
