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“Look, Jackson, I doubt that she’s a virgin. She’s old enough to be out the house.”
“She’s nineteen, yes. I can’t think about her that way, Nick. I’ve known her since she was a kid. I’m best friends with her brother. I can’t do it.” I knew that I was trying to convince myself as much as Nick.
“I’m sure that she doesn’t look like that kid anymore. Right?” he challenged.
I glared at him.
“No. She’s fucking gorgeous now. More than that, she’s sarcastic, smart and funny as hell when she lets herself go. She’s perfect and I can’t touch her,” I insisted as Nick watched Violet come over with our burgers.
“I have never seen you with an issue on getting a girl,” he mocked as I smiled at Violet.
“Thanks,” I said as I pulled my plate to me. “It’s not an issue of getting the girl. The issue is her brother. He’s overprotective, Nick. I was told to keep her away from any guys here. Greg didn’t bother to tell me to stay away since he knows I’m too smart for it,” I explained, trying to express the seriousness of the situation.
“I don’t see the problem. You are both grown up now and anything would be consensual.”
“I wish it were that easy,” I picked up the burger and took a bite. I savored the greasy meat. I was going to hate going back to my game diet, but I’d still find a way to cheat. I always did and worked out that much more because of it.
“It is. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. If you want her and she wants you, make a move. It might pay off.” Nick grabbed his own sandwich and bit into it.
I longed for it to be so easy. Someone would be visiting before too long and if I was involved with Emma, it would be obvious.
We finished, and I pushed away my plate, feeling restless. “Want to come by and play a game?” I asked.
He glanced at the clock and nodded.
“I’ll take you back to your car later? Maybe your roomie can give me a lift?” He joked, and I shot him a dark look.
“Consider the warning I mentioned as a personal one. Keep your hands off her.”
Nick held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, remember, I’ve got someone now.”
I wasn’t even sure if Emma would be home. I knew that school didn’t start for another week or so, but she had been out exploring. I got the impression she was avoiding me sometimes since she didn’t seem to have any new friends in Nashville. I hoped that she wasn’t meeting any guys, and I pushed the thought away as we walked out to Nick’s car.
We drove to the apartment and I looked around the lot for Emma’s car. I saw it and wanted to groan. I grabbed my bag and carried it to the apartment as Nick looked around the complex. “You know, you might win the girl if you get a better place. You’ve been signed. Get a condo at least.”
“I know. I just moved here first thing and didn’t think too much about it. When she came here, I thought about it,” I glanced around to make sure that nobody was in earshot. “Besides, she’s not staying with me forever. It’s just until she’s settled,” I kept my voice low as I walked up to the door to unlock it, peering inside to make sure Emma was up and dressed.
Hell, I longed to come home and find her waiting for me naked. Fuck.
I didn’t see her. Nick got a bottle of water. He was right about getting another place, but I just let it slide. I was so busy during the season and time just passed, at least until I had Emma coming here. He sat down and looked around slowly.
I heard a door and leaned over to see her coming down the hall.
“Hey, Emma, I brought Nick back with me. He’s my best friend on the team.”
Nick offered her his hand.
“It’s good to meet you,” he said with his charming smile as I resisted rolling my eyes.
“Nice to meet you too,” Emma smiled sweetly before turning away and walking to the kitchen.
Emma got some water from the fridge. She looked at me and she grabbed another one, handing it to me when she came back over.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Sit and watch the pros at work,” Nick suggested. “We’re playing Madden.”
Emma took a seat in the recliner and opened her bottle, sipping it slowly. I watched as Nick looked her over, thinking to myself that she looked hot today.
“So, this is a video game?” Emma asked and we nodded. I got the game going, and she watched in amusement as we picked teams and started to play. She was quiet as we played, laughing as we started to bicker about the plays and the rules.
