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I kind of hoped that she’d drop him on his ass since he was seemingly getting serious. He was a bigger player than I was, at least before he met this girl at a bar. She was hot with pale blonde hair and dark blue eyes, but I thought Emma was better.
Shit. I had to stop thinking things like that. It was getting harder to separate the fact that she was Greg’s sister and not the gorgeous woman living with me and starting to haunt my thoughts when she wasn’t around. When we got pizza the other night after I caught her staring, it took forever for her to get comfortable again. Even then, I could still see that she was uneasy, and I hated it.
There was a part of me wanting to rejoice that she wanted me — I was sure of it — but the bigger part of me didn’t want things to be weird. We’d known one another for too long and were living together for the time being.
“Jackson?”
I blinked and saw Nick staring at me. “Where the hell were you?”
“Just thinking.”
He shook his head. “It’s my turn, asshole. Get up.”
I slowly sat up and tried to focus on my burning muscles over the lust that was racing through my body again. I wiped down the bench and stood to spot Nick for a while.
“I was saying, Jackson, that I could fix you up with one of her friends. We could all go out together some night. It would be a sure thing.”
“Nah, I need to stay pure for the game,” I replied and we both laughed. I knew Nick was aware of my reputation and was joking, but I hadn’t once thought of another woman since Emma moved in.
Nick started to lift after adding some weight to the bar with a smirk, and I waited to assist him. I normally loved my time in the gym, but I’d been so distracted lately everywhere I was. Everyone noticed, and Coach was even on my ass right now.
I looked across the large room as Nick breathed heavily. I knew that he was showing off and thinking that a new girlfriend changed his life, but there was so much more to it than that.
“Need me to take some of that weight off for you?” I teased.
“Fuck off. This is nothing,” he shot back. “What’s wrong with you?” Nick asked. “You’ve been off for a few days. What the hell is going on?”
How to respond? I’d never been into a woman for more than a few dates before. Hell, I’d never had a girlfriend who lasted longer than two months. They were always more into me than I was into them.
“I’m just thinking about the season. I want it to be a good one,” I deflected and helped him with the weights as he winced, holding on until he had a good hold again.
“Bullshit. You don’t get nervous, you cocky asshole. If there’s one thing that you don’t worry about, it’s football.” Nick said. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Even as second string, you know that you’re good out there. You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
Nick finished with the weights and sat up, looking at the clock. I leaned against the wall and looked down at the floor.
“Let’s get out of here. Get some food and hang for a while. We don’t have to eat perfect yet, right?” Nick said.
We grabbed our stuff and headed out to Nick’s truck since he offered to drive. We drove to a small diner on the edge of town that we loved for the food and low-key atmosphere. I led the way to a back booth. We each took a side, and I leaned my head back as he observed me.
The usual afternoon waitress walked over, greeting us with a warm smile.
“Hey, boys. The usual?”
“Always, Vi,” Nick gave her a big smile, and she giggled as she walked away. Violet was a good ten years older than us but there was some harmless flirting. I knew that nothing would happen in reality.
“So, spill.”
“I can’t stop thinking about this girl.” I watched Nick raise an eyebrow and smile knowingly. “I’m going to start sounding like you, Nick.”
“The right girl isn’t a bad thing, Jackson.”
Nick looked at me quizzically as Violet brought us two big glasses of water.
“This one is. I can’t even think about her without getting my ass kicked,” I reached for the glass and took a long drink as he did the same.
“Is she the one who’s living with you?” Nick pressed.
I nodded slightly, and he laughed.
“My friend Greg will kick my ass for even thinking about her,” I muttered.
“She’s in college. A big girl. Does she want you, too?” Nick asked.
I ran a hand through my hair. I had seen the glances Emma gave me when she thought I wasn’t looking. Ever since she walked into my room to see me working out, things had intensified between us although nothing had been said.
