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Hey, don’t hate the player. Hate the game.
As far as the playoffs go, I think our chances are good for winning them and making it to the conference championship. That’s the only way I see this season ending for me.
With one last ring added to my collection.
At this very moment, my agent is fielding calls from several prospective NFL teams who are interested in what I can bring to the table.
So, no...I’m not concerned about any of that.
“It’s little Kendricks, right?”
His words have me straightening in my seat like someone just rammed a two-by-four up my ass. “What did you say?”
Cause there is no damn way I heard him correctly.
His bored gaze flickers in my direction before refocusing on the football game unfolding on the screen. “You heard me. Do I really have to repeat myself?”
I shake my head and attempt to force down the thick lump lodged in the middle of my throat, making it impossible to breathe. “I’m not—”
He scrunches his face. It would be comical if I didn’t feel so gut sick.
“Dude, come on. The fact that you’re even trying to deny it is embarrassing.”
My eyes widen as I moisten my lips and make a second attempt. “I don’t—”
With a snort, he shakes his head. “Just own up to it, Roberts. You’ve got major wood for that girl.”
“It’s not like that.” It’s difficult to push the words through stiff lips. I don’t want anyone talking about Elle in that way. In fact, I’m tempted to beat the piss out of him for even—
“Ahh, so you admit she’s not just messing with your dick, but your head. Now we’re getting somewhere.” One corner of his mouth hitches as he gives me a sly smile. “Was that so difficult?”
Heat floods my cheeks. “I haven’t admitted to anything.” I wish there were a way to backtrack from this uncomfortable conversation.
“All right, so do us both a favor and deny it.” Interest lights up his face as he watches me with a raised brow. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
I can only stare.
What the hell is going on around here?
Since when does Asher pay enough attention to anything that doesn’t involve football or pussy?
Strictly in that order.
And I can already tell by the way he’s digging in that he won’t be dropping the topic anytime soon. I glance desperately into the dining room, hoping to find someone I can pull in here and distract Asher with but there’s no one. The house is surprisingly empty for this time of the evening. Where the hell did everyone go?
Before I can steer this one-sided conversation in a different direction, he says, “You realize that Bray is gonna kick your ass if he finds out you’ve got the hots for Elle.”
That’s all it takes for my head to fall back against the cushion as if it weighs a thousand pounds. The words escape before I can stuff them back inside my mouth where they belong. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
When he chuckles, I wince and squeeze the bridge of my nose between my fingers.
Well, fuck me.
“Now that you’ve finally fessed up and admitted the truth, what are you going to do about the delicate situation you find yourself embroiled in?”
“Absolutely nothing.” The way I see it, I’ve gone this long without giving in—the other night notwithstanding. Surely I can get through the next six months. And then we can go our separate ways. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
“I think you’re making a mistake.”
My head jerks up so fast that I nearly give myself whiplash. “Why would you say that?”
His attention stays locked on the screen. “Because you’ve obviously had these feelings for a while. It sure as shit doesn’t sound like a passing thing to me.”
I blink. “How the hell would you know?”
His tongue peeks out at the corner of his mouth as he stays laser focused on the game. “Dude, you’ve been hovering over that girl since she stepped foot on campus freshman year. Anytime she’s at the house, you’re hanging all over her, making sure that every guy in the vicinity is keeping their distance. Frankly, it’s shocking as hell that Kendricks hasn’t figured you out.”
He's right about that.
I drag a hand over my face. “We both know he would lose his proverbial shit if he discovered the truth.”
Asher snorts. “Damn right he would.”
“And it would seriously fuck up our friendship.” I add the last part more to myself than him.
He nods as if I’ve offered up an excellent point. “Probably. It’s a total breach of bro code.”
This conversation isn’t making me feel better. Scratch that, I feel worse than when it started.
Why the hell are we discussing this again?
“Look, I’ve known you since freshman year and have never seen you into a girl. Even before little Kendricks got here.” He sends me a speculative look. One that punches me right in the gut. “Now I’m thinking there’s a reason for that.”
