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I’ve been half-hard since I laid eyes on Natalie, and I’ve never been so grateful for a counter to hide behind in my life. A water bottle gets moved in front of me. Looking up, I see Sebastian trying to hold back a laugh. Fucker. Guess I was staring.
Clearing his throat, Murphy moves in front of Natalie and bows like he is meeting the Queen of England. “Well, since your brother is against properly introducing us, I’m Aiden Murphy, but everyone calls me Murphy. I’m also known as the best linebacker in the city. This handsome devil to my left is Sebastian Beneventi. If you have any waste management issues, give Bash a call. His Dad’s in the biz.” Murphy winks at her, and I want to punch him in the face.
Sebastian tenses up immediately. The dude hates when we bust his balls about his dad and his connections.
“Fuck you, Murphy.” Bash has Murphy in a headlock and on the floor before he knows what hit him. These two fight like brothers more than most brothers I know.
“Hey assholes, stop rolling around on the floor like it’s some kind of mating ritual.” Cooper’s laughing again.
Natalie looks up at me and tilts her head as if she is assessing the situation. “And who are you? Let me guess. The quiet guys are always the quarterback. Spending too much time in your head, figuring out everyone’s next play. Am I right?”
Of course, she has to be perceptive, too, and she is entirely right. Momentarily hesitating, I answer. “Yeah, I’m the quarterback. Brady Ryan. Nice to finally meet you, Natalie. Coop talks about you all of the time.”
The guys immediately crack up. “Don’t downplay it, man. Brady Ryan is the number one ranked quarterback in the country sis. I swear if Dad could take him right out of high school, he would.”
That shakes me out of my stupor. “Number five, asshole. Don’t jinx me. One bad move and any of us can be out for the season or replaced. Now, let’s figure out what we’re ordering for dinner. I’m starving.”
I swear to god I hear Murphy mumble,I bet I know what you’re ready to eat.
Murphy just smiles under my glare before he walks back over to Natalie. “Are you hungry? We were just about to order some food before we figure out our plans for tonight. Plus, we need you to put us out of our misery and tell us all about the hot Sinclair sibling. We’re tired of Cooper and could use some new blood in here.”
Murphy has moved next to Natalie and his arm is around her shoulders, guiding her to a stool. I’ve known this guy since kindergarten, and I have never wanted to make him eat my fist as much as I want to right now.
“Hey, Cooper, since your dad is out of town, are we partying here tonight or keeping it to just us?” Sebastian is always looking for a reason not to go home, always trying to avoid his dad and his uncles. We like to joke about it, but his family is the kind of family you shouldn’t cross if you want to stay in one piece. It’s the worst kept secret in Kroydon Hills.
Natalie’s face falls for a second before I watch a mask go on. “Dad is out of town tonight? I was hoping to see him.”
“I know you hate football, but you seriously have to pay attention to Dad’s schedule. He has a game tonight in Tampa Bay. He’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. He wanted to do dinner when you got here this weekend, but I’m thinking it will be tomorrow after I get home from practice since you're here now. I’ll shoot him a text and let him know you got here early.”
“Alright. So, what are we ordering for dinner?” I think Bash sensed the tension in the air. It might as well be his superpower.
Of course, tension could hit Murphy over the head, and he still wouldn’t sense it. “Wait. Wait. Wait. Did I just hear Coop, right? Did he just say you hate football? Come on now. You’re breaking my fragile heart here. Say it ain’t so.”
Clipping Murph on the back of the head, I glare at him. “Knock it off, man. Leave her alone.”
“It’s okay, Brady, I have two brothers, I’m used to teasing. I don’t hate football, Murphy. It’s more of a love-hate relationship. I’ve been around it my entire life. I love the roar of the crowd at games. The smell of the fresh-cut grass. The energy in the air when you’re under the lights.
“Our entire family has lived our lives according to where Dad was coaching. I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve moved in eighteen years. First, Dad was promoted from assistant coach to head coach in college, then from an offensive coordinator in the pros to head coach of his own team. I hate that Cooper and I spent the last six months living on separate coasts because Dad switched teams again, but I get that this was a huge opportunity for him. Cooper and Declan both bow down to the altar of the football gods. I don’t get on my knees for anyone.”
“Jesus Christ, Nattie. I don’t want to hear about you getting on your knees. Conversation over!” Everyone laughs hysterically at Cooper’s reaction to his sister talking about getting her on her knees.
His face is as red as it was from the heat at practice today.
It’s funny but not enough to stop me from picturing Nat on her knees in front of me perfectly. Those pretty pink lips, sucking. … Just then, an empty water bottle hits me in the head.
“What the fuck, man!” I’m looking at Murphy, who’s laughing harder than the others now.
“Pick a damn place to order from, QB. I’m ready to get this party started.”
2
Natalie
It’s strange to sit in my new home, surrounded by people who are already comfortable here, when I’m not. The room itself is gorgeous. Wooden beams arch across a vaulted ceiling, warm, creamy marble countertops, and a matching deep farmhouse sink offset the light wood cabinets and open shelving. A huge center island with a butcher block counter is surrounded by five stools in the room’s center. An even bigger well-worn table with eight chairs sits off to the right of this massive room. It might have been a barn door in a previous life. I can’t help but wonder who decorated because it is gorgeous and certainly not something Dad or Coop is capable of. I love it. It’s warm and inviting and so much homier than anything has felt lately.
Last winter, I couldn’t believe it when Cooper told me he wanted to move with dad as soon as he could. We’d both been living with Mom at that point. I didn’t realize what a big deal playing for Kroydon Hills Prep would be for him.
I hated the idea of moving in the middle of the year. I might have chosen to go with him if I had realized how isolated I'd feel staying in California with Mom. Mom is a retired model and loves to travel. I barely saw her, which was nothing new. Still, with Declan in his junior year at Notre Dame and Coop and Dad on the other side of the country, I started to hate being in California.
