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My watch buzzed, and I checked my wrist. We’d been chatting for longer than I’d thought and eaten through my unpacking time.
“I have a class soon, so I’ve got to go. I think I’m going to like you, Eva. Thanks for…” I waved my hand around the apartment. “Everything.”
“You’re welcome, and I’m glad you’re on board because I’ve decided we’re going to be besties. Nadia and Vi will love you.”
I’d heard of Vi, Soren Brehm’s girlfriend, during my team stalking, but I couldn’t place why Nadia sounded familiar. Did they still spend time at TU? I thought I’d read that Vi graduated and moved to another area of Texas.
Eva tilted her head, exercising her mind reading skills again. “The guys are a tight-knit group. D is in New York with Nadia, but Soren and Vi stayed close in Houston. They’re still part of the group text.”
I frowned at her. “Seriously, how do you do that?”
“I just understand people and their body language. You should see me at poker night.”
My throat closed up unexpectedly at the mention of poker night. The reaction happened sometimes when confronted with a memory of Dad. He taught me to play poker during the long Wisconsin winters when we weren’t running drills or watching game tape.
I cleared away the roughness and sent Eva a smile before she could dig out this truth too. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She waved and watched me leave with knowing eyes.
5
Mac’s girl played football. Riley Jones. RJ. Whatever she wanted to be called. I yanked open the fridge to search for something to eat then slammed it again when I realized it was Mac’s week to grocery shop.
As usual, he’d forgotten.
I had maybe ten more minutes to wallow in my bad mood before Mac and Noah got home. They had classes that afternoon, but my professor had emailed to say she’d come down with the flu and cancelled. I’d planned to hit the weight room again. A light workout would help organize the chaos of my thoughts, but the prospect of seeing Riley sent me on a run instead.
Why would Coach Gordon recruit her?
There was a reason women didn’t play football at the college level. Kickers, yes—they didn’t have to take a hit—but wide receivers were in the middle of the plays. She’d be tackled by guys who had a hundred pounds on her.
My mind helpfully supplied an image of Riley shifting the equipment in the weight room with ease. Her fluid movements and muscular legs made me think she was fast, but speed wouldn’t protect her if Duke got ahold of her during practice. He’d snap her in half.
And how was I supposed to focus when all I wanted to do was stare at her as she moved. She’d been hot in the stretchy pants, and she was just as hot in jeans and a tank top. A fact my dick had definitely noticed. That buzz of sensation when we touched would make it impossible to give the game all my attention. None of that was her fault, but it would cause problems for the team.
I shook my head and slumped onto the couch. Even to myself, I sounded like a sexist asshole.
Either I trusted my coach or I didn’t. He wouldn’t play her if he didn’t have a plan. My reaction to her was my own problem, compounded by that damn rule. I couldn’t stop trying to find ways around it in the back of my mind, despite knowing the futility of the exercise.
My phone beeped a couple of seconds before keys scraped against the lock outside. After the drama with Vi, Mac had insisted we get a front door camera. It sent a message to my phone every time someone came to our door, which was way more often than I’d thought when I agreed to it. I hadn’t figured out how to turn the damn thing off yet.
Mac burst into the room with Noah trailing after him. “Shaw, you aren’t going to believe who we saw at the Quack Shack.”
My first thought was Riley. Apparently, she was always my first thought now. I frowned and circled my hand at Mac to indicate he should keep going.
“Remember the crazy goth chick from last year?”
I sat up as my thoughts came to screeching halt. “Leticia? Loretta? Something like that?”
Mac dropped down next to me as Noah disappeared into the kitchen, bound for disappointment. “Lenore. She was ahead of us, and I didn’t recognize her until she turned to go into the clinic.”
“Why do I care about this?”
“Dude, she was wearing a pink sundress. Her hair was in a ponytail, no dark eye make-up, not a raven feather to be found.”
My lips curved up as my mood lifted. Lenore had spent two weeks sending Mac truly horrible love poetry while Mac went through an adventurous phase. “You’re sure it was her?”
Noah came back into the room with a frown. “He ran over and started talking before I could stop him. Also, we’re out of food.”
