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“We’re being rude,” Kendall inserted, turning to me.
Lou responded with, “We are. I’m sorry, what were we making fun of you about, again?”
I pretended not to remember.
“Don’t mind him,” Kendall said. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”
“Running from the mob?” Lou asked.
That didn’t get the same response from everyone.
“What? Too soon?” Lou asked looking around.
“Anyway,” Kendall said turning everyone’s attention back to me.
“I’m here for work,” I explained.
“Really? What do you do?” He continued.
“I work in football.”
As soon as I said it, everyone went silent. It was like I had just said that I was a cop here to raid the place.
Kendall looked at Cage and Cali. “What aspect of football?”
“I’m an assistant coach for the Cougars.” When no one spoke, I asked, “Do you guys follow football?”
That was when I turned hearing someone descending the stairs. Initially I didn’t recognize him, not having seen him without his shirt on. But it hit me pretty quickly. My mouth dropped open.
“What?” the guy asked the others in his, now famous, southern accent. “Who’s this?” He said referring to me.
“You’re Nero Roman,” I said unable to help myself.
“Yeah. Who are you?” He replied with full southern twang.
“I’m Merri Hail. I work for the Cougars. And I’m a big fan.”
“Who’s this?” Nero asked looking around for an explanation as he joined us.
“He’s staying at my place,” Cali explained. “He was looking for a way to take his mind off of a break up so I invited him here. I thought he would balance out the numbers.”
“I see,” Nero asked staring at me as he decided something. “Anyway, are we doing this? I feel a win streak coming on. You got my back, Kendall?”
“Oh, Kendall!” I said reflexively. “You’re Nero’s boyfriend who’s hoping to get your PhD in clinical psychology.”
“Seriously, who is this?” Nero asked Cage.
“You heard it. He’s Merri and he’s an assistant coach with the Cougars. Why did you say you were in town?”
“I’m doing some recruiting,” I said feeling my palms sweat.
Again, the room fell into silence.
With his eyes darting around the room, Cage asked, “And who are you here recruiting?”
“Oh wait! You’re Cage Rucker, Nero’s brother. You set a D1 record for most passes in a season.”
“Yeah,” Cage said modestly.
