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“You’re Micah.” He holds out a hand. “Heard a lot about you.”
I don’t shake his hand because my arms are around Tess and I’m not moving them. “Didn’t catch your name.”
I know who he is. I’m just being a jerk. He’s Conner’s teammate, Blake Brinkowski, the game’s best linebacker. He stars in tire commercials and runs some animal rescue charity, a pro sports version of a saint.
And he’s polite too. “I’m Blake.” He pulls his hand back when he realizes I’m not going to cooperate. “It’s good to finally meet you. Conner talks about you all the time.”
“What did I do?” Conner looks up from his pile of hot girls.
Tess squeezes me around the waist. “You’ve been bragging on our boy.”
“Sure, Micah’s the shit.” Conner springs to his feet. “Do we have cookies yet?”
Tess glances at the double wall oven. “Yes. In fact, the second batch is about to burn.”
“I’ll get it.” Blake flashes a hero grin and stuffs his big hand into an oven mitt to rescue the cookie sheet.
Tess grabs a spatula and transfers the cookies to a cooling rack while Conner and the girls gather around.
“Grab a plate,” Tess says. “They’re best when they are still hot. There’s milk in the fridge for anyone who’s into tradition. And no, I will never share my secret ingredient so you’ll just have to wonder about it forever.”
She says this with a charming smile and stands back to allow the hungry horde to seize cookies.
“Tessie, you’re the best roommate ever.” Conner holds four cookies in each hand and returns to the couch.
“These are SO good,” says one of the girls.
“SO good,” agrees her friend with a moan.
“AMAZINGLY good,” says Girl #3 and feeds one to Conner before claiming a seat in his lap.
Not everyone drifts to the living room.
Blake is still hanging out in the kitchen. Boy Scout that he is, he pours himself a glass of milk and selects two cookies. “Even my mom can’t make cookies from scratch this fast. Tess, I have a feeling there’s nothing you can’t do.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t know about that. Baking is my only kitchen talent.”
But this Blake asshole is standing there gazing at my girlfriend like she’s the answer to his prayers.
I understand his thinking. Tess is not only beautiful but she’s witty and whip smart. She’s not going to just sit on the couch and giggle idiotically like Conner’s new gal pals.
She’s also mine.MINE!
I’ve decided I’m in the mood for a beer and I throw open the fridge door. Blake gets accidentally smacked in the arm. His fault for standing too close while eyeing my girlfriend.
He throws me a hard look.
I stare back at him, twist open the beer bottle and let the cap drop on his shoe.
In a silent standoff, I hold his eye while pouring the beer down my throat. He looks away first.
I win.
Tess is oblivious. “You haven’t had a cookie yet.” She stuffs a warm cookie in my mouth. I grab her wrist and slowly lick a spot of melted chocolate from her fingers.
She watches my tongue and practically pants as her cheeks turn pink. Then she takes a closer look at my face and grows concerned.
Shit, I forgot about the shiner already.
