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Thea gasped so loudly, I genuinely thought she was falling off the bed. When I didn't hear the thud, I assumed it was because she was worried she’d punctured a lung. Either way, I didn't bother turning back because I knew she'd start talking soon. She couldn’t help herself at the best of times.
“I can't believe you just said that. Without any remorse, no less.”
I looked at her over my shoulder and grinned. “What are you upset about? That I'm spouting facts, or that you haven’t admitted to yourself that you’re in love with your brother’s best friend?”
“I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about.” Hurt mixed with mild frustration marred her lips, and I found it somewhat amusing. “It doesn't take a Mensa level IQ to know that you're crushing hard on that little frustrated wannabe bad boy.”
Her brows furrowed, and she opened her mouth to talk, but couldn't say anything. Probably because she realized I was right. “What makes you so sure of yourself?”
“That first night, I went on a date with Tanner. When you initially thought I was dry humping Jackson.”
She raised her hand, crushing her eyes shut as she dropped her head. “What have I said about talking about dry humping?”
“I thought it was only an issue when it was between me and Tanner.”
She let out another annoyed grumble. “When will it end?”
“When you admit you have feelings for Jackson?” I shrugged, answering the question for her.
“I don’t.”
“Then why did you look like you were ready to murder me when you thought I was dating Jackson?”
“I didn't.”
“Yeah, you did. I thought our friendship was over then and there.” I dropped the pen, raising my hands. “You know what? It's okay, I get it. Tanner's not the first athlete I've fallen for. They're hard to resist.” I just shrugged, because admitting now that I was blindsided by Connor felt okay. I wasn't angry anymore. Not even bitter that it happened. It was just an experience that taught me to be more alert and strive for better men in my life.
Maybe it was easier to think like that now because Tanner and I were official. He didn’t want to hide me. He wanted to flaunt me. “Although Tanner mentioned that Jackson's got some tattoos he regrets, apparently.”
“I can't believe you think I care.”
“I can't believe you're still denying it now when it's obvious to everyone.”
That made her clamp her mouth shut before asking, “Do you think Tanner knows?”
“I haven't asked him, but you're not exactly helping yourself here. Subtlety isn’t exactly your best quality.”
She cringed, bringing her legs to her stomach and growling like a frustrated bear before covering her face with her hands. “Ugh, desperate sister simping over her brother’s teammate is not the image I want to give off my first semester at Covey U. I was hoping more for mysterious bad girl with a humor and heart.”
“Why do you sound like a tagline for a sweet romance novel?”
“Ugh. Sweet romance?” She wailed dramatically, throwing her hands over her head before falling onto the pillows. “Not a dark and steamy one? Even in my own fantasies, I can’t get laid. This is becoming a real problem.”
“What’s the problem? I think he likes you, too.”
She whipped her head up, her eyes as big as plates. “No, he doesn't. He just entertains my presence because I'm his teammate's sister.”
“Mhm.” I narrowed my eyes in disbelief because I was almost certain Tanner thought there was something going on, but I got it. If she admitted any of this out loud, it would mean a long and potentially awkward conversation with her brother. Something I doubted she wanted to do.
Pointing a coffined fingernail at me, she tipped her chin, glaring at me accusingly. “I see what you did there. You flipped the conversation so you didn’t have to answer any questions, all the while used your reverse psychology to trick me into confessing something.”
“Confessing, huh?”
She rolled her eyes, and then her body so she was lying on her front, playing with her hands. “I only came in here to tell you I told Tanner that his new girlfriend was also my new bestie.”
I winced. “What? Am I coming on too strong with the bestie claims? Because Tanner knows I exaggerate, but you are the friend I like to talk to most here, so I guess you are actually my unintended bestie on your part.”
She didn't stop talking. Much like her brother the first day I met him.
