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We both laugh at her response. With two full glasses, I make my way to the living room. Kennedy is sandwiched between Rodney and Ashton on the couch. Sitting in one of the chairs, I drink a good portion of the glass when an idea comes to me.
Setting my glass on the coffee table as I move to the edge of the chair, excitement fills me, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“If I make a grocery list, would one of you have time to run to the store before dinner tomorrow?” My eyes bounce between my five roommates since they have vehicles.
Kennedy lets out a groan, burying her face in Rodney’s chest. The guys laugh at her as they exchange looks.
“Yeah, I have an early afternoon tomorrow. Just write down what you want me to get,” Ashton volunteers.
“Perfect, how do you guys feel about lasagna for dinner?” Tossing the question out there, I head to my backpack to start a list.
“Why does it have to be something complicated?” Kennedy says with a whine, causing all of us to laugh.
With Kennedy’s upbringing, she doesn’t know how to cook. I am not a master chef but learned early on how to fend for myself since Kavanagh was going to college, no matter how much food was or wasn’t in the house. Every spare chance, Kennedy and I have been doing cooking lessons. Me and the guys explained to her that once college was over, cooking would fall to her a lot, and she needed to have a few recipes in her arsenal.
Taking my pen and paper into the kitchen, I start taking inventory of what is here versus what we will need. Kennedy and I usually go shopping on the weekends, so my list will only be for what we need for dinner.
Once finished with the list, I move back into the living room. Handing the paper to Ashton before resuming my seat, it takes Kennedy a moment to object.
“Wait a minute,” she says, a large grin on her face. “How can we make dinner tomorrow if you have a study session with Brock?”
Gareth lets out a chuckle, bursting her bubble. “He had to cancel tomorrow, something about a team meeting.”
Hiding my grin behind my wine glass as her smile falls, a tragic look takes over Kennedy’s face as she groans, knowing that she isn’t going to get out of cooking.
The guys all start getting on Kennedy’s case about her cooking. Good-natured ribbing from each of us, at Kennedy’s expense, has us laughing. This is what family means. The rest of the evening is spent enjoying some lame television, wine, and relaxed conversation with friends.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Zanko doesn’t disappoint. As soon as the door to our room closes, he pounces.
“Now, what the hell was that about earlier today, between you and Kassidy?” he states, not leaving room for me to wiggle out of answering the question.
Glancing over at Zanko, he is propped up, leaning against the headboard of his bed. His closed-off expression matches his tone. Deciding not to delay the inevitable, I answer his question, dropping my bag on my desk and stripping out of my clothes as I speak.
“She wanted to warn me about Danica. Kassidy let it slip about me being on academic probation. She felt bad and wanted to apologize.”
“That girl really could care less about who you are and where you are going?” He phrases it as a question, although it seems more like a statement.
“No, she doesn’t care,” I respond anyway. “It is a bit refreshing being treated like a person and who I am against what being around me can do for her.”
“She didn’t even pay any attention to the rest of us today. Usually, having all of us together has the panties falling off.Danica, on the other hand,” Zanko pauses, causing me to glance over at him. He’s shaking his head at the memory from earlier in the dining hall. “I really was expecting her to jump your ass at the table, regardless of the audience,” he chuckles.
“Do you know what the meeting is about tomorrow?” I ask, getting serious and changing the subject.
“My best guess is to go over the game schedule. Maybe practice and workout schedule as well,” Zanko says with a shrug.
Nodding my head in agreement with his assessment, my tone turns serious. “Just a heads up, he was pissed this morning.”
“Why?” he asks with a moan, dropping his head back on his shoulders.
My dark chuckle has him looking wary.
“Let’s see…could it be that I was hungover as fuck, and reeked of booze? Or possibly because there were only three of us from the baseball team that showed up at the gym?”
“Fuuuuccckkkk!” Zanko groans.
It’s my turn to laugh at him now. They all make fun of me for dragging my ass to the gym every day. Today worked in my favor, even dealing with the hangover from hell. Coach knows my commitment to the team and the game. As long as I keep my nose clean, show up where and when I am supposed to, and put all of my effort into the game on the field, he doesn’t say much about the occasional partying.
