Page 5 of The Draft

“So, Dash. That’s an interesting name. I assume it’s not short for Daniel, so where did it come from?”

I glanced over to the football table, and Madison had yet to make her way through the throng of jersey chasers waiting for their chance to talk to the football team. Strangely, the minute she took a step toward them, the crowd parted like the Red Sea as though it were her destiny to have an orgy with them.

Un-fucking-likely.

Her perfect ass did another perfect wiggle, and I was ready to lose my mind.

“Daniel?” Sienna’s piqued annoyance brought me back to her.

Sighing, I said, “Don’t call me Daniel. No one has since I was ten. Dash is my name, and it started as a joke because I’m the slowest guy on the team.”

“Interesting.” It was so interesting that she didn’t bother to write it down. My plan was working.

Grumbling, I made myself comfortable in my seat because I was almost certain that if I left, Sienna would write about what an asshole I was, and I didn’t want that kind of attention. So, I was left with only one option. I had to sit with this woman and talk nonsense while I watched Madison try her luck with the football team.

Dammit.

Chapter 2

With my head held high, I strutted over to the football team with the sole intention of getting some form of male attention tonight.

“You are cute.”

Dash’s words played in my mind like an endless taunt because if I was so damn cute, then why wouldn’t he just kiss me? The way his eyes flickered down my chest and his jaw clenched gave me all the signs that he liked me, but he’d never act on it. Well, if he wanted to keep pretending there wasn’t this electric energy firing between us, then that was fine. He could do or say whatever the hell he wanted, but that meant I could too, and I was planning on losing something tonight, even if it was just my sanity from talking to him.

As I stood behind a few jersey chasers, I shimmied my dress down and ignoredthe urge to look over my shoulder at Dash. What would that gain me except a broken heart and a grudge? He was infuriating and acted like I was still that naïve high school sophomore he left behind after beating the shit out of my boyfriend. I was more than that now, he’d made sure of it and seemingly had no idea of the effect he had on me.

The day after he and Cade were drafted to the Atlanta Anglerfish and they accepted a place at Covey U to study while they developed their skills was the day no guy would talk to me again, let alone ask me on a date. It didn’t matter how cute I dressed or how much I flirted, I was untouchable. I’d reached a status no girl wanted to reach—OFF-LIMITS. Because it wasn’t bad enough that I was Cade Bright’s, future NHL star’s, little sister. Daniel “Dash” Bridges, the six foot six behemoth and also future hockey star, had inadvertently become my bodyguard, and unbeknownst to him, my secret obsession.

How could he not become everything I ever wanted?

He was beating up guys for me, and apparently that was something I was into. Okay, maybe beating up the guy wasn’t technically for me, as his girlfriend was also involved in the cheating scandal, and that was probably the sole reason that Henry got that broken nose, but a girl could dream.

And my head was firmly in the clouds when it came to Dash Bridges.

“Excuse me!” I yelled as the crowd parted, leaving the heartthrob Adam Hartley free and waiting for me. A small thrill ran up my spine when he took me in with wide, surprised eyes. I smirked because if this didn’t get Dash’s attention, then nothing would.

And I was always trying to get Dash’s attention, whether he’d like to admit it or not.

“Adam,” I crooned as I took a seat on the barstool opposite. He immediately pushed his body back and let out an uneasy groan. Great start. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Madison.” I flashed him a smile and held out my hand, hoping that would make it better. Unfortunately, he just stared at my palm, dumbfounded.

“Oh, I know exactly who you are.” He laughed. “You’re Cade Bright’s sister.”

My whole bravado immediately deflated. Cade Bright’s sister. That was all I was to everyone here, and it was my own stupid fault. I knew I shouldhave gone to Southern Collegiate. They had beaches and the same good weather as Covey, but all those rumors about the bullying on campus stopped me, so I decided to come here. And it was all because they had one of the best programs in computer science in the country.

“I’m more than just his little sister, you know?” Why was I bothering to defend myself around a guy I wasn’t actually interested in? I didn’t want to date a football player, but the idea of not being taken seriously the minute I attempted to flirt irked me in indescribable ways because I desperately wanted to be seen as every other girl. Hell, I spent enough time dressing up this evening for everyone in this entire room to think I meant business, but just like the last table, I was getting shot down.

“I’m sure you are.” Adam ran a hand through his spiked blond hair and let out a hesitant chuckle. “You know, if you’re looking for a good time, you might have more luck with Devin.” He pointed his thumb to the burly guy behind him. Brooding and angry, Devin gave off the same vibes as Dash, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

Dash and I…well, we were complicated. Falling slightly in love with him after he became my unintentional knight in shining armor wasn’t my wisest decision, but I couldn’t help it. In that moment, when I heard the crunch of my boyfriend’s nose and felt the blood splatter across my white shirt, it seemed like we were meant to be. I’d always play back the same fantasy in my head that we’d somehow end up together after he got over the fact that Cade was my brother. He’d be a professional hockey player for the Atlanta Anglerfish, and I’d be a software engineer for 180Betting. We’d make the perfect team. Unfortunately, he had always held firm that it was a team he didn’t want to be on.

But I knew it was a lie.

Because I saw it. The way he looked at me when I realized Henry cheated on me. The way he stopped any guy from asking me out. The way he stared at me when he thought no one knew he was looking. There was something there, and I guessed he felt conflicted since he was practically attached at the hip to my brother.

Even tonight, his fists clenched when I accidentally brushed my hand across my cleavage. The cleavage I purposely pushed up so I would get that desperate, hungry look from him. I wanted to believe he might havesome lingering feelings for me, too, but he was too quiet and reserved to just outright admit them to me. The only way I was going to find out was to pull them out of him.

When I glanced back at Dash, my mood soured. I knew I shouldn’t have looked. He was talking away to that reporter girl. The one that everyone seemed to have a crush on, but she didn’t give anyone the time of day. Except for Dash, apparently. She was animatedly smiling and flicking her hair in all kinds of directions. It was glossy and perfect just like her figure. Screw her. He looked down at his hands and smiled.Smiled?!Dash Bridges was smiling over a girl who wasn’t me, and I hated it.

---