Page 68 of End Game

“I’m freaking out,” Gav admits. “Feels like everything is riding on us winning. If we lose one game, it’ll make the rest of the season that much harder. We lose two? We’re completely fucked.”

I say nothing because he’s right. Everything is riding on us winning, and losing even one freaking game puts so much at risk. But I don’t have the kind of pressure that Gav deals with as the quarterback. What he deals with is on a whole other level.

“We’re not going to lose,” I tell him, confidence bleeding into my every word. I believe that with all I’ve got.

“Easy for you to say,” he grunts.

“It is. Look.” I rest my hands on my hips, contemplating him. “I believe in you. I believe in all of us. We’re doing everything we can to make this season—our last season—epic. But some of it is out of our hands. We just have to try our best and work with what we’ve got. Not get too caught up in our heads over it.”

He studies me for a while, his expression serious. “When did you become so fucking logical?”

“Not sure.” I shrug. “The words just came to me.”

Gav laughs. “It was perfect—you don’t know how badly I needed to hear that.”

“Good.” I smile a little. “So did I.”

He peers at me, like he can see right through me. “You doing okay, though? Really?”

I remain quiet again, unsure if I should be completely honest. He’s dealing with his own problems, and he doesn’t need to worry about mine.

“Come on. Tell me the truth.”

I blow out a harsh breath and shake my head, both hating and liking that he’s got me figured out.

“I’ve been a little—fucked in the head lately. It’s not affecting my game play or anything,” I admit, my voice low. I quickly add, “That’s why I have zero problems with this party tonight. I need the distraction.” I don’t want him freaking out that I’ll turn into shit on the field.

“From?” He lifts his brows.

“Everything.”

He remains silent, waiting me out.

“Fine. From her.”

“Which her?” Gavin draws his brows together.

Is he acting like this on purpose? I thought it was obvious to everyone that I have a thing for Everleigh.

That she most likely has a thing for me too.

“Her.” I wave a hand toward the vicinity where I know for a fact Everleigh is standing. Laughing. Hanging on Sienna and having the time of her life, that skirt riding up higher and higher on her thighs. If I stick around long enough, I might see her panties. Or better yet, maybe she’s not wearing any at all. “The girl in the gold dress.”

He angles his head to the right, looking for Everleigh. “Oh, right. You mean your roommate.”

I nod, and Gavin—one of my very best friends, a person I confide all my secrets to—starts laughing his ass off. He doesn’t stop, either, when he sees me starting to fume.

Such a dick.

“You are so fucked,” he says between bouts of laughter, practically clutching himself while I stand there glaring at him. “Seriously. You’re a mess.”

“Thanks.” I throw my hands up in the air, letting my frustration rip. “What am I supposed to do? Fuck her like I want to?”

She already basically turned me down. Twice.

“Not that she’s interested,” I tack on before Gavin can say anything. “She already told me she wants to be friends only. But ignoring her isn’t helping me much.”

“Wait, she said to your face she isn’t interested in you?”

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