Page 22 of End Game

“What, women throwing themselves at Gavin the moment he walks through the door?” She doesn’t tear her gaze away from him and the blonde, who is still trying to talk to him. “Not usually, only because they don’t have girls over that much.”

“Really?” I find that hard to believe. “That’s surprising.”

“I think Frank invited the blondes so you’d have someone to talk to. But clearly, that’s not happening. They’re too busy trying to get with Nico.” Sienna hooks her arm through mine. “At least you have me.”

I glance around the room at the multitude of football players casually hanging out on the couches, the coffee table littered with empty beer bottles and cans, a football game playing on the TV without the sound on. There are no other women in this house besides me and Sienna and the blondes, and I’m starting to think she wasn’t exaggerating when she said they don’t have women over often.

“Is that why you’re here?” I ask her. “To keep me company?”

“Coop did reach out and ask what I was doing. He knows I’m always down to meet someone new.” She unhooks her arm from mine, her smile fading. “Look, it’s hard for me to make friends.”

I’m frowning so hard my face hurts. “Really? But you’re so ... friendly.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t trust that easily. Most people just want to be my friend because of who my brother is.”

“What, is Cooper a big deal?” A little laugh escapes, but Sienna doesn’t laugh along with me. At all.

In fact, her face is dead serious.

“Wait a minute. Is your brother really a big deal?” I whisper.

“Every single guy in this room is a big deal. The majority of them have won a national football championship.”

I stare at her blankly, shaking my head like I don’t know what she’s talking about.

Because I actually don’t know what she’s talking about.

“Everleigh.” She grabs hold of my shoulders, her gaze locking with mine. “You’re roommates with some of the most popular guys on this entire campus. The UC Santa Mira Dolphins football team is a big deal. Huge. They’re all elite athletes. Some of these guys are going to go on to become professional football players. My brother might, too, though he’ll deny it every time you ask him.”

I scan the room once more, noting the rippling arm muscles, since the majority of them are wearing T-shirts or tank tops. The thick thigh muscles on display. Their low, deep, masculine voices as they chat and laugh and give each other shit. How casually confident they all are.

Every single one of them.

“These guys are really elite athletes?” I ask, my voice weak when I return my gaze to Sienna. “But they look so normal.”

It’s a lie. None of them look like regular dudes. They’re all tall and broad and muscular. It’s clear they work on their bodies regularly. Maybe even obsessively.

“Please. They’re not normal. Not even close. They’re beasts on the field. I’ve heard some of them are beasts in bed, too, but I’ve never been lucky enough to test that theory out.” Sienna’s smile is wry when I give her a bug-eyed look. “Hey, I can’t lie—there are a couple of them I wouldn’t mind hooking up with, but I know they’d just break my heart.”

“Right. I’m sure.” I nod, my gaze returning to them. Trying to imagine them out on a football field, crushing the opposing team.

Sounds like I need to do some serious googling later tonight before I go to bed.

“You really didn’t know they were a bunch of national-championship-winning football players, did you?” Sienna sounds surprised, and when I glance over at her, I notice that her eyebrows are up. “No wonder they were okay with you moving in.”

“Why is that so surprising?”

“Every girl they encounter usually only wants one thing from them. The fame of knowing, of hanging out with, of having sex with one of the university’s football players. It’s the main reason why I’m allowed to hang out with them, besides being Coop’s younger sister. I’m not an over-the-top fangirl. I don’t view them like that.” She nudges my side with her elbow. “Apparently, neither do you.”

Chapter Nine

EVERLEIGH

My first full week in Santa Mira goes by quickly and is busy in all the right ways. I got the window on my car fixed the same day I took it to the mechanic. I was offered a part-time job at the very café where fate delivered my new roommates, and I finally started school Thursday.

I don’t understand why school started on a Thursday. Does that make sense? Not to me, but those are the rules, so I don’t question them.

Since training for my new job doesn’t begin until bright and early Friday morning, after I finish my first day of classes, I go shopping to get some new clothes and other items I still need. I ended up taking a few of Sienna’s hand-me-downs, but not many. Everything was too long on me. She’s so much taller than I am.

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