Page 38 of Manny

“Sure am.” He lets go of my hand. “But I’m not officially a Cowboy.”

He eyes me. “Who’s your team?”

I wince. “Well, I lived in Arizona for a few years, so I kinda got roped into watching the Cardinals more times than I care to remember.”

“Uh, huh. Played them preseason at home in Arlington. They put up a good fight, but our offense was just too good.”

“Not to mention you got a huge record-breaking extension before week one and helped deliver an easy win over the Browns,” I chirp.

Shep’s eyebrows pique as he barks out a laugh. “She’s smart, too.” He gives me a wink. “I can see why he chose you as a roommate.”

“It isn’t because I can recite football stats,” I sigh. “Sadly, I’m pathetic, and Manny here took pity on me.”

“Well, he’s a good guy.” Shep gives Manny a grin, and I’ll bet he can get any old thing he wants with a smile like that.

“Yes he is,” I agree.

Manny shakes his head, looking a little embarrassed. “Okay, I know you think I like being the center of attention, but you can both stop staring at me now.”

“He never was any good with compliments.” Shep smirks.

“Well, everyone here loves him,” I sing-song. “The men respect him, and the women all dote on him, and of course we all love his cooking.”

Shep cocks a brow. “Funny you never showed much interest in cooking class back in school.”

“How long have you known each other?” I ask.

“Since kindergarten, though, Shep didn’t even know my name until like ninth grade,” Manny pipes up.

Shep rolls his eyes. “So dramatic. He’s always been a little whiny, but he is kinda adorable in a little brother sorta way. You love ‘em, but you wish they’d stop wearing your clothes and trying to be cool.”

“Ha, like I’d ever wear anything you had on,hotshot,”Manny snarks back. “If I did, I’d have to disinfect it because all those groupies you have hanging off you now that you play for the Cowboys and are soooo cute!” He reaches up and pinches Shep’s cheek as Shep tries, and fails, to push him off.

Shep runs a hand through his hair; the kind of haircut that costs three hundred dollars. “Wise ass.”

“You asked for it.”

“Can’t help it if I got looks, brains and charm.”

Manny slaps a hand over his mouth. “That’s some big dick energy right there,Sheppington,you definitely didn’t get the cooking gene.”

“You haven’t called me Sheppington in like, ten years.”

“I only do it to annoy you.”

I roll my lips at how cute they are, bickering. “Have you ever tried any of Manny’s food?” I cut in. “It’s mouthwatering. He made this dish the other day and everyone practically stormed the kitchen doors the second it was out of the oven.”

“It was just a simple pasta bake,” Manny tells us. “Nothing to get their panties in a twist over, though not for the first time, I’vethought about putting an inside lock on my door to keep them out.”

Shep puts a hand on Manny’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “All jokes aside, I’m proud of you, little brother.”

“Little?” Manny snorts. “We’re the same age. And you may be bigger than me in stature,big boy,but I’m still hung like a horse, no matter which way you look at it.”

Shep screws up his nose and looks at me. “I’m so not gay, and he can’t resist saying shit like this to me just to annoy me.”

“What are brothers for?” I laugh, trying not to picture Manny’s dick right now. A slight flush of my cheeks has me patting them with my palms. When I look up, I see Bandit looking at me from across the bar. His eyes flick to Shep and he does not look impressed.

The boys rattle on as I get lost in the way Bandit is glaring at me. He’s mad. I think it’s because I’m talking to Shep. Everyone crowds around, asking questions, and I’m able to quietly slip away. When I take the seat at the bar next to him, his eyes don’t shift from the group around Shep. “Havin’ a good time,Lacey?”

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