Page 15 of Untouchable Player

I snort, “they were not checking me out.”

Katie tilts her chin at me.

“What?”

“Nate, I’m only going to say this once, because I don’t want you to get a big head, but, you’re kind of amazing looking.”

I feel my face get hot and look down.

“Not my type, but definitely a lot of people’s. So stop using being unattractive as an excuse to shy away from dating, you’re not butt-ugly, if you’re single, it’s because you’re chicken shit, okay?”

“Thanks.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

We take the bus into a nearby residential area and my stomach drops as we pass the row of houses used by the fraternities.

“We’re not going to a frat party are we?”

“It’s not at a frat house, no, I wouldn’t step foot inside one of those, but I can’t promise there won’t be any frat boys there. Or hockey players.”

“It’s okay, if Harrison’s there he’ll just pretend he doesn’t know me like he always does. Why are you smiling?”

“Siblings,” she shrugs.

“You don’t have any.”

“I know. I’m so lucky. You guys are all freaks. A psychiatrist’s wet dream though.”

“Gross.”

The house is at the end of a quiet street with a pick-up truck and a Volkswagen parked up outside. A couple of guys who look like frat boys are standing on the porch drinking something from plastic cups. Katie squeezes my arm as we walk past.

I always worry someone’s going to try and stop me from going in, like they’ll call me a nerd and stuff me into a trash can or something. As much as he annoys me, growing up with a popular sport’s star as a brother did help me out at school. The few times anyone messed with me, Harrison ganged up on them with his teammates and no one messed with me again. But we’re adults now, and I can’t imagine asking Harrison to stick up for me against bullies.

Chants ofchug chug chugtravel down the hallway and when we reach the kitchen, Jesse Engels is surrounded at the kitchen counter while he chugs down a beer. It spills down his chin while he throws it back and when he’s finished, he picks up another.

Harrison is behind him, grinning like a maniac and pumping his fist while he chants.

Katie leans over and says in my ear, “it’s like some religious cult, don’t you think?”

I lead her away from the kitchen and out into the garden.

“Hey, I didn’t even grab a beer.”

“You know that guy chugging the beers?”

“Yeah?”

“He’s the one I’ve agreed to tutor in… sport’s nutrition.”

Katie snorts and slaps a hand to her mouth. Her rings clinking.

“Sorry,” she says, “but why? you don’t even take sport’s nutrition.”

“I know. Harrison bullied me into it.”

“How? What does he have on you? Did he find a weird porn stash or something? How weird was it, you can tell me?”

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