Page 11 of Stalked By the Cornerback

“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes, closing my door behind me. “You’re stunning.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “Those frat guys won’t know what hit them!”

“Nothing.” I laughed. “Nothing is going to hit anyone because I’m just going for a drink and hang with you.”

“And meet new people,” she encouraged, because the woman was incorrigibly positive. “Please!” Her dark eyes pleaded with me, and I rolled mine again.

“Fine,” I agreed for god only knew what reason.

We hit up the cute Mexican restaurant that had just opened off the main downtown area. After filling up on guac and chips and the most delicious flautas I had ever tasted, and that was saying something because my grandma, my dad’s mom, was incredible in the kitchen, and maybe slightly bitsy tipsy from one margarita, we found ourselves at the frat house.

The place was filled with tons of people.

“I’m gonna go get us some beers!” Becks shouted over the music, and I nodded.

“I’ll go look inside. There is beer pong!”

“Check it out. You might have fun!” she suggested, and I snorted before making my way into the main living area of the house. I sat down next to a girl with blonde hair who literally looked like a princess from a fairy tale.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” I responded, hating how awkward I was with new people.

“You look familiar,” she mentioned, and I smiled.

“I do?”

“Yeah, I think we were in an English class together.” I opened my mouth to tell her I looked about two years older than her but then stopped myself. “Richardson’s class?” I asked, and she nodded.

“Yeah,” she confirmed quietly. We started to talk, and I relaxed. She was cool. I didn’t miss the way she looked at thelinebacker who had been in my sports medicine class. It was cute how they kept looking at one another. It was obvious they were together, and if they weren’t, it was only a matter of time. The way he looked at her reminded me of the way Dylan used to look at me.

Speaking of, I noticed he stood next to the linebacker, and I stopped looking in his direction.Great.The one party I decided to go to all summer, he had to be here.

Just my luck!

CHAPTER 8

DYLAN

I walkedover to Crank and stood next to him.

“She looks happy,” I observed. I was fucking delighted that he had talked his girl into coming out. I was happy for the guy. He worked hard on and off the field. He deserved to have some fun.

“Yeah,” he muttered seriously. I didn’t have to look away from Libby to know that Crank looked like he was about to strangle someone. “But if that fucking rookie doesn’t back off, he won’t be pitching next season,” he added. I chuckled quietly because I’d called it.

“Relax. You look like you’re about to pop an aneurysm. He knows she’s taken,” I murmured, trying to reassure him. It was fucking obvious that Libby was all his.

Just then,shewalked over.Mattie.What the hell was my girl doing here? My breathing changed. It became huskier.

“You think?” Crank asked. I tore my eyes from Mattie and watched Libby’s gaze search and find Crank’s. Watching the two of them find one another felt almost like it was something I shouldn’t be witnessing. Something intimate. And just like that, the big guy next to me relaxed.

“See how she looks at you?” I pointed out. “Not one of these motherfuckers, sober or not, misses the way she looks at you.” I couldn’t stop looking at Maddie, who was now talking to Libby. The two of them somehow got along easily. “Question is, my man, what are you going to do about it?”Am I asking Crank or myself?What the fuckwasI going to do about Mattie?

“What do you mean?” he asked and turned to look at me.

“Bro, is she yours, or is this just for the summer? A fun fling?” My hands rose between us with innocence. “No disrespect or judgment. You know I got your back either way.” I hoped he would claim her. She was good for him. I’d never seen Crank the way he was with her. He almost seemed more relaxed when he was around her.

“She’s mine,” Crank answered without a bit of doubt in his voice. He glanced back at his girl, who was still staring at him. Libby wiggled her fingershibefore turning her attention to my girl.

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