Page 64 of How to Win the Girl

She’s studying his face and rolls her eyes. “No, you’re not.”

Drew pops an entire onion ring in his mouth and busies himself chewing. “’Fraid so.”

“Give me a break.” The young woman points at his face. “Please, I’ve been with you enough times to know who is who.”

Been with you enough times to know who is who…

Translation: I think I would know who I was fucking.

Beside me, Drew goes still.

Rigid.

Cracks his knuckles. “I can tell my brother I bumped into you.”

He is unrelenting and unflinching.

They have a stare down until the blonde narrows her eyes into untrusting slits. “I think it’s so sad you’re going to sit there and pretend to be your dumb brother. Aren’t you a little old for that game?”

I sit there awkwardly as his lips press together, unwilling to give her the courtesy of a response. I muster up a smile, not sure what to do. This is a him problem, not a me problem, and I’m tempted to jump in and say something, so she doesn’t feel bad—but stop myself.

She stands a few more seconds, face turning from a pretty sun-kissed glow to a blushing red. More furious than anything else.

When it’s clear Drew has nothing more to say she spins angrily on her heel, stalking away.

“That’s our next-door neighbor.”

Who his brother is clearly sleeping with. Or leading her on?

Both, most likely.

“Wow. Your brother sounds like a player.”

“How does that make him a player? They’re not in a relationship.”

“But she seemed upset.”

“Upset? Or jealous.” Drew cocks his head at me, chewing on a chicken wing, not a bother in the world.

“Why would she be jealous? You just said they’re not in a relationship.”

My date nods slowly. “I reckon she would like there to be more, but my brother isn’t interested. He can’t help it if they started off as friends with benefits and she’s trying to make herself a WAG.”

“Does that happen a lot?”

Drew furrows his brow. “Does what happen a lot?”

“Do girls blur the lines between casual and actually dating?”

His broad shoulders shrug. “Probably. It’s not somethin’ we can control, though, know what I mean? We can be clear about our intentions but can’t control how the other person feels or what they hope happens.”

I imagine that most of the girls having sex with the Colter brothers wish and pray it turns into a relationship. They get a ring. A wedding. A happily ever after with a Super Bowl win at the end of it.

In a small way, I feel bad for the brothers; how is a guy supposed to know who wants to date them and who wants to date their reputation? What a life to live.

“What’s the worst date you’ve ever had?” I pick up my cocktail and take a sip as Drew changes the subject.

I’m glad he asked because I don’t need my brain to continue lingering on the idea of he and his brothers banging the girls next door.

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