Page 12 of Play It Off

“Is she cool?” I am specifically addressing Coop because I don’t trust Frank’s assessment of her. He’s into her; it’s obvious.

“I don’t think she realizes who we are exactly—” Coop starts, but Frank interrupts him.

“She knows we play football.”

“But I don’t think she gets what we’re about,” Coop continues. “Damn, I sound like a conceited asshole. I already said all this to Sienna, but she agreed with me.”

“I agree with you too.” I like that Sienna and I think the same. Jesus, I feel like I have a middle school crush. “She doesn’t realize the impact we have on campus, right?”

“Right.” Coop nods.

As in, she doesn’t understand that we’re the most popular football team UC Santa Mira has ever had in the history of the school. We’re not just popular—we’re also national champions. Minus last year, damn it. We’re winning it this year. We have to. The coaches, the team, my fucking father—they expect nothing less.

“You don’t think she’ll be a problem?” I don’t know who let the chicks who are currently roaming around into the house because we all know them—or of them, at the very least. They’re fans. Groupies. Whatever you want to call them. Women who are willing to toss all self-esteem aside and give their all to snag one of us for good.

I’m not interested. I don’t think any of us are, save for Nico, who’s currently laying on the charm with one of them. But that asshole—he’s one of my best friends; I’m allowed to call him that—flirts with any female he meets. It’s an issue.

“Nah. She seems cool.” Coop inclines his head toward his sister and new roommate. “Sienna likes her.”

“Sienna likes everyone,” I grumble, because it’s true. With the exception of me.

“She doesn’t like you much.” Coop slaps the back of my head, and that’s all it takes. I leap to my feet, giving him the finger before I head for the kitchen.

I’m starving, and I have a feeling I can find something to eat. At the very least, find some chips or crackers, and then we can order a couple of pizzas. Though that’s the last thing we should be eating as we get ready for football season. I need to watch what I eat if I want to get shredded.

Ah, fuck it. We only live once.

I’m rummaging around in the pantry when I feel a presence behind me. More like I smell her. I’d recognize that scent anywhere. I used to think it was her perfume, but I realized that it’s her shampoo. She smells like a tropical beach.

“What are you doing?” Her soft voice wraps around me, and I pause in my search, glancing over my shoulder to find Sienna standing there, watching me with an unreadable expression on her face.

“Looking for something to eat.” I snag a box of Cheez-Its and turn to face her, popping the top of the box open and grabbing a handful of crackers before I shove them into my mouth.

She makes a face like I disgust her, which—not gonna lie—kinda hurts. “Cheez-Its for dinner, Gavin? That’s a poor choice.”

“I agree. Definitely need a full-blown meal. Want to order pizza for everyone?” I ask after I swallow.

She slowly shakes her head. “Shouldn’t you be eating lean fish or chicken or whatever? No fats, no carbs, nothing but protein?”

Sienna is absolutely correct. “That’s boring.”

I exit the pantry with the box still in my hand, and she follows after me, standing on the other side of the kitchen island like she needs the distance, which makes sense, considering we’ve been keeping our distance from each other for a long time. Almost two entire years, which is wild to think.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve talked to each other. Our group is so small, we can’t always avoid each other. I’m polite to her and she’s polite to me, but I always felt something ... simmering between us. Each time we get close. Like now, for instance. I can feel it. I’m drawn to her. Eager to stare at her face and listen to her voice. Watch her mouth move, her eyes light up.

Chemistry. That’s what we’ve got. The air is charged every time we’re in the same room together. I set the cracker box on the counter, then curl my fingers into my palms. Reminding myself that I’m wasting my time. This woman isn’t interested in me. Not like that.

She remains quiet, watching me shovel crackers in my mouth, her gaze still disapproving. The sound of her long-suffering sigh is what pushes me over the edge.

“Is there something you wanted to talk about?” I ask her, my voice weary. Because damn it, I am weary. Our situation exhausts me. I don’tknow what she wants, but then again, I don’t know exactly what I want either.

Meaning whichever direction we take, we’re fucked.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and Gavin ... I’m tired of trying to avoid you all the time.” Her voice is soft, and she keeps her gaze downcast, as if she’s afraid to look at me.

“You are?” I sound like an idiot.

Sienna nods, her thick auburn hair sliding past her shoulders. She has soft hair. Silky. And it smells like heaven. “I’ve been mean to you for ... years.”

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