Page 49 of Play It Off

“We’re going to get hammered tomorrow,” Nico gripes at me when I suggest we should go out. “Let’s save it up.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Coop chimes in. “I’m fucking exhausted after this week.”

“Wimps,” I mutter, shaking my head. “We can’t party a couple of nights in a row?”

“Nope. I’m too tired for that shit. Plus, I wanna save money,” Coop says.

“Same. And we’re supposed to be watching our caloric intake,” Nico adds, sounding like a goddamn nutritionist. Meaning he’s been spending a lot of time with Everleigh, since that’s her major.

Just a hunch, but I would bet money on it being why he’s talking like this.

“Too tired? Save money?” Since when did they become responsible human beings? “Give me a break.”

“You never want to party lately, and now suddenly you do. What’s your deal?” Nico asks, his brows drawn together. Like I’m confusing his ass.

I glance at my phone. It’s almost seven thirty and I’m starving. I decide to change the subject. “Let’s grab something to eat. Maybe have a beer?”

I need something to take the edge off. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately, but I’m tense as fuck. And it’s not all the team shit that’s going on either. I’ve been through that before, and while it’s exhausting like Coop said, I’m confident in my position and how I’m doing.

Actually, I do know what’s wrong. I haven’t seen Sienna in almost a week, and I feel like shit over ... all our recent interactions. Telling her to be patient was a huge mistake, and I handled it all wrong. I already have a plan formed, and I’m going to apologize to her tomorrow at the party. If she’ll even hear me out.

“How about Hector’s?” Nico suggests.

“You’re addicted to that place,” Coop grumbles.

“Sounds good,” I tell Nico, eager to go anywhere as long as they’re both on board. “Let’s go.”

We decide to walk over to Hector’s since it’s so close to their house, like everything else in this town. The place is busy as usual, and we get in line, chatting up everyone who approaches, which is a lot of people. We have a crowd surrounding us, everyone wanting to talk about theseason and the upcoming game next week, though it dissipates as we get closer to the order window.

“Hey, isn’t that Sienna?” Nico asks.

My head whips in the direction Nico’s looking so fast I probably strained a muscle in my neck, but I don’t spot her.

“Yep. It sure is,” Coop says, pausing. “Who’s the dude?”

His tone is suspicious, which is natural, considering that’s his sister he’s talking about.

Wait a minute.

“Dude?” I repeat, scanning the area almost frantically. Hector’s has a massive patio, which is full of tables and chairs, and there are so many people out there, I still can’t see her.

Until I do. I spot her dark-red hair spilling down her back in loose waves. That bright smile on her pretty face. The way she’s watching the guy sitting across from her with undivided interest, and holy shit ...

I see red.

“I don’t recognize him,” Nico says, his knowing gaze landing on me. He’s even smirking, the bastard. “Do you recognize him, Gav?”

“No,” I bite out, working my jaw from side to side. I realize I’m flexing my fingers straight, splaying them out before curling them into tight fists. Over and over again, and I tell myself to fucking relax.

“I don’t either,” Coop says, keeping his attention on his sister. “Not that she tells me anything.”

“You’re too overprotective,” Nico protests. “That’s why she doesn’t tell you shit. She’s afraid you’re going to go ham on some poor dude’s ass when you find out she’s dating him or whatever.”

“I would never do that,” Coop mutters, and Nico and I share a look. We both very much doubt it, but we don’t challenge him.

And this is just one reason why I keep my feelings for Sienna to myself. I don’t need Coop’s wrath if he ever found out his sister and I have a—thing. I need to keep him on my side, not make him an enemy.

But shit. I’m in so deep with Sienna, I feel closer to her than I do to her brother. And she’s out with some random on a Friday night?Though what did I expect? She was furious when I asked her to be patient with me. I said everything wrong and fucked everything up. She’s already moved on, going out with another guy a week after we were together.

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