Page 1 of Play It Off

Chapter OneSienna

Freshman year

I can’t believe it—I got into a bar.

The most popular bar in Santa Mira. Charley’s is where all UC Santa Mira students go to hang out. They have great drink specials. Good music—if you can hear it over the constant stream of conversation and yelling that is currently taking place. And bonus: it’s where all the football players hang out.

That’s my favorite part because I’m seeking a specific football player. And no, I’m not referring to my older brother. Coop is around here somewhere. I’m pretty sure he’s in this very bar, and while he’s totally intimidating and convinces any guy who so much as glances in my direction to keep away from me with just a look, we’re close. I adore him.

Though I don’t adore his overprotective ways.

“Looks like the hundred bucks I spent on the fake ID was worth it.” My new roommate, Destiny, smiles, her dark-brown eyes sparkling. “How much did you spend on yours?”

“Seventy-five.” I shrug when she frowns. Feels like she’s always in competition with me, and I don’t like it. I’m here for supportivefriendships, not for constantly trying to outdo each other. She’s a little weird, but she’s the only roommate I’ve got and currently one of the only friends I’ve made since I came here. “My brother knows a guy.”

“Speaking of your brother, where is the famous Coop?” she asks, changing the subject, her expression turning eager. She loves the fact that my brother plays for the Dolphins football team. I’m pretty sure it’s the only thing she likes about me.

“I don’t know. I’m sure he’s here somewhere.” Yet again my answer makes her frown, and I’m over it. “I need a drink.”

Without waiting for her answer, I leave her where she stands, pushing my way through the crowd as I head for the bar. I’m tall—almost five ten—and as I pass guys shorter than me, they don’t even bother looking in my direction. Which is fine because I’ve always preferred dating a tall guy. Someone who towers over me and makes me feel small, a feeling I rarely experience. I’ve been the tallest girl in class since kindergarten, and while there are advantages, most of the time it just means I intimidate boys.

Men.

Hmm, guess I’m more like my brother than I realize.

By the time I make it up to the bar, I’m sweating, even though I’m only wearing a pair of extremely short denim shorts and a black tube top. It’s sweltering in here. If Coop saw me, he’d probably freak the hell out and escort me straight out of the bar, giving me a lecture about my clothes.

Glancing to my left, then my right, I make sure the coast is clear before I lean over the counter and give the hot bartender a solid glimpse of my ample cleavage. He notices immediately, because of course he does, and comes right to me, earning an irritated “Hey!” from the guys he was helping before he abandoned them for me.

“What’s up, gorgeous?” Up close, I realize he’s not as good looking as I originally thought. There’s something even a little smarmy about him. Might be that knowing gleam in his pale-blue eyes or the fact that his hair hangs in near-perfect little ringlets overhis forehead. He runs his fingers through said hair, pushing it out of his eyes, and I get the sudden feeling that is very much a practiced move for this dude.

“I’d like a rum and Coke, please.” I flash him a smile and stand up straighter so he can’t ogle my tits any longer, and his disappointment is clear.

“Coming right up.” He whips out a glass and turns to grab a bottle of rum off the counter behind him. “You a transfer?”

I frown. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t recognize you—and I’d definitely remember a face like yours. Figured you must’ve just transferred in.” He scoops ice into the glass, then adds Coke before he splashes in some rum. I’d take more, but I don’t want to be a jerk about it.

Oh. Right. I can’t tell him I’m a freshman because I’ll get kicked out of here. “Yeah, I started in the fall.” That’s not a lie.

“Welcome to Santa Mira.” He smiles, his gaze dropping to my chest yet again as he hands over the drink. “On the house.”

“Thank you.” I take the drink, sip it from the narrow red straw, and realize it’s stronger than I thought. All I can taste is rum. “This place is busy.”

“The busiest bar in town.” His gaze lingers on mine, and I can feel the frustration from other bar patrons emanating toward us as he continues to ignore them. “You come here alone tonight? Or with someone?”

“With someone—” I start, but he cuts me off with another question.

“Your boyfriend?” When I shake my head, he actually leers at me like some sort of creeper. “Perfect. I get off at midnight. Wanna go back to my place?”

I stare at him, a lump in my throat making it hard to speak. How am I supposed to turn him down? That is the last thing I want to do.

“Jesus, Sam. Stay away from this one. She’s Coop’ssister.”

My heart sinks into my toes, if that’s possible, because oh my God, I just got cockblocked by the hottest man alive, who only sees me as one thing.

Coop’s little sister.

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