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“Oh!” She’s surprised by his invitation. “Do you even know my name?” I realize with a start, I do not.

“Yes,” he answers immediately, but his lips thin out as he mushes them to the side in thought. “No.”

“You shouldn’t invite strange women to eat with you, Lyndell. It’s not safe.”

“You aren’t strange.”

“Thank you. My name is Edee.” She holds out her hand to my brother and I think I fall a little more under her spell. Lyndell takes her hand in his and pumps his arm twice. “It’s lovely to meet you, Lyndell. I would love to eat with you and…your brother,” she glances at me for a second, “but I’ve already eaten and I’m on my way to class right now.” Edee crooks her finger and Lyndell happily bends down again, no doubt thinking she’s gonna tell him another secret. Instead, she surprises us both by kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you so much for inviting me, though.” She offers him a broad, toothy, welcoming smile.

I cough into my fist to hide my laughter as he dazedly stares at her, presses his palm to his cheek and blushes! I can’t blame him, she’s…incredible. The two of us stand stock still, watching her walk away, waving over her shoulder at us as she goes.

“Shit!” I mutter a moment after she disappears. “I didn’t get her number.”

“Your game needs some work.” I scoff at him, pushing his shoulder to get him moving.

“Keep it up and I won’t let you hang out with Addelsbach.”

“He has game. You should take notes.”

“I’m filling your plate with veggies. All the veggies.”

His right shoulder lifts slightly, “Get me ranch dressing…and I’ll try it.”

“You gotta little crush on the camera girl, brother?”

“No!” he answers too quickly.

“Good, she’s mine.” He nearly chokes on his own spit and I am not amused.

“She kissedmycheek.”

That little brat.

Edee 4.

My eyes track him as he does a backflip midfield. I should be taking pictures, but instead my brain is taking snapshots of a man in a furry costume, letting my imagination run wild about all the sweaty, muscular real estate beneath the costume. It’s been a couple weeks since I ran into him and his brother and, unfortunately, our paths haven’t crossed again.

The universe is fucking with me.

I lost track of him after last week’s game and haven’t seen him on campus. My head snaps up and I spin around to find the water station. I haven’t seen Phia today. She’s usually running around before the game getting things ready, a quiet presence on the sidelines during the game. Lyndell is there instead.

I tear myself away from watching Tyrone and approach Lyndell, hoping for some answers. “Hey, Lyndell!”

He greets me excitedly. “I ate broccoli!”

“That’s great!”

“I had to cover it in ranch though. It’s not good. You lied.”

I bark a laugh, “Did not!”

“Did too!” he giggles, accepting a carrier of bottles from one of the trainers to refill.

“Lyndell, do you know where Phia is?”

He bites his bottom lip as he concentrates on refilling the bottles. “Green apple splatters.”

“WHAT?!?”

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