Page 10 of Second Down Darling

But what are the odds Jake would transfer his senior year of college? I can’t imagine a scenario that would have Kota excited to move down to the HillCountry.

I shake my head. I’m just beingparanoid.

A tidal wave of guilt settles in my belly at the memory of leaving the way I did, but I didn’t think I had a choice. I was dying inside. I had to dosomething.

Jake never called, Charlotte. You don’t owe himanything.

In a moment of weakness, I gave him my new number. My note said if he ever had an emergency, I wanted one person to know how to reachme.

With the way I left, I shouldn’t be hurt that he never called or texted, but Iam.

And before you say I’m a nutcase—because who changes their phone number but then hands out the new one?—I agree with you. As my psychosomatic photo blinking likelyproves.

But there’s no way I could leave my sister with a way to contact me. Even if I blocked her, she’s relentless when she wants something. She’d have no qualms about using her horde of fans to harass me until I did her bidding. And if I caved to her demandsone more time, I’d never be able to live withmyself.

I can’t stop thinking about it, though.Jake wouldn’t transfer his senior year, wouldhe?

I’m so tempted to Google his name and low-key stalk him until I can confirm he’s staying put at NTU, but I’m on a two-year streak without that man, and I don’t intend to backslidenow.

If Asher is my Achilles’ heel, Jake is my favorite drug. And as everyone knows, you don’t give an addict a shot ofalcohol.

Mentally, I high-five myself for staying strong. I’m done being that sad loser who’s always moping around in her famous sister’sshadow.

I love Dakota. I’d give her a kidney if she needed it. The problem is Dakota only lovesherself.

I wonder if Jake has figured that outyet.

So no more pining over my sister’s boyfriend. I deserve better. Someday I’ll find a man who wants me and will put me first, and until then, I have an Australian shepherd who needs myhelp.

Resolved, I smile at Merle. “So how do I spring Duke from thisjoint?”

3

CHARLOTTE

The soundof a key in the door breaks the standoff. Once again, I’m sprawled on the kitchen floor, one hand full of warm, shredded chicken that I hold out to Duke, when my new roommate Roxanne Santos walksin.

“You’re going to spoil thatdog.”

I must look ridiculous, but Duke is worth the inconvenience. “He needs a little convincing sometimes. I won’t do this forever.” It’s only been a week. He’s still super freaked out around people, but at least he’seating.

Tentatively, he licks my fingers, and I babytalk to him. “You’re a good boy. Yes, youare.”

My roommate snorts, but she’ssmiling.

Roxy is a junior. She has thick, dark brown hair and a criminally dirty mind. She’s the opposite of me in all the best ways. In other words, like my sister minus the attitude and self-importance.

Getting distance from Dakota was the best thing I could do. I see now how I let her boss me around. I worked my ass off for her and never even got a thank you. I think I let myself be manipulated out of guilt because I had feelings forJake.

I refuse to be a pushoveranymore.

This is the year I takecharge.

I direct this ship. I’m queen of mycastle.

“Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming to the Baylor game this weekend? I can get you great tickets.” Roxy is the daughter of the football coach, Richard Santos. She’s also a cheerleader, a really good one who gets flipped into the air and does death-defying moves everyday.

I would never say this to her because I’d hate to hurt her feelings, but she wasn’t my first choice of roommates. But the friends I made at Lone Star State were all seniors who graduated last May, and I was starting to panic because I can’t afford this place solo even though it’s located in one of the shadier areas in town. I met Rox when I was hanging out with my friend Maggie, who just moved to Chicago with her boyfriend Olly and theirtwins.

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