Page 12 of Second Down Darling

I blink and shake my head to clear my wayward thoughts. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to purge the image of Jake emerging naked from his shower, no matter how much time has goneby.

“They don’t need to be shirtless. I need athletes, and you work your ass off for several hours at every practice and game, not to mention those workouts I see you post online. Plus, you’re beautiful. I think you more thanqualify.”

“Iamkinda cute.” She buffs her nails on hershirt.

We laugh and make plans to do the shoot. “I could use your help finding some other athletes, though.” I hold my hand out. “They can’t all be football players.” Preferably none, but if I say that, she might get suspicious. She just thinks I’m not into sports. It’s hard to bare my soul about what happened at North TexasU.

“I got you, girl. I know everyone, and there are some fine-looking men on the team this year. I might even be tempted to break my own rule about not datingone.”

“You don’t date football players?” She’s one of the head cheerleaders, and I assumed they got first pick of the players since they’re always around eachother.

She gives me a look. “Have you met my father? He terrifies everyone, and his athletes would probably prefer a rectal exam than his scrutiny. Deep down, he’s a teddy bear, although I don’t think I’d be doing the player any favors if we dated. But I might be tempted to bang one ofthem.”

I fold my lips as I hold in achuckle.

She waves her hand around my face. “Your ears just went bright red. I should have warned you before I moved in—I don’t have afilter.”

“I don’t mind.” It’s refreshing. I never feel like Roxy is playinggames.

I’m not sure what it is about her—maybe it’s her bubbly personality or the way she’s jumping in to help me with the calendar or just me needing a friend—but I’m so tempted to tell her about Jake. Instead, I blurt, “Maybe you could helpmeget adate.”

Then I slap my hand over mymouth.

That makes her stand up straight. “Of course I can get you a date. Maybe we could go on a double. I just found out there’s a drive-in theater here. Wouldn’t that be fun?” The thought of going out with someone practically makes me hyperventilate. “Wait. What’s going on? You’re freaking out right now, aren’tyou?”

I nod and lean over to take several deep breaths. “This might sound weird, but I’ve never gone on adate.”

“What?” She yanks me up. “Are you serious? Do you mean you’ve never had a boyfriend, but you’ve gone out with a few guys once or twice? Or do you mean you’venever evergone out withanyone?”

“Never ever.” Maybe that’s part of the problem. If I dated and got out more, perhaps I wouldn’t still be fantasizing aboutJake.

She gasps. “How did this happen? You’re so beautiful. How have you managed to go this long and not get snatched rightup?”

How do I explain this? I hate how everything jumbles in my head like a badJerry Springerepisode. “I had a thing for my best friend for years. But he didn’t see me like that, and then he started seriously dating someone else. We all went to college together, and as much as I wanted to be social and go out, I ended up being the third wheel in this other relationship.” Which sounds so pathetic, I want to reach back in time and slapmyself.

Roxy nibbles her bottom lip. “Is that why you transferredhere?”

“One of the reasons,yes.”

“You musta really loved theguy.”

With my whole heart and soul. “When I transferred to Lone Star two years ago, I had every intention of putting myself out there, but leaving my friends and family behind was harder to deal with than I expected. I needed some time to get mybearings.”

“Why did you have to leave your family? Do you just mean relocating wastough?”

I shake my head as nausea flips my stomach. I’ve said too much, but I’ve already come this far, and I could really use someone to talk to. If I don’t tell her Jake’s name, maybe I can share more. “This guy… was dating… my sister, so yeah. I basically had to leave my familytoo.”

Once again, Roxy’s eyes widen. “Yoursister?”

“I know it sounds terrible, but I’d been best friends with him for three years before they met. Except I was a wimp and never told him how I felt. By the time I dredged up the courage, it was toolate.”

I knew Jake didn’t have a date for homecoming, so after the game, I finally worked up the courage to tell him how Ifelt.

But he wasn’thome.

He’d gone to aparty.

The one where he metKota.

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