Page 19 of Second Down Darling

“And you were in that showLittle Darlingswhen you were a kid? Aww, were you the one who sucked herthumb?”

Much to my mother’s horror, I became an internet sensation when I was a child, but not the kind she was hoping for, all thanks to an image of me sucking my thumb. So while Kota charmed the masses, I was the butt of all the jokes. When someone’s sad they lost a promotion or the big job or their girlfriend, their buddies send them this meme—a tear-streaked Charlotte Darling, sucking her thumb like a loser. I mean, I was six years old. You’d think people would have somecompassion.

Growing up, I preferred being invisible to beingmocked.

Except I became invisible at home too. I was always the odd one out in my family. It didn’t help that Kota and my mom had so many secrets. Secrets they never bothered to share with me. I’d see those two whispering, almost angry with each other, but the second I walked in, they’d stop talking. Everytime.

Roxy grimaces. “Sorry I flirted with Jake. I did that whole arm touchthing.”

“What arm touchthing?”

“This one.” She steps up to me and grabs my arm while she stares up at me, all doe-eyed.

“Wow, that’s pretty good. I’d totally bang you.” We laugh, and I give her a hug. “I don’t have any claim to Jake, so there’s no need to apologize.” And if I’m a tiny bit jealous she touched him, I’ll get overit.

That interaction gives me pause, though. Roxy is so good at interacting with guys while I’m always soawkward.

“Um. This might sound crazy, but could you maybe show me how to do that? How toflirt?”

She claps and jumps up and down. “I can definitely teach you that. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll have Jake down on his hands and knees, begging you to give him ashot.”

“No, I’m not doing this for Jake. In fact, I’m more determined than ever to move on.” Jake obviously hates me. As painful as that is, maybe it’s exactly what I need to shore up my heart. If I had just attended Lone Star State right out of high school, we could have avoided all the drama. But I never got a chance to get over him because I tagged along with Jake and Kota to NTU. “Except I don’t know anything about flirting or relationships. I’m pretty sure you saw Billy lay one on me out of the blue? That was the first time I’d ever beenkissed.”

“Oh, hell, honey. That’s completelyunacceptable.”

“Right? I’m a senior in college. By the time I graduate, I’d love to at least have some experience withmen.”

She gives me a wicked smile. “You’ve come to the right person. I can definitely get youexperience.”

7

JAKE

With a grunt,I finish my last set of pull-ups before I release the bar and drop to the floor. I nod at Cam, who’s on the machine next to me, before I reach for my water bottle. I usually enjoy early morning weights before class because it helps me focus, but today my head is all over theplace.

I tossed and turned all night. Couldn’t stop replaying my conversation with Charlotte. Couldn’t stop seeing the hurt in her eyes. Couldn’t stop feeling pissed about the way sheleft.

And for some fucked-up reason, I couldn’t stop seeing Billy fucking Babcock pull her into his arms and kissher.

Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen her with a boyfriend. In high school, she hung around a couple of guys, but they were nothing serious. I can’t remember her dating anyone incollege.

I’ll admit I’m conflicted. Part of me wants to protect her like I always have, and the other part feels strangely possessive. Which… I don’tunderstand.

I gather my stuff and head to the locker room, which means I have to pass Billy on the legpress.

“Hey, man,” he calls out. “Got aminute?”

I clench my fist. “What’sup?”

He sits up and wipes his face with a towel. “You were a dick to Charlie yesterday. Just wanted to point it out. I know we’re all supposed to be nice to you or whatever ’cause you’ve got a kid and you’re a transfer, but I don’t understand why you had to shit all over that girl when she was busting her ass to do somethingcool.”

I take a deep breath and will myself to react calmly. “You don’t know my history with Charlotte, so maybe you should mind your own damn business. And for the record, I was there to help Coach’sdaughter.”

“You’re right. I don’t know your history. But what I do know is that Chuck barely spoke when I first saw her around campus. She was quiet and withdrawn and reminded me of a ghost. It’s taken a lot to draw her out of her shell. I don’t know why you had to be an asswipe toher.”

Chuck? His little nickname irks me in a way I can’t describe. “Funny that you use the word ‘ghost’ to describe her, because that’s exactly what she did two years ago when she took off without tellinganyone.”

He lowers his voice. “Bro, I will readily admit I’m a fuckup. Ask anyone. As the president of Team Fuckup, I always recognize this trait in others. But I have to tell ya, I don’t see that in Chuck. So if she bailed on you, there had to be a goodreason.”

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