Page 89 of Second Down Darling

I feel a little guilty keeping this from my girlfriend, but there’s no reason to stress her out any more than she already is. She’s already on pins and needles from that fuckingshow.

Deep in thought, I kiss Asher’s head. He’s asleep on my lap after diving face first into a huge plate of turkey andstuffing.

Roxy collapses on the other side of Charlie. “Not gonna lie. I think I outdidmyself.”

“Your Thanksgiving feast was the bomb, Rox.” Billy sits on the arm of thecouch.

She leans against his side and yawns. “Thanks. Now I have to go home and pretend I have room for anotherdinner.”

We’re all recovering from the huge meal. Cam, Diesel, and the rest of the guys file out of the kitchen where Roxy put them to work doing dishes, and they join us in the living room at the StallionStation.

Cam turns down the football game on the TV and looks at me. “I hate to rain on your parade, but did you want to watch tonight’s episode ofThe HotHouse?”

There goes my greatday.

Billy winces. “They’re kicking off two members, there’s another hookup, someone wins an audition, and Dakota makes another bombshellconfession.”

I scratch my head. “How the hell do you knowthis?”

“Bro, they post teasers online everyweek.”

As much as I’d love to chill with my friends and forgetTheHell Houseexists, I don’t want to head into tomorrow’s game blind. It’ll leave me vulnerable, especially with the press conference afterward. Coach might not want me to answer any questions, but that doesn’t mean the media won’t ask them. And I don’t want to be caught offguard.

Fuck, I hope this doesn’t blow my concentration tomorrow. We have two more games before the playoffs. Even though we’re undefeated, competition is tough this season, and we need this win to hopefully clinch a playoffberth.

Not to mention we play North Texas University tomorrow. Kicking Troy’s ass is gonna require my completefocus.

“What are the odds Dakota will get voted off?” I muse outloud.

Billy shakes his head. “Not likely. She’s one of the most popular chicks on the show. Her fans areravenous.”

Charlotte sighs. “The Little Darlings are intense. They wear pink leather bracelets and have watch party meet-ups across the country every time she’s on a show. They’re like a swarming pack of meangirls.”

“Little Darlings. Wasn’t that the name of her show back in the day?” Billyasks.

“Yeah, but it became synonymous with mysister.”

I blow out a breath and turn to my sweet girlfriend. “Sorry, cupcake. Would you mind if we watchedit?”

“Of course not,” she saysquietly.

It sucks because I know the last thing she wants to do is sit here with all of these people and endure this crap. “Babe, we could catch it at home. We don’t have to do thishere.”

She hooks her pinky in mine. “I’m fine. Really. As long as I can get another slice of Roxy’s pecan pie, I’m good togo.”

I kiss her forehead. “You know you’re the best, right?” Iwhisper.

Billy points at us with a smirk. “I think I deserve some credit for you two happening.” Circling two fingers in the air a little too suggestively for my comfort, he adds, “Love is in the air…” He scoops up Roxy, flops onto the couch, and sits back with her on hislap.

“Yeah, you’ll be on our Christmas list,” Ideadpan.

Roxy pats his cheek like he’s a misbehaving schoolboy and scoots off. “Please promise me y’all will put away the leftoverpie.”

Cam chuckles with a wink. “Darlin’, there won’t be any leftoverpie.”

She smiles and grabs her purse. “All righty. Later, gators. Lovey’all.”

Everyone yells out their thanks as she takes off. I glance down at Asher, wondering if the commotion will wake him, but he’s in a solid foodcoma.

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