Page 31 of Necessary Roughness
While he went to the door, Bryson shook his head at me. “I’m not against this situation, Sloane. I think it’s really fucking cool. I just want to make sure you don’t get hurt.”
I put my hand on his. “I do appreciate your concern. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. I actually got cold feet and canceled tonight’s hook-up.”
“Ah, too bad,” he replied.
“Um, it’s not the Chinese food,” Jayden shouted from the front door. “It’s something alotmore delicious.”
He stepped aside, revealing Knox and Logan.
12
Sloane
I gawked at the sight of the two big football players standing in my doorway.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Logan held up a plastic bag. “We brought you soup!”
“I bought the soup,” Knox explained. “He insisted on carrying it.”
“I want her to know it’s from both of us,” Logan complained. “I was going to Venmo you half the cost.”
“No, you weren’t,” Knox said bluntly.
Logan winked at me and said, “You’re right, I wasn’t.”
Knox’s piercing green eyes quickly took in Jayden, Bryson, and me. “Youwerefaking sick, weren’t you?”
I winced. “I’m sorry. Yeah.”
“Told you, bro,” Logan said.
“I’ve been a nervous wreck all day,” I explained. “Not just because of what we agreed to, but because of my course load. I haveso muchwork to do. I got overwhelmed.”
“I feel that,” Logan said. “We’re a week into the football season and I already want to lie down and take a ten-hour nap.”
“That’s just called sleeping, sweetie,” Jayden said.
“Hah!” Logan pointed at the twin. “I like this guy. He’s got jokes.”
Jayden batted his eyelashes. “If you ever want more than just jokes, I can beyourwide receiver…”
“I want to put a shock collar around your neck and buzz you every time you say something inappropriate,” Bryson groaned.
“Shut up! You always embarrass me in front of the straights!” Jayden whined.
Logan cleared his throat loudly. “I think we’re being watched.”
I turned and followed his gaze across the living room. Morgan was peering at us from the crack in her doorway. When we all turned to look, she quickly disappeared.
“I remember her from last week,” Knox muttered. “She seems charming.”
“You have no idea,” I said.
Logan handed me the plastic bag. “We didn’t know what you like, so we got three kinds of soup. Sorry you got nervous about tonight.”
“We totally understand,” Knox added. “Don’t worry about it. The whole thing was crazy of me to suggest. But if you change your mind, send us a text.”
