I startle to awareness when someone claps me on the shoulder.
“What are you doing, standing around all by your lonesome? It’s a party, man. We won this afternoon. Victory is ours! That means it’s time to celebrate!” Brayden’s voice booms over the music.
My gaze shifts to his girlfriend, who’s tucked beneath his arm. They haven’t been a couple for long, but already it’s impossible to imagine Brayden without her. They complete each other in a fundamental way.
I hate the hot rush of jealousy that careens through my veins. That’s exactly the kind of relationship I want. One where I can walk around out in the open with my arm draped over Elle’s shoulders. Right now, I can’t do that. Hell, I have no idea when that will be possible.
I shrug. It’s not like I can tell him the truth—that I’m waiting for his sister to show up. Instead of heaping yet another lie onto the growing pile, I remain silent. It’s just easier this way.
Brayden shakes his head as if he doesn’t understand what the hell is going on with me. Thank fuck for that. We’d have real problems if he did.
“When the hell did you become such a moody bitch?”
Sydney elbows him sharply in the ribs. He flinches before chuckling. “What? That’s exactly the way he’s acting. I’m just calling it like I see it.”
She rolls her eyes before her gaze settles on mine. A knowing look fills her green depths. It’s one that leaves me shifting uneasily beneath her penetrating stare. I get the feeling she sees way more than I’m comfortable acknowledging. I loosen my shoulders and attempt to shake off the odd sensation. Crosby and Asher have already figured me out. I don’t need anyone else—especially Brayden’s girlfriend—getting clued in to what’s going on.
Hopefully, this is nothing more than a bout of paranoia on my part. This is exactly what secrets will do to you.
I clear my throat. “It was a tight game this afternoon. We’re too close to the playoffs to have that happen again.”
Any curiosity filling his expression drains away. “You’re right about that. There were too many little mistakes that could have ended up costing us big time. We got lucky.”
“Luck doesn’t win championships.” Thank fuck I’ve managed to steer the conversation in a different direction. Even if it is to what happened earlier today on the field.
You better believe Coach ripped us a new one in the locker room after the game. Most of us won’t be sitting for a few days because of it. And just so we know he’s serious, he scheduled a mandatory practice for the butt crack of dawn tomorrow, when we would normally have Sunday off. So yeah...
Sucks to be us.
I glance around and notice a few of my younger teammates knocking back bottles of beer. I almost shake my head. They’ll pay for their stupidity when we’re running suicides before the sun has fully risen in the sky.
Tonight, I’m like Cinderella. I’ll be out of here by midnight so my head can hit the pillow and I can get a good night’s sleep.
My attention gets snagged by Brayden as he raises his hand in a wave. Even before I swing around and glance in that direction, I know who I’ll find. A gut level sensation has taken up residence deep inside me, indicating that Elle has finally walked through the door.
Wanting to play it cool, I tamp down my growing excitement and take another pull from my bottle. I’ve spent years pretending this girl is nothing more than my best friend’s sister. Now that she’s discovered the truth and forced me to acknowledge my own feelings in the process, it’s become increasingly more difficult to act indifferent where she’s concerned.
Although there’s something to be said for having a secret. It’s fun to tease her, all the while driving her crazy. Not to mention making myself just as nuts in the process. I love grazing the soft flesh of her inner thigh beneath the table when we’re studying at the library. Or rubbing delicate circles against her palm when no one is paying attention. Heat will flood her eyes, and it’s all I can do to set her free when I’d rather sink inside her warmth.
By the time I meet her dark gaze, she’s pushed her way through the crowd and has sidled up beside her brother. With a smile, she reaches out and pulls Sydney in for a quick hug. That’s one of the things I like about Elle. She’s affectionate. There was a time when I didn’t think there was a snowball’s chance in hell for us to have a future and lived for those fleeting touches. Now, I’m greedy for them all.
“How was the play, squirt?”
I wince.
That’s always been Brayden’s pet name for his sister.