Agony(Entangled Hearts Duet #1) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,39

hands around the stadium.

“I swear Cooper has made you into a football junkie,” she teases.

“Come on now. You know you love it.” I lean into her, and she grins.

“Fine. I love it. I love those pants my man wears too.” She wags her eyebrows.

“The pants are a bonus,” I admit.

“Oh, yeah, you got your eye on someone particular?” She looks at me knowingly.

“All of them.” I turn to look out over the field. “With the helmets on, they’re all my future husband,” I joke.

“Amen to that.” She holds up her hand for a high-five.

“Please, you’re practically married already.” She and Nixon have been going strong since our freshman year.

“Married women can look. Besides, I keep my eyes on Nixon more so than the others anyway. I can’t help it if another fine ass just happens to be in my line of sight.” She grins, proud of herself for the spin she was able to put on it.

“Right? Well, I can happily look at all the fine asses without shame or regret.”

“You might be able to, but we both know which ass you spend the most time looking at.” She bumps her shoulder into mine.

“Hey. You’re on the screen!” someone yells from behind us. I glance up, and sure enough, Tessa and I are on the jumbotron. We’re decked out in our CU gear. I have Cooper’s number on my cheek, and she has Nixon’s on hers. This isn’t the first time the media has put me in the spotlight. Last year after they won the championship, Tessa and I rushed to the field, and Cooper grabbed me and swung me in the air. He had me back on my feet and crushed to his side, already talking to a reporter before I could move away. She asked about us. He told her I was his best friend, then proceeded to kiss the top of my head. He was celebrating, with me, his best friend, but the world saw it as a romantic gesture. It’s not just our classmates who we have to continue to remind that we’re not together. When he gets drafted, and I know he will, that won’t be an issue. Sure, they might ask where I am at first, but once they see I’m not following, the world will know that Cooper Reeves is on the market. He told me it’s been nice. That the closer we get to his final year here at CU, the more the vultures come out. Once they run a story on us, it dies down. I guess in a way, I’m his beard. Too bad he can’t be mine; of course, my version is a hell of a lot dirtier than his.

Tessa and I smile and wave at the camera. Might as well ham it up. Doesn’t matter what we tell them; they are going to talk about us. At least when they talk about Tessa, it’s true. She is the love of Nixon’s life, and I get to take all the credit for matching them. Something I’ll never let Cooper live down. He didn’t want me to get involved, but I could see it in the way they looked at each other the first time they met. Maybe I should make a career out of matchmaking.

“What are you thinking about with the goofy grin plastered on your face?” Tessa asks.

“How I helped you find the love of your life.”

“That you did.” She doesn’t even try to deny it. “When are you going to let me fix you up with someone?”

“Never.” I chuckle. “I just want to focus on school, and we are about to start our last year of college. Why tie myself down now?” What I don’t say is what we both know to be the truth. My heart belongs to my best friend. I know it’s crazy, and that he’s never going to feel that way about me, but it’s my truth. I don’t want a relationship to interfere with my last year with him. When he gets drafted, things are going to change. He’s no longer going to be an everyday presence in my life. There’s plenty of time for my heart to get over him and move on.

“Reese.” She whispers my name as if her heart is breaking for me.

“Your man’s taking the field,” I say to divert the conversation. We both turn to watch as the CU Tigers take the field. Nixon, Cooper, Levi, Trey, Dustin, and Hank lead the pack as they rush out