On the Sideline (BSU Football #3) - J.B. Salsbury Page 0,18

paper for conservation ecology when my door swings open without warning.

“I need your opinion.” Riley takes a few steps inside, her eyes darting quickly to the snakes, then convinced they’re locked away, come back to me. “Which one?” She points to her feet.

“Thanks for knocking, come on in,” I say dully.

She stomps impatiently on the hardwood.

I lean to the side to get a better view without having to actually move off the bed. “What’s the occasion?”

“Casual.” She props her hands on her hips and does a half turn, toe to the floor, heel up, and repeats the same on the other foot.

“There’s nothing casual about Gucci.”

“They’re loafers.”

“They’re Gucci.”

She drops her arms to her sides and groans as if trying to gather the patience it takes to deal with me. “Okay, so the Stella McCartney’s?” She points to the other shoe.

I take in the athletic shoe with her booty shorts and off the shoulder sweatshirt. “Why are you asking me? You say I dress like a woman after giving birth to her tenth baby.”

“Because everyone else is gone and you’re the closest. Forget it, I’m going with the McCartney’s.”

“That’s probably best, they look like Nikes.” Only Riley would find a $795.00 athletic shoe.

“Nike? Ew.” She studies her feet again. “I’m wearing the loafer.”

“Cool. Can you close my door now?” Seriously, why does she even waste her time asking me?

The door is almost closed when she pops her head in one last time. “Also, if anyone asks, I’ll be home tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Where will you be all night?”

Her eyes sparkle and her smile widens. “I’m spending the night at Loren’s.” Her voice ends on a squeak and I’m so thankful she shuts the door so she can’t read the utter disappointment in my face.

Spending the night with Loren.

I slam my laptop closed and roll over to bury my face in my pillow and scream. Of course Riley is going to have sex with Loren…oh my God, have they had sex already? I gasp and toss my pillow to the floor. Did he get me that sticker because he’s trying to win over Riley, and I’m like the sad little sister who he thinks he can kiss up to in order to get closer to her?

I’m such a fool! Here I get all caught up in his lingering stares and misunderstand his kindnesses as flirting when really he’s indulging me so I’ll talk him up to my cousin.

I grind my teeth together and think I should’ve fed him to my snake after all.

Speaking of feeding, I’m starving.

I roll off the bed and throw open the door. I glare at Riley’s door as I pass, and jog down the stairs to the kitchen while I conclude ice cream for dinner is a reasonable option. What? It has protein!

I grab the first pint I see that has the word chocolate in it, toss the lid in the trash, and grab a spoon.

The Herping Society is going out on a herp tomorrow. I RSVP’d that I wouldn’t be able to make it because of my research paper, but I think I’ll go ahead and go. At least Evan is nice to me because of me and not who I’m related to.

Loren and Riley! Ugh.

I shove a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth and circle the banister only to slam to a halt when I see that blonde fucking Adonis standing in our living room talking to Tina and Lily.

He must feel me staring because his head snaps up and he smiles. “Bex, hey!”

I shake my head and continue up the stairs only to have him jog after me, his long legs taking three steps at a time so that he can jump in front of me.

“Why is it every time I see you, you’re running away from me?” He’s grinning, flirty.

“Mebee thaths bakas—”

“Hold on.” He pulls the spoon out of my mouth. “Go on.”

What does he look so fucking happy about? Oh yeah, he’s about to have sex with my cousin! I lick the chocolate off my lips and grab my spoon back. “I was saying, maybe that’s because I don’t want to see you.”

“Ouch.” His light brown eyebrows pinch together, but he looks like he’s convinced I mean what I said. “Why the hostility?”

I stab at my ice cream, shaking my head, feeling utterly dumb and humiliated and the only person I have to blame is myself. After all, it’s not his fault I’ve misunderstood our interactions. God, he’s too beautiful to be real. Dumb,