On the Sideline (BSU Football #3) - J.B. Salsbury Page 0,25

sisters are discussing their hair and makeup plans for the upcoming formal. Curious, I scoot over to join the conversation. The chatter stops and they all look at me as if I came in like a battering ram.

“’Sup.”

Becky and Lily roll their eyes while facing me, not at all afraid to flaunt their displeasure with my presence.

“You look like shit,” Riley says. “Did you stay up all night watching Snakes on a Plane?” She looks to the other sister’s for backup and on command they all laugh.

I can’t tell her the real reason I was up all night, so I lie. “Actually, I couldn’t sleep because I was so worried about you after I picked you up from your date.” I realize what I’m doing, challenging her to fess up about how disgusting she finds Loren, renounce him in front of me and the three sets of listening ears that will spread whatever she says faster than TMZ.

She pushes around a few chunks of pineapple. “I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to barf all over him, so I came home. He understood.” Her gaze snaps to mine and they scream for me to keep my mouth shut or else.

Horrified, I turn forward and stare blindly at the kitchen wall. She didn’t bad mouth him; she protected him, which means…she really likes him. Shit.

“I’m going to be late.” I abandon my coffee at the table and head back to my room, slam my door and lean back against it. If Riley really likes Loren, she’ll mercilessly pursue him and I’ve yet to see a man withstand Riley’s charm when directed his way. He says he’s into me, that he feels a connection he’d like to explore, but pitted against my cousin in a race for the same man, the outcome is a given.

Why do I even care? This is what I expected, so why is the reality of it a deep ache in my chest?

I dig the heels of my hands into my puffy eyes. “This is hopeless.” Whatever Loren thought he was feeling last night will surely disappear soon.

I can’t see things going any other way.

Loren

Sunday nights in the house are always pretty mellow. For those of us who procrastinate, we’re usually doing homework we put off all weekend. Rowan gets excited about going back to class on Monday and since she doesn’t even know the meaning of procrastinate, she prefers to blow off energy in the kitchen whippin’ up a kick ass Sunday meal that rivals suppers on the farm. Not that I’d ever admit that to my mom.

After little sleep, and working all day at the surf shop, I smell the fried chicken and cream gravy from my room, by the time she calls us all down for dinner I could eat the walls I’m so hungry. The dining room table seats ten, so we settle around it like the misfit family we are while Emery and Carey bring in the food.

“Babe, this smells fucking amazing,” Carey says, kissing his girlfriend on the lips.

Spider and Emery, the married couple in our house, bring out drinks, non-alcoholic, since we all have to be up early. Kaipo’s plate is already overflowing before any of our asses even hit the seats.

“Where’s Levi?” Emery asks as she sets a glass of water down for me.

“Thank you.” I stay standing behind my chair until both women are seated, an old habit from home. My dad would kick our asses if we took our seat at the table before mom did. “He’s working. He said go ahead without him.”

Once Emery is seated, I take my chair and fill my plate. No one talks outside of groaning in pleasure at Rowan’s food, and she fends off multiple marriage proposals while Carey gives us all the evil eye with his cheeks stuffed.

Emery and Rowan tend to be the only ones who talk during dinner. They sit across from each other and I sit on the other side of Spider, so I can overhear their conversation, not that I’m really listening, until I hear a familiar name.

“…with Evan all day.”

I freeze mid-chew.

“She texted me when she got home, said it was really fun,” Emery says.

Evan? She? That must mean they’re talking about Bex. I take a drink of water.

“She really likes him.”

I choke and sputter and water pours down my chin.

Spider slams me on the back. “You all right, man?”

I wipe my mouth and clear my throat. “I’m fine, yeah, wrong pipe.” I wave him off