On the Sideline (BSU Football #3) - J.B. Salsbury Page 0,52
I feel like I lost fifty pounds of dead weight just getting out of that house. I didn’t realize how oppressive it was until I was free of it.”
“To new beginnings,” Rowan says, and holds up her drink.
“Cheers!”
We clink glasses and Emery changes the subject to something lighter—a documentary on the life and killings of Ted Bundy.
I hear Loren’s truck pull up and rather than sit and wait for him to come inside, I excuse myself and run out to meet him. He smiles when he sees me coming. I launch into his arms and with two hands on my ass he holds me to him.
“Someone’s in a good—”
I kiss the last word from his lips and he spins us, presses my back to his truck, and slides his tongue against mine. His big body pressed in tight between my thighs has me imagining a million different scenarios, all of them involving a little more privacy and a lot less clothes.
He breaks the kiss abruptly and smiles down at me. “A man could get used to this kind of greeting.”
“So could a woman.”
He kisses me again, quick, deep, and wet. “You taste like Rowan’s daiquiris.”
“They’re delicious.”
“You’re delicious.” He releases my ass to settle me on my feet and he takes my hand to go inside. He takes a deep breath in the foyer. “Enchiladas?”
“Yep.” We make our way to the kitchen but I stop him before we are in front of an audience. “Oh, I wanted to ask you if you want to spend the night at my place tonight.”
He studies me with a sweet grin. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
I chew my lip wondering if I should make the suggestion I want to make, or if it implies too much. Screw it. A famous philosopher once said, Greatness is never achieved by being a pussy, or something like that. “My place is more private.”
His light eyes spark with understanding and he kisses me sweetly. “Then let’s eat fast and get the fuck out of here.”
Is it possible to fall in love with someone after only two weeks? We’re still smiling like idiots when we get to the kitchen where Kaipo and Levi, Loren’s brother, have joined Emery and Rowan.
Beers are opened and eventually Carey and Spider join us. I look around at the group wondering how it’s possible to feel closer to a group of relative strangers than I ever have to my sorority sisters or, hell, even my own family.
It doesn’t take an advanced degree to answer that question.
Acceptance.
These people have always accepted me for exactly who I am—the freaky snake girl who doesn’t fit the size four, Bel Air wealth mold.
We all do our best to pitch in with dinner, Carey getting his hand slapped multiple times for picking at the food before it’s ready. When we finally settle in at the table, Loren pulls my chair out for me as if he’s done it a million times before.
My family might not be able to see the beauty in falling for a southern gentleman from Tennessee, but I do. Plates are dished and compliments are poured over Rowan for her incredible cooking when the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it.” Levi hops up and we all dig in, moaning our appreciation.
When Levi comes back, he’s not alone.
Riley trails cautiously behind him, her hands balled at her stomach.
Loren shoots out of his chair. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Riley’s gaze shifts around the room and settles on me. “I went by The Walden but you weren’t there.”
“What’s wrong? Going through torturing-Bex withdrawals?” I say, glaring at my cousin and feeling a lot stronger surrounded by people who support me. “Must be hard not having me directly across the hallway to lob insults at anymore. What will you do with your free time?”
“Levi will walk you out,” Loren says. “In the future? Use a phone. You’re not welcome here.”
“Hold on. I just, could we please talk?” She’s asking me?
“Talk about what?” I say. “The only words I care to hear out of your mouth are ‘I’m sorry’ so if you came here to say anything other than that, save your breath.”
“I’m sorry, okay?” she says.
“We’ll take our food into the kitchen,” Rowan whispers.
“No.” I push back my seat with a little too much force. “You guys eat, this shouldn’t take long.” I’m fuming as I round the table and shove past Riley, angry that I’m giving her a chance to explain, furious that she insists on