During the season, my schedule was tight and rigid. Every day, except game days, started with strength and conditioning from six to eight. Then, I’d shower, eat, and get to my classes. Those would go by fast and in a blur, then it’d be film, getting taped and prepped for practice, then practice until six. Then showering, training, dinner. Then, it’d end with study halls before I’d head back to the house to rest.
Monday’s film was on improving plays from the previous game, and Tuesday’s would be on the upcoming team we’d face. I loved the repetition and cyclical part of being a D1 athlete. It wasn’t cut for everyone, that was for sure, but I took pride in earning every cent of my scholarship. I worked my ass off to be here and would remain at the top of my game.
But fuck, I was tired today. It was only nine, and I dragged my feet upstairs, hoping to binge-watch a show and pass out. Callum was with friends, which, I didn’t know how that guy functioned. He had to be a vampire. It was the only explanation on how he had endless energy but never slept.
Without meaning to, my attention drifted to Lorelei’s door. She’d left it open a crack, and her voice carried through it.
“Are you sure he’s there?”
“I swear, Lo. I never blocked him for this reason. And he’s posting from the courtyard. We can go somewhere else.”
Lorelei groaned, a loud and unattractive grunt. “No, fuck. We promised we’d have our Monday Meet-Ups since we don’t live together anymore. This sucks.”
“We can meet at the place on Green Street instead.”
“But they don’t have the stamp card to get the free T-shirt. You know my ass is motivated by a free T-shirt. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for one.”
“Except see your ex.”
“Mack Marie, shut your whore mouth. Uncalled for,” Lorelei said.
Her friend responded with a laugh. “Have you talked to him recently?”
“I see him twice a week in our marketing class, but I’ve avoided eye contact and conversation.” Her voice came out all defeated and sad. My chest tightened with the stark contrast to the happy, sunshine woman I knew. How dare her shitbag ex cause her any sadness?
“I’m not hung up on him you know, but seeing him out… was he with someone?” Lorelei asked.
Her friend clicked her tongue. “Yes.”
“Of course, he is. Baseball will always come first, babe, my ass. God.” Lorelei groaned again, this time with less attitude. “I want to make him regret what he did.”
“Wear the outfit that he likes, and let’s go. Fuck him. Sure, he might be great in bed, but we’re not missing a chance to get another stamp. You’ve wanted the I rode the rail T-shirt since freshmen year. We never change our goals for stupid boys.”
“You’re the best wingwoman. Okay. I’m doing this. I’m having a drink and looking good.”
“Atta girl.”
Then fabric rustled, and soft footsteps thudded on the floor, snapping me back to reality. I’m eavesdropping like a creep. The thought of getting caught had me darting into my room and slamming the door. I leaned against it, my pulse pounding. Did she know I was there? That I’d heard her?
She wanted to make some guy jealous, the guy who dumped her? Was Eric a fucking idiot?
The urge to find him on campus startled me.
I ran my hands over my face, the impulse to ask questions stopping me from my plan. Mondays were for binge-watching a show and relaxing. Reflecting on the previous game. Not… plotting to kill Eric.
The familiar creak of her door had me sitting up straighter. Was she leaving? Going out? Was she wearing a sexy outfit?
God! Why did I care?
Annoyed at myself, I pushed off the door just as Callum walked upstairs.
“Damn, Romano. Where you heading dressed like that?”
Dressed like what?
I gritted my teeth, my headphones frozen in my hand. I should just put on my show, ignore her, him, everyone.
“Meeting up with my girl Mack on Madison Street Bar. Monday night madness where you can—”
“Yeah, drink the rail. I’ve been. Have the T-shirt.”
“You have it? Damn, that’s my goal, man.”
“You can have mine, Lo.”
“Nah, I’m earning that shit myself. One beer at a time.”
He snorted before saying, “Want some company as you head there? I could use a drink.”
“Are you allowed to hang out with me? Will Dean ground you? I’m off-limits, remember?”
They laughed together.
A vein would surely pop in my forehead. Callum was so damn much all the time.
“You’re funny. For real, I can at least walk you there. Dean can kiss my ass.”
Eric is at Madison’s. The guy she wants to make regret breaking up with her in a sexy outfit.
Would she use Callum do to that? The thought nauseated me. I tossed my headphones onto my bed, twisted the handle, and stood in the hallway. They both stared back, and my skin heated. Had it been that long since I went out on a Monday?
“What up, Monroe?” Callum leaned closer and held out a fist.
I hit it with my own, but my attention zeroed in on Lorelei’s outfit. High-waisted jeans and a tight and I mean tight black lace tank top that showed off her muscles. Her hair was down, curls going everywhere, and her lips were bright red.
My skin heated with how sexy she looked.
“Want to get a beer? I’m walking her to Madison’s but could use a drink. Didn’t love going over my mistake from last Friday ten fucking times today. A brew would help that.”
“You lost focus,” I said. “It happens.”
“Not to you though.” He rolled his eyes, dropping the subject. “Let me change my shirt first then we can go.”
He headed into his room, leaving Lorelei and I alone in the hall. She chewed on her top lip, her cheeks dusted in pink as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her crossed arms pushed up her chest, and I let my gaze drop to her cleavage for one second before returning to her face.
If she noticed, she didn’t give anything away. She stared right back at me, her eyes swirling with questions. I opened my mouth to say something, to explain why I needed to come with or that Eric was a dick or that I didn’t hate her. I could’ve said any of those things, but I refrained and kept my trap shut.
“Let’s hit it.” Callum returned, smelling like his expensive cologne and a new shirt. “You can tell me about who you’re meeting there.”
“Are you going to talk to Eric?” I asked.
Lorelei whipped her head around, and her eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Your voice carries.”
She winced and adjusted the ends of her curled hair. “Well, that’s… good to know.”
“Who’s Eric? Do we like him, hate him? Are we banging him?” Callum asked, breaking the tension.
Lorelei laughed and sped up so they were shoulder to shoulder. I was the odd one out, walking behind and watching her smile at him. I hated the way my muscles tensed at seeing her joy directed at him and not me. Which… made no sense because I didn’t have time to deal with it.
Yet here you are going to a bar on a Monday?
“We hate him,” Lorelei said.
“Noted.” Callum snorted. “Get that, Luca? We are not team Eric.”
“Never was,” I mumbled. Lorelei glanced back at me, frowning.
My skin flushed, but I kept my game face on. The evening air cooled from the unusually sunny day, and I sighed in contentment. I loved fall. Not only was it football weather, but it meant it was winter soon, and some people hated the cold but not me. Sweaters and sweats were my uniform.
Cicadas buzzed, and a mildewy, leafy smell surrounded us. It was bewitching.
“Wait.” Lorelei pulled me from the momentary daydream “Are you guys… should you even be with me?”
“What do you mean?” Callum tilted his head to the side.
“Dean made it sound like I can’t acknowledge y’all exist. I’m not trying to get kicked out my first week here, you know?” Her gaze flittered to mine, lingering for a moment before she sighed in defeat. “Seriously, stay home. I’m okay.”
“I’m fine walking you to a bar, Lo. I’m not trying to make out with you. Now Dean might have something to say about that,” Callum said with a smile.
Lorelei hit his shoulder. “You flirt too much.”
“I can’t stop it. It’s a gift.” He put his arm around her, and she leaned into it
I ground my teeth together, wanting to punch my teammate in the face. He was always like this, but did he need to be with her? “That’s Dean’s sister.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Lorelei yelled. Anger flashed in her eyes, all of it directed right at me. “This is dumb.” She shoved Callum’s arm off her.
“Babe, I’m going to the bar with or without you. Is Luca making you nervous? I understand he’s intense, but he can hang back.” Callum sent me a look.
Her attention moved toward me, her fingers constantly pushing her hair behind her ears. She’s worried.
I felt as small as an ant. Callum didn’t make her react this way. I did.
While I was aware my issues with having her around were my own, she didn’t need to feel the brunt of it. Owning up to my shit had been ingrained in me from day one of living with my grandma, and I knew what I had to do.
“Lorelei—” I started.
“Oh my god it’s McGregor and Monroe!”
A group of women on the other side of the sidewalk spotted us, their excited voices carrying through the air. This wasn’t unusual, but the timing sucked. Their outburst ruined the moment I was trying to apologize. They ran across the street in a fit of giggles as Lorelei snorted. “Oh Jesus. Well, I’m not waiting for this, no offense.”
“Hold on, Romano, it’ll be quick.” Callum flashed his grin and put his arm around me. “This is the life, man. Fans. Beautiful ones. Gorgeous, curvy ones.”
I tensed but knew what game to play. Our Coach taught us the importance of public image but not ruining a future before you had one. Callum flirted a little too much and too often, but I wasn’t judging. He had more charisma in one hand than I did in my entire body. He took the lead, same as Dean, and let Oliver and me ride the coattails. I preferred it that way honestly.
He spoke with the fans, taking selfies as I went along with it. I attracted fans too and put up with the hugs and smiles, but it wasn’t the part I was excited about when I thought about being in the NFL. I was financially motivated but also wanted to give back. I had so many coaches take the time to get to know me beyond the dumbass punk with attitude. I hated everything in my teenage years, trying to figure out the world. Coaches molded me, gave me a chance when they could’ve let me suffer and fall through the cracks. Without them, I had no idea where I’d be. Certainly not at Central State, playing football with a future in the NFL.
The thought of starting a nonprofit to help other kids who might not have the money or family support would be a dream come true. The sexy women who were always game for a one-night stand was an added bonus too. They were uncomplicated and didn’t require more than an hour of my attention.
So again, why am I out on a Monday?
Callum and the girls talked about our next home game, and Lorelei’s figure was a block away already. Damn. This could be my chance to talk to her alone. I slid away from the girl nearest me and jogged up to Lorelei, her florally scent so damn delicious I forced myself not to inhale. “Wait a sec.”
She turned, and her brows about disappeared into her hairline. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
She blinked, licked her bottom lip and nodded. “Love an apology but for what, exactly?”
She continued walking, and I gently placed my fingers on her elbow, pulling her back. Even her skin was soft, and I had a hard time letting go. She sucked in a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. I waited for her to look at me, and when she did, the words I planned to say jumbled together. She was a knockout. The streetlights hit her face in a way that showcased her huge brown eyes, her birthmark under the left one, her full lips, and her rosy cheeks, and my stomach swooped.
While I knew I had to stay away from her because she could ruin me, I could be nice about it. I didn’t want to be the reason Lorelei Romano was nervous and uncomfortable in the house—and not just because she was Dean’s sister.
It was the right thing to do.
I held her gaze, speaking gently and with intention. “I don’t hate you, and I’m aware I’ve made you feel unwelcome. I don’t want that, and I’m sorry.”
She nodded. “You have.”
“I don’t have time for… “ I started, hating how it made me sound like an asshole. I could be better. “I excel with routine, and having you move into the house messed with that.”
“What about my ass offends you, exactly? You hook up with girls all the time.” She shrugged, but the tips of her cheeks pinkened.
Is she thinking about her walking in on me that day?
Damn. Focus.
“Those are one and done.”
“So what? You think I’m gonna try and seduce you and ruin your routine? That’s never going to happen. I am done with athletes. No more dating or sleeping with them. Plus, hello, Dean would kill me if I messed with the team vibe.” She rolled her eyes and laughed yet not with real humor. “I need a soft, quiet man who is feral in bed and doesn’t know what a sport is. Nerd in the streets, a freak in the sheets. A kind man without coordination.”
I frowned, her words causing my stomach to clench with unease. The thought of her and some guy with a calculator didn’t connect in my head. I asked before I could stop myself. “Because of Eric?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right, you little eavesdropper.” She poked my arm with her finger, laugh lines forming around her large eyes. “I guess it’s only fair. I walked in on you watching porn, and you listen to my conversation about my dirtbag ex.”
I cleared my throat, my skin heating.
“Don’t worry, Luca,” she said, her singsong voice filled with amusement. “I won’t tell anyone you’re into busty brunettes.”
Choking on my own saliva, I hit my chest as Callum joined us. He patted my back. “Dude, you all right?”
“Yeah, just talking about porn got him nervous.”
“Ha!” Callum cackled. “It’s amazing how he still gets bashful. The guy sleeps around.”
“And you…don’t?” she fired back.
“I mean, psh.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve committed more to a girl than he ever has. He’s a one and done and never look at me again. A real heartbreaker. A real playa.”
“Okay, chill.” Lorelei shook her head, the two of them sharing a goofy look.
Their little banter annoyed me. Were they friends? Why were they so chummy and smiley at each other? Also—he painted me in bad light. It mattered, for some goddamn reason, what Lorelei thought of me.
“I’m not an asshole about it,” I grunted out.
“Never said you were, bro.” Callum slid me a look, his brows arched. “Just saying you sleep around and yet you still blush sometimes.”
“Adorable,” Lorelei said, her focus on the sky and not me. We walked fast to the bar right across the street. Lorelei froze and sucked in a breath. “Okay, this was a dumb idea. Why did I let Mack convince me this was a good plan? My stomach is in shambles.”
“We hate Eric, right?” Callum said.
“Yes. I felt bold after talking to Mack, but now I’m nervous. It’s trivial to make him regret breaking up with me. Like, how would this work?”
“Oh, I have an idea,” Callum purred. He put an arm around her shoulders and nope. Not him. If she needed someone to do this with, I wanted it to be me.
“Let go of her,” I blurted out, ignoring how my ears turned red. “I’ll do it.”
Callum’s smile grew, and his eyes beamed with victory…like he knew what he was doing.
Lorelei looked up at me, her eyes swirling with mystery. “Do what?”
“Make him regret hurting you.”
