I pause at the intersection, giving the other car the right of way and noticing that it’s Carson and Nylah. Following them home, I park right behind Zander’s SUV, which Carson obviously borrowed. He really needs to get himself some wheels, especially since the three people he’s been borrowing from will be leaving after graduation.
Apparently, his mom has offered to buy him a new bike, but he wants to get some old thing and do it up. He loves mechanics, so it’s gonna be his summer project. I hope it all works out for him. I’m a little worried that I’m not going to be here next year to keep a quiet eye on him. But he has Nylah now, and she’s calmed him down a lot. He’s not the wild, angry bad boy he was when I first moved into Football Frat.
He’ll also have Grady to keep him in check… and whoever else they decide to let move in. I hope they find good guys. I’m assuming they’ll ask their teammates. I think Lincoln would work… or maybe Johnson or Rheems. Knowing them, they’ll go for guys on the offensive team. That’s worked well for us.
Opening the door, I jump out and raise my chin in greeting to Nylah, who’s grinning at me. “Where’ve you been?” she asks.
“Just helping out a friend.” I shove my hands into my pockets and follow them across the grass and up the front steps.
“Is he or she okay?” she asks when we reach the front door. “Are we talking moving furniture around help? Or studying help? Or?—”
“Kitten, stop being so damn nosy,” Carson grumbles as he kicks off his boots.
Nylah laughs. “I’m just asking.”
I grin down at her. “She had a bad date. I just gave her a ride home.”
“Oh no. How bad? Like dire or scary or the kind you have to rant about?”
“The ranting kind.”
“Yikes.” She makes a face at me while Carson pulls her into the living room.
Everyone’s in there, watching a replay ofThe Big Bang Theory. Grady and Blake are cracking up while Sienna grins at the screen and Zander plays on his phone. He’s addicted to some block game.
I pull a chair in from the dining room and watch the last five minutes of the episode while Nylah and Carson get comfy on the beanbag near my feet.
“So, you want to do another episode?” Wily picks up the remote, aiming it at the screen, and I decide to put my foot in it.
“Actually, guys. I need your help.”
What are you doing? Why are you involving them?
I have no idea, but the TV goes off immediately, and soon every eye in the room is directed at me. Even Zander slips his phone away, and my mouth goes instantly dry.
Damn, boy, you’re a fool.
“Uh…” I clear my throat, scratching the back of my head and shifting uncomfortably on this chair, which suddenly feels too small. “Well, I… I have this friend, and she just had a really shitty date, so I offered to find a nice guy for her to go out with. She’s only just getting back on the horse, you know? And she really needs a good experience.”
“Why don’t you just take her out?” Grady asks.
“Uh… no.”
“Why not?” Blake shifts on the couch, stretching her legs across Grady’s lap. Her socked feet end up against Satch’s thigh, but Wily’s girlfriend doesn’t seem to mind. She’s too busy looking at me with a sweet smile, like she knows what I’m about to say.
“Well, she’s… she used to go out with my best friend. They were endgame, and I can’t step on that. Even though he’s passed away now, it feels wrong to… entertain that idea. There are rules. A bro code, you know?”
All eyes turn to Grady, and he tips his head back with a groan.
Wily snickers, reaching around Satch to lightly punch his arm. “You getting it now?”
“I got it before,” Grady grumbles. “Why do you think I resisted her for so long? It’s not like I just dove right in. I fought against this for?—”
“Yeah, yeah, we get it,” Carson cuts the argument short. “We don’t need to keep rehashing that shit. Wily doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s actually fine with you dating his sister.”
“I never said that,” Wily growls.
“The fact that he’s not breathing through a tube is proof enough, dude.” Carson smirks at the big, blond guard who is trying and failing to maintain his glare.
