The secret is out, and honestly, I’m relieved. I hated keeping it from her, and now when Savannah gets home, I can casually bring up that I saw her, let her know it doesn’t change a thing about how I see her, and we can move on without the lies.
But then it starts.
“Think she could get us tickets next time they’re in town?” Tanner asks.
“Or an intro to Kennedy? I grew up with his poster on my wall, before I found out I’m better with a stick than a ball,” Ephraim adds.
I’m pretty sure Tanner is teasing, but this is still exactly what Parker warned me about. People treating her differently. Using her once they find out. All I want to do is protect her from that.
“I’m texting her now,” Owen decides.
“Don’t.” I put my hand out to stop him, but then ask, “How the hell do you have Savannah’s number?”
“We’re friends,” he says like I’m the idiot, but I have never seen them hang out, except when I invite her over to the house.
“Listen up everyone.” I stand on the coffee table so they can hear me better. “Yes, that was Savannah, and her brother is the coolest Wynchester alumnus of the past decade, but she has gone through a lot of trouble to keep it hidden, so we aren’t going to mention it, to her or anyone else. Unless she tells you, in which case you act fucking surprised.”
“We’re not the only ones who watched the game. Pretty sure the football team will know,” Spring points out.
“I think they already do, and they’ve managed to keep her secret, so we will too. Not a word of it leaves this room,” I tell them. “We treat Sav like we always have, and don’t pry into her brother. Understood?”
“Cool, but can we ask her to get him to donate a signed jersey or something for the gala?” Ephraim suggests.
“Absolutely not. No fucking way.”
“It would make the silent auction,” he insists.
“Did you not hear me say we’re pretending we don’t know? We are not using Sav for access to her brother.”
“Captain’s orders?” David asks, but I don’t think he’s trying to challenge me so much as to shut down everyone else who would.
“If that’s what it takes. We protect our own, and that includes Sav.” She’s mine, even if I’m not sure in which capacity. Which makes her ours.
“Aye, aye, captain,” Owen, Michael, and Colt play along.
“Is this forever, or…”
“Fuck, dude, read the room,” Darren reproaches Ephraim.
“Until it’s common knowledge for everyone on campus, or she tells you herself.” I eye Owen, but he eyes me back in a way that assures me he didn’t know.
“Which she won’t, because…” Ephraim waits for an explanation and I resist the urge to strangle him. He’s annoying, but he won’t go against captain’s orders.
“Because she wants to be Savannah James, awesome girl we enjoy hanging out with, not Baby James, Dallas’ little sister.”
“Fine.” Spring pretends like it’s a hardship to agree. “For Sav, not your sorry ass.”
“Understood.”
Chapter Forty-One
Noah
Friends is the Benefit
We lose the Florida championship, so most of the guys are down – and hungover – on our flight home. I’m crushed too, but I did my wallowing in the room, so now the closer we get to home, the closer I am to having Sav in my bed. Or even just in my vicinity. Not that I necessarily want to admit it and give her the wrong impression, but I fucking missed her.
* * *
