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’thateher. 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 withher?“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.”
