“The vibe is good tonight. You ready, Romano?” one of the other juniors asked Dean.
Hearing his name reminded me yet again, I had no business thinking about his sister so damn much. I put my jersey over my pads in the same order I always did. Then, I made sure I had socks and gloves.
We broke out into position groups to do our own warm-ups. Then, we headed back into the locker room to finish gearing up. My favorite though was when we went out onto the field to do our team warm-up. The music pounded throughout the stadium, the lights shining down on us. Cheerleaders chanted, and the band got ready, andthiswas the best feeling in the world.
Football would always come first, I knew that. But I didn’t have to leave behind a trail of asshole behavior. I’d play my heart out, then fix the situation with Lorelei because despite zoning in on the game, her offer to help my grandma kept returning.
* * *
“Let’s go!”
Oliver and Callum hollered as we left the stadium. Everyone’s spirits were high. We’d kicked another big ten school’s ass, and it felt fucking good. We won by fourteen points, and with every win came the reward.
I stopped worrying about my grandma and routine and plans and let myself go wild only on games we won. That meant tonight? I could drink, fuck, and pass out.
“The houses on Lincoln are where the parties are at. These girls sent the address. Wanna head there?” Oliver asked. “The other guys are starting two houses down, then we can meet up.”
“I’m in.” Dean shrugged, his attention on a group of girls standing off to the side. “Hold on a minute. Your QB needs to show his fans some love.”
“Fuck off, man.” Callum groaned. “I hate when he talks about himself in the third person.”
“All QBs need an ego though,” Oliver said. “It’s a fact. They need something to protect their head when they get sacked.”
“I heard that.” Dean flipped us off before spinning around and approaching the girls.
“Wasn’t trying to be sneaky.”
I laughed, my mood fantastic. I’d played great. Best stats I had in a while, and my grandma texted me that everyone at the facility had watched it. Plus, now that the game was over, I could find Lorelei and thank her before going wild. “I’m gonna run to the house real quick—”
“Is that Lorelei?” Callum asked, his gaze narrowing across the street. “Is she talking with guys from Indiana? That is… hell no. Dean? Get your sister right now.”
Dean snarled, changing direction to beeline toward his sister.
The streetlights illuminated her hair and face, and my heart stuttered. She wore short cutoff black shorts, an orange long sleeved shirt, and Chucks. Her hair was down and curly and everywhere, and some guy in a red and white T-shirt had his arm around her.
Something dark and green and gross slid through me. I hated him. He was an Indiana fan and touching her? Dean should be furious! He should fight him!
“Lo!” Dean cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled. “What the fuck are you doing?”
She was mid-laugh when she found us, and her smile grew. “Hey, great game!”
“What trash is this?” Dean snarled.
“Yeah, why are you consorting with an animal like an Indiana fan?” Callum asked, crossing his arms and trying to look tough.
The guy’s eyes widened, and he blinked, then dropped his arm and stepped back. “I’m out. I’ll catch y’all later.”
“Bye,” Lorelei said, then looped her arm with a pretty blonde girl I’d seen around a few times. “You guys suck.”
“Why? Because I’m stepping in and protecting you from our enemy?” Dean asked. “You cannot be with a guy from Indiana.”
“I forbid it,” Callum said, his eyes going crazy.
Dean snorted, putting a hand on Callum’s shoulder. “No football guys. Ever. Even Cally agrees.’
Lorelei rolled her eyes, and the blonde snickered. “You cockblocked me,” she said.
“What?” I barked before I could stop myself. Cockblocked, as in she wanted his dick. My blood boiled. “Is this about your ex?”
