She sighed, resting her head on her friend’s shoulder. “No, it’s not about him, and I’m messing with you guys. I played on a travel team with his sister, and we met up to watch the game. Y’all need to chill.”
“Unacceptable. Dean wouldn’t allow this,” Callum said.
Lorelei glared at him before arching one brow at her brother. “Deancan try and stop me.”
“I can’t believe you live with these animals,” the blonde said, her eyes bouncing from each of us for a few seconds. “My couch is open if you can survive the crooked springs.”
“They’re… fine. I ignore them when they annoy me.” She shrugged. “Anyway, you guys go party your faces off. You played great.” She held out a hand and fist-bumped Oliver, Callum, Dean, then held hers up for me to do the same. I swore her expression shifted when she got to me, and the ball of unease from earlier grew.
I gently touched my knuckles against hers before saying, “Hey, could I—”
Fans swarmed us. Girls and alumni and guys dressed in jerseys and hoodies walked around the corner and screamed. Their catcalls and cheers were met with an echo of celebrations as the night’s victory hung in the air. The infectious energy from the game usually carried on through the rest of the night. We never had to pay for drinks, and fans would take pictures, hugs, and the women wanted to hook up. Our coach trained us to always remember we were the face of the team. That meant showing respect and thanking them for support.
Despite being introverted, I could turn it on when I had to because it was about meeting my goal—getting drafted and earning a high payout. Becausemoneymotivated me, I could play the game.
“Luca, oh my god I love you!” A girl clapped her hands, and soon enough four more were around me. Callum and Oliver posed for photos, and Dean, well, he was living the life.
“Lo,” I said, disliking how she’d backed away from me. I searched for her hair, but ten fans turned to more and then a small crowd formed. I hated missing my chance, but it was my night to go wild, and I’d just search for her later.
It’d be great to let loose and find a way to relieve this sexual tension I had toward her because I couldn’t do that to Dean. Not ever. Lorelei would never be more than a dream, and even if she was more… she was a lifer. All I could offer was a one-Friday-night stand.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Lorelei
Having the large-ass house to myself should’ve been a blessing. No boys to bother me or to worry about running into—well, one grumpy one to be specific. Instead of enjoying the silence, each sound freaked me out. It was an old creaky house that moved with the wind. Pipes creaked, and the windows rattled with any light breeze. Plus, it was after midnight, and people were rowdy outside. Not a typical disorderly crowd either. The guys had played incredibly at the game, and people thought the party was at the house—which it was not. It was me, alone in my room, a little worried. I chewed at the hangnail on my thumb, wincing when I tasted blood.
The constant knocks on the door and crowd gathering outside freaked me out. I double-checked the lock before sprinting upstairs to hide in my room, but like… if someone got in, I didn’t have anything to fight with.Stop being silly. I won’t need to fight.
Mack offered for me to sleep on her couch, but with the game on Sunday, I couldn’t risk having any pain from an uncomfortable sleep. I needed to stay in top shape, and that meant my bed here. We split an Uber to our places around midnight because we needed sleep, but now it was one a.m., and I regretted being alone.
Thud.I sat up straighter, my pulse pounding through my body.
Okay, that was… an owl hitting a window? A car door?
Thud, thud, thud.
That sounded like footsteps. But were they outside or on the stairs?Shit.My breath caught in my throat as the thuds grew louder.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
Okay, someone was in the hallway. Callum? Luca? I hid under my covers like a coward and held my breath, desperate for a sign it was one of the guys. I never heard keys in the front door or the timbre of one of their voices, so had someone broken in?
Fuck.
Think, Lorelei, think!
I had hairspray, which burned like hell if it got in your eye. With the grace of a cat, I slid out of bed, not making a sound, and reached onto the dresser for the hairspray. My water bottle was heavy too. I could hit the person in the head hard then run.Surprise attack!
Speed was my friend, and yes, a sudden burst through the door would throw them off and then I could escape. God, I was too young to die. I had things to do, and this person clearly had nefarious ideas. Why else would they break into a football house at this hour? My legs shook, my fingers trembling with fear. My heart beat so hard it sounded like gongs in my ear. I squeezed my toes into my socks.
Unless it’s a girl…
Did I act or wait or sprint or—
Shadows appeared under my door. The person stood outside it, and my body shuddered with fear. My ears rang, and I panted, trying my best not to make a sound, when—“Shit.”
Luca!I knew that voice.
