Something weird and painful wedged itself in my chest. Lorelei had left a mark on my grandma, and for some reason, I worried my grandma would get hurt. That was unacceptable in any capacity. Frowning, I said, “Sure, but I can ask her anything you did.”
I didn’t plan on giving Lorelei my grandma’s number.
“Okay, well, Beta is here with an onery look so I gotta go. Love you, Luca. Congrats again.”
“You too.”
I hung up, even more confused about the pressure and feelings growing in my chest. My body felt like a water hose with a kink in it, where these feelings were going to make me burst. I tended to repress them or avoid them, and I wasn’t equipped to do much else.
I wanted to talk to Lorelei, and I put on a playlist to distract myself the rest of the drive.
* * *
Oliver, Callum, Dean, and I rode to the bus together, so we got in Callum’s car to head back to the house. Oliver might’ve still been drunk with how he smelled, and Callum kept yawning.
Dean frowned at his phone, and if I wasn’t so caught up in guilt about wanting his sister, I’d ask what was wrong. Asking meant opening up the door to more than football talk, andfootballtalk was my comfort zone. Anything else was more difficult, andgodwhy was Callum not driving yet?
“Want to get some food? Soak up last night’s regrets?”
Dean shrugged. “I’m game.”
“Ah, mate, no can do.” Oliver leaned against the window, his eyes closed and his skin paled. “I have a routine that involves not eating and essential oils. Can you drop me off at the house?”
“Sure. Bro, you were insane last night.” Callumfinallystarted the fucking car, his amused eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “What about you, Luca? You joining hungover Ollie?”
“Drop me off, please.”
Was I hungry? Yes. But for food? No.
The ride took less than ten minutes but seemed twice as long. Callum parked on the street with the front door, and I hopped out, got my bags from the trunk, and didn’t wait for Oliver’s slow ass to follow. My hyperfocus had pros and cons, determination being one of them. Opening the door, I immediately smelled Lorelei’s lotion.Thank god she’s home.
I bolted up the stairs two at a time, my pulse radiating throughout my body. Music came from her room, and the absolute joy I had at knowing she was here should’ve bothered me. No one should have this much of a hold on me, but she did, and that was the truth.
Her door remained opened as she danced in her room, her eyes closed and a half smile on her face. She swayed her hips, only wearing tight running shorts and a baggy long-sleeved shirt with a football logo on the corner.
A picture of her in Oliver’s jersey flashed in my mind. I detoured from my plan for one second, dropping my bags off in my room and rummaging through my bottom drawer for one ofmyold football shirts. If she wanted to support our team, she’d be wearing mine.
With the navy shirt in hand, I gulped, suddenly numb with nerves. I’d already tasted her, yet this was more terrifying. More at risk to get distracted. I stood at my doorframe, watching her and thinking up what to say first.I want to fuck you againseemed too aggressive, whereI missed youwas too emotional.
She spun in a circle, a piece of paper in her hands when she opened her eyes and gasped. “Luca! You’re back!”
A blush spread slowly from her face to her neck, and her wide brown eyes softened as I marched toward her. Oliver would be passed out, feeling like shit. Callum and Dean were gone.Thiswas my moment.
“You wear this if you want to support our team.” I handed her my shirt, letting our fingers brush as she took it.
She held it up, rubbing her lips together as her eyes sparkled. “And what is this?”
“Mine,” I growled.
“Ah.” She pursed her lips before smirking, her face lighting up with amusement. “You feeling jealous, Monroe?”
“I don’t do jealous,” I said, closing the distance between us until the back of her knees hit her bed. Her smell engulfed me, making my thoughts irrational, like how much I loved her hair and face and freckles. “So don’t get ideas.”
“Right. No ideas when you just growledminelike a dog.”
God, the mouth on her. I held her lower back, pressing her so her chest crushed mine, and I used my other hand to cup her hair. Her lids fluttered when I massaged her head, and I sucked in a breath at how good she felt against me.
Ifthis was more than friends with benefits, I’d say she was made for me.
