I loved tits as much as the next guy, but asses were my thing. And Mack’s was a ten out of ten. It was juicy and strong and thick andwhat the hell!Think of plays. Think of the guys on the team. Oliver’s disgusting habit of not washing socks when he played well. Anything to stifle this spark for my sister’s best friend.
Once I settled down the uncomfortable fact I was into Mack’s ass, I rolled my eyes. “Luca is notdreamy.”
“Lies.” She laughed as she set her empty glass on the counter and put her hands on her trim hips. “He treats Lo so damn well. She’s a light, and he’s a sexy goober moth just following her.”
“Is that what girls want? A goober moth following them?”
“Sometimes, yes. We don’t tolerate Luca slander in this apartment, Dean Romano. But for your information, girls like being the center of someone’s attention. No distractions, full intensity. If that’s a goober moth… then I want a goober moth once my career settles into place.” She frowned, a cute line forming between her brows before she rubbed the spot with her finger. “Wow, that’s a breakthrough.”
“Happy to help, I think?”
She met my gaze, her eyes warming. “This might sound silly to you, the guy who’s never had a real relationship, but I’ve always felt like I had to date or have a partner. I even felt pressure to findthe onesenior year because my cousins tell me dating after college sucks ass. But damn, after this chat, I think I’m happy being single and having fun until my life is figured out. Wow.”
Have I had a legit relationship before?
Jessica didn’t count, that was for sure.
She didn’t mean the words like an insult, but they provided a little jab. “That doesn’t sound silly to me. There’s a comfort in knowing yourself.”
“Thank you.” She beamed before reaching for a box of peanut butter pretzels. “Want some? These are my favorite thing in the entire universe. They might seem simple, but the combination of flavors with the salt? Chef’s kiss.”
How could I say no to the invite? Not when she was so easy to be around. Plus, it was totally normal to befriend your twin’s best friend…right?
The next week flew by, and Mack let me help at the camp each morning. My days were spent as an assistant coach for young athletes, my afternoons were all workouts, and my nights a weird combination of bored-to-death and trying to distract myself from spinning out.
Saturday arrived, and a burst of adrenaline went through me, the same way it did for game night. It was Mack’s night to knock an item off her Playbook, and somehow, much to my annoyance, everyone was fucking tagging along. Not just Callum and I. Luca and Lo. Oliver. Callum. Me. Mack. Alejandra and Mally and Vee. Nine of us.
Too many damn people to gooutand watch Mack make dumb choices. Yet, she smiled so damn big when we all arrived at their place, and her eyes sparkled when she saw me. I liked that feeling. I liked it a whole lot.
“Body shots! Body shots! Body shots!” Callum chanted, making everyone laugh. He went up to Mack and slung his armaround her as everyone filed outside. “You ready for this? I showered and used my nice cologne.”
“You always smell good, and you know it.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.
My left eye twitched in annoyance. I put on cologne tonight for the first time in months, and did she notice? No.
“I never said the body shotshadto be you, you know. What if I find a sexy stranger I want to lick tequila off of?” Mack said, her mouth way too close to Callum’s face.
He had such a punchable face, honestly. I’d never noticed before.
“My abs are better.” Callum patted his stomach.
“Debatable,” Lo said. She pretended to eye Callum up and down. “I’ve seen what we’re dealing with. I lived next to you, remember?”
“Can we not do this?” Luca asked, sighing as he pulled Lo against his chest. “I understand you and Callum are close now, but I’d like it on record I despise it.”
“You hate everything except Lo and your grandma,” Callum fired back.
“Hey, he likes me!” Mack said.
“You’re fine.”
“Lo, you hear that? We’re bonding. That was the nicest thing he has ever said to me!”
Everyone laughed, and I just kept my hands in my pockets, my nerves bubbling. I felt awkward. Me. I had always been the popular guy, the life of the party, the one people wanted to talk to or flirt with. That wasbefore.It came with the quarterback role, but I didn’t know this new version of myself.
“We need to leave before these shots wear off. I’m feeling groovy, people. Groovy!”
“And tipsy Mack is my favorite.” Alejandra clapped her hands. “We’re leaving. Let’s go.”
