“When? When you were in elementary school?”
“Freshman year of college actually.”
“Seriously?”
He nods. “Yeah. I came in with a lot of expectations, and I didn’t do too well with all that pressure.”
I think back to his first few games as a freshman. “They weren’t terrible games, and everybody understood you were just getting used to college ball. You still scored in each of your first few games, even as a freshman.”
He glances over at me in surprise. “You watched my freshman games?”
I scoff. “Of course, I did. My family bleeds Barracuda blood, remember? We love all the sports, but soccer and football are our favorites.”
He smirks. “Don’t tell Reid that.”
“Oh, I love basketball too; don’t get me wrong. I just love soccer more.”
“That’s because it’s the best sport,” he says smugly.
I don’t tell him that it’s because it’s the sport he plays. I might have had the tiniest crush on Slater Thorne ever since I watched him highlighted in prime time when he was just a freshman in high school. I was only in seventh grade, but I watched him play and was mesmerized. He was considered an up and coming to watch and boy, did I watch. I followed his career, as did my stepdad. When he decided on FMU, my stepdad and I both celebrated. I watched every single game of his freshman andsophomore years. I would have watched every game of his junior year this year, but so far, it wasn’t working out for me to catch more than a few games.
Chapter 13
Tessa
“You seem lost in thought.”
Slater’s words bring me back to the present, and I realize we’ve stopped. I face the house and take a breath. “I just hope I’m ready for this.”
“For what?”
I keep a completely serious face. “For the house of stars.”
“The house of stars?” he repeats slowly.
I nod emphatically. “Yes. That’s what I named it, and I’m keeping it.” I open my door and hop down.
“Why couldn’t it be called something cool?” he asks as he comes around the front of his truck.
“Itiscool,” I argue.
“You have nothing to worry about here,” he says right before he opens the front door.
I scoff. “So says one of the members of the house of stars.”
He shakes his head, and I stifle a laugh. “Come on,” he all but growls at me. I follow him inside the house, wondering if I really, truly am ready for this experience—all my favorite college players in one house. I follow him towards what I think is the kitchen and see my bestie standing at the stove.
“Hey, Bestie!”
She turns around all smiles. “Tessa, you made it.”
“I made it to the house of stars,” I tell her, looking around.
“The what?” she asks.
“I named this house the house of stars.”
“Hmmm. I just call it the house on Briarwood Court.” I consider her words, even as she continues. “But I like yours much better.”
