Page 26 of Made Better Together

Bree’s face lights up. “Even that guy Shane brought last year? From Princeton? You had melty eyes for a week after that night.”

I wish I could deny that, but she’s right. I’d secretly been bummed Shane wasn’t around this year, since it meant there wasn’t a chance Connor would be his guest.

“Shane’s not coming though.”

“We can get Connor’s number from him.”

“Actually, we follow each other on Instagram.”

Bree looks gleeful. “Perfect. Let’s DM him. I mean, you message him, and I’ll make sure you follow through.”

“Haha.” I think about it. What do I have to lose exactly? The worst he can say is no.

So I send the message, after she gives me some edits “to make it seem more casual.”

And the rest is history, leading us to this conversation, where Connor asks that pointed question.

I sit up a little straighter in the lounge chair, as he waits for an answer.

What do I want? Nothing that’s going to happen in front of the snooping eyes of all these Tolliver friends.

“Do you want to go on a walk? If we pick up the path behind the house, it leads to a small park.” Bree had taken me there to kick a ball around another time I was hanging here.

His eyes dance across my face. “Yes.”

I lead him out the screen door, and we start down the path. He’s so tall, and it’s much more noticeable now that we’re walking.

Of course, that triggers the memory of him standing over me in the laundry room last year, barely separated by a breath. Though, the muscles popping out of his light blue collared shirt are more defined now. A year is a lifetime for a college athlete. It’s not surprising he’s packed on more girth.

I bet he could throw me around like a rag doll…

“Do you come to Bree’s house a lot? I mean, other than for the Fourth?”

His question snaps me back to the moment.

“Me more than the rest of the team. We’re rooming together for the coming year on campus, and I’ve known her for years…”

“Through the national program?”

I nod. “We met at a U14 camp. It’s kind of convenient that her family has a house right here in Orlando, though her parents are constantly on the go with their business based in New York. They own Triumph.”

“The clothing brand? No shit—my brothers do ads for them.”

I’ve definitely seen the campaigns. His brother Landon’s one with Rori Reilly was notorious because the pictures were so steamy, and it was before they’d confirmed they were dating.

“Yeah, so she and I have lots of free clothes.”

“Hell, I stole this polo from Rawley’s dresser, and I’m pretty sure it’s a Triumph one he was gifted too. Though interestingly, they seem to keep him shirtless in most of his actual ads.”

His tone is dry as a bone, and I can’t help but laugh, because, yeah, true.

“Are you living with him now?”

“Yup, until I leave for Princeton in a few days. Football training camp is coming up, and I’m moving into a new place for senior year off campus with some friends. We’re getting there early before camp starts to set up the house.”

Just a few days? Ugh. So this is truly a “now or never” thing with Connor.

Maybe that’s good. It keeps things simple, anyway.