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“Bullshit. You’d set the curve, like you always do.”
He chuckles, knowing I’m right.
“I don’t want to scrap all the work I’ve done this semester. If I get hurt at some point, I’ll need my education to fall back on.”
“Makes sense,” he replies. “Are you going back home for the summer?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think I can live with my parents again, even for a couple of months.”
I get along great with my folks, but when I moved out of the house my freshman year, it was permanent in my eyes. I enjoy my freedom and space.
“So, you’ll stay in your apartment?”
“Yeah. My lease ends late in August.” I glance at him. “Are you going back home for the summer?”
“Yep. I have a job set up. Gotta make that money while I can.”
Neither one of us says the obvious, but Oakley’s going back home for the summer too. I’m sure my sister played a big factor in Chase’s choice.
We gather our gear and head back to the locker room.
“Want to grab lunch with Oakley and me?” Chase asks.
“I’m always down for some food.”
“I was thinking Mexican today.”
“Okay,” I agree. I’m starving again.
Chase types on his phone, receives a response, and answers it. “Madison is coming too. That okay?”
My eyes slice to his, but his attention is still on his cell. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” I sound paranoid, but Chase is oblivious to my tone.
Last night flashes through my head. I watched Madison for most of the evening from a safe distance across the room. I’ve always felt the need to look out for the tall blonde, mostly because she’s Oakley’s best friend. But if I’m being honest, it’s because she means something to me too. She spent her time with Carlson, which I’ll admit, I didn’t like. The wide receiver has a rep for being an asshole to women, juggling as many females as he can at one time just for bragging rights. We aren’t friends, but inevitably, he and I end up at some of the same parties. And I’ve heard him boast about everything he does with whoever he’s hooking up with at the time, giving intimate details that don’t need to be shared. The dude has no shame. I didn’t like seeing Madison with him. She deserves better.
But Madison wasn’t the only distraction from a relaxed night out with the boys. Dallas showed up. She was on my jock all night even though I was less than enthusiastic about seeing her. She’s been randomly putting herself in my path since the night we hooked up. If I’d known about her stalkerish tendencies, I never would’ve gotten with her in the first place. She’s turning out to be one of those girls that chases harder, the more you pull away. It’s such a turnoff. I was direct, but it didn’t matter. So, when I finally cornered Mads in the kitchen and Dallas showed up, I used my little sister’s friend as a decoy. A way to get my point across. My words didn’t seem to be getting through to the woman, so I thought seeing me with another woman might.
And it worked …
Maybe a little too well.
I’ve always thought Madison was beautiful. I’ve wondered a time or two how all those curves would feel, pressed against my body. But what I hadn’t expected was for her to feel so good in my arms. We fit together in a way I hadn’t been prepared for.
“Just filling you in, brother,” Chase explains distractedly.
I shrug my sweatshirt overhead. Chase and I make plans to meet up in an hour as we walk to the parking lot.
I climb into my Bronco and lean back against the seat.
It was impulsive and innocent when I pulled Mads into my arms. It didn’t mean anything.
I shake my head as I turn the ignition to clear my thoughts about my sister’s best friend, ignoring the warning signs flashing in front of my face. The ones that remind me that I’ve thought about her more than I should since last night. The same ones that say maybe I don’t know myself very well at all.
CHAPTER SIX
MADISON
“Ahhhh yeahhhh!” I yell and turn up the volume as Lil Boo Thang comes on.
