“You have a brother too, right?”
“Yes. Ben. He’s also a student at Lone Star State.”
We chat a few more minutes and exchange numbers. As we stroll to the front, Tori hooks her arm through mine and motions toward Rider. “So you’re dating him, huh?” When I nod, she giggles in my ear, “Girl, I want all the details!”
I’m so excited to meet female relatives whoactlike family, I could cry.
It hits me how much my life has changed this semester.
I have Rider and Poppy, who are the best part of my day. Sienna is the sweetest roommate ever and one of my best friends. I’m almost done with college and maintaining my grades, and I’m dying to student-teach next semester. My temp job at Archer will hopefully translate into a full-time teaching position in the fall. Ben and I aren’t totally at odds, and now that I understand where he’s coming from, I’m hopeful we can build a bridge.
And I’ve also connected with Kat and Tori, who want me to stay with them over winter break!
It’s almost too good to be true.
52
RIDER
I watchGabby’s ass sway as she strolls up the walkway to her house. She turns around to wave just before she ducks into her house.
I return the wave, still smiling like an asshole after she shuts the door.
I rub the tight spot in my chest, the ache that only seems to appear when I drop off Gabby.
Holy. Shit.
How did this happen?
I have a whole truckload of feelings for this woman that I have no idea what to do with.
Do I tell her how I feel?
Do I evenknowwhat I fucking feel?
That I can’t breathe without her? That she makes the fucking rainbows shine on rainy days? That I can’t find peace until she walks into the room?
“Hey, dickhole,” Knox barks from the back seat. “You planning to sit here all day and daydream about your girlfriend’s luscious ass?”
I’ve had such a great day, nothing could derail my mood. I shove the crazy feelings in a box because there’s no way I can deal with that shit at the moment, and I rattle off the good things in my life:
An undefeated season as we head into our last game.
The sweetest daughter on the planet.
A gorgeous girlfriend who’s definitely way,wayabove my pay grade.
One of the best O-lines in the country.
But Knox will try to get away with murder if I let him. Biting back a smile, I hold up my middle finger, throw my old Jeep into drive, and caution, “You’d best not stare at her ass.”
The guys chuckle, and Knox reaches over to smack my arm. “Gabby’s like a hot little sister.”
Cringing, I turn to Tank, who’s sitting in the front seat. His expression matches my own. “I don’t think you’re supposed to consider little sisters ‘hot.’”
Tank tilts his head back to razz Knox. “That’s weird, bro. I mean, maybe it’s like that inyourfamily.”
The taunting continues until I park in our driveway behind Trevor’s truck. Tank pulls Knox in a chokehold and drags him up the walkway of the house.
