Larson cleared his throat. “I think you look hot.”
Trey turned with predatory slowness to glower at Larson, who smiled smugly.
“Thank you, Chad.” I beamed as I pranced into the kitchen to join Bear. He’d made the fluffiest pancakes I’d ever seen. Joined by caramel syrup and chopped up strawberries with homemade whipped cream.
I went to stick a finger in the whipped cream for a quick taste, but Bear was already there, giving me a solid booty bump that sent me stumbling a couple of steps.
“Get out of my kitchen,” he growled through his beard-covered smile.
I chuckled, sucking my finger clean of the dollop of cream I successfully pilfered. I obeyed the chef, leaving his part of the kitchen to sit next to Trey, who was still mutely watching me.
I took the seat, then leaned over and whispered, “Your staring is getting a little creepy now.”
He snorted and dropped his face in his hands, muttering something I didn’t catch but still managed to make me smile.
After breakfast, the guys spent the rest of their morning packing their things, getting dressed and in the zone for the scrimmage. During which, I lay across Trey’s bed reading through my journal while also admiring Trey in his jersey and jeans as he packed and prepared his things.
The scrimmage wasn’t until tonight, but before there would be a tailgate party held out in the parking lot. It was planned with ample time for the players to hangout before they would need to head in with the coach to prep.
A few hours later, we all packed up. Trey, me, and Williams in Trey’s Jeep while Larson and Bear rode in Bear’s Ford Raptor. The football stadium was a less than a ten-minute drive from the apartment and the parking lot was packed to the brim with vehicles, tents, cookers, and people partying.
I thought that seeing this many people together in one place might be overwhelming, but nope. I was made for this. People, events, friends, excitement—I was made for college.
Trey parked the car while Williams hopped out of the back seat to open my door. As I jumped out, he adjusted my sleeve that had ridden up my arm, covering up my bandaged elbow. He shot me a quick wink before throwing his arm over my shoulders, walking with me and Trey into the crowd.
“Hey, Turner. Is Penny coming?” Williams asked over me to Trey, who trailed close by.
“She told me she’d be here, but she’s bringing a date.”
“No way,” Williams called back. “Is it serious?”
We meandered past a loud group of drunk frat boys before Trey said, “Yeah, sorry to break it to you, man. She sounded pretty head over heels for this guy.”
His hand wrapped around mine, pulling me out from under Williams’s grasp into his own. All while keeping pace through the gatherings of students eating barbecue, drinking and speakers blasting music.
“Damnit, don’t tell me that.” Williams dropped his hands with a slap against his sides.
Trey chuckled, hugging onto me tighter.
I glanced sideways at him. “Who’s Penny?”
He pressed his head into my hair, lips breathing past my ear. “I’ll introduce you to her tonight. I think you’lllike her.”
At the edge of the tailgate party, a massive horde of football players and cheerleaders sat together. Music blared from a few freestanding speakers, and some players, including Bear, were cooking hotdogs and burgers on portable grills.
As we entered the party of blue and gold, a few football players stampeded over to us. They tore Trey from me and Williams from his sulking into a herd of men, leaving me to admire the spectacle from the outside.
The conglomerate of men that unified in tackling, hugging, and fist bumping one another with massive smiles and roaring greetings was a sight to behold.
“Maybelle?” a lilting voice called me from behind.
I pivoted to see fiery, long, red hair, a bright smile, and lots of freckles. Before I could reply or confirm that I was Maybelle, the red hair and freckles had me pulled into a tight, spine-crippling embrace.
I couldn’t return the hug before she pulled away, still beaming with a familiar smile. “You probably don’t remember me! I was friends with your brother. My name is Penny Howell!” And again, I was pulled in for another squeeze that cleared the air from my chest.
A little flustered, I stumbled for a response as I broke myself free from her cinching arms. “H-hi. Uh, it’s good to meet you.” I had to shout in order to be heard over the football men, music, and if Penny couldn’t hear me, she didn’t show it. Her smile was unwavering.
“Hey, Penn!”
