This boy is—frustrating. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“An older brother, yeah.”
“So then you know what’s it like. Dealing with them,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I suppose.” He shrugs. “Though my brother moved out almost two years ago.” He watches me, and I want to squirm. Doesn’t he have to get back to his bros? Why is he wasting his time standing outside with me? I clearly don’t want to talk to him.
Can’t he take a hint?
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I ask him.
He actually starts to laugh. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?”
I hate it when guys say that kind of condescending shit to women, like it’s a compliment. It’s rude. “And you’re a complete asshole.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Again, he flings his hands up in front of him. “No need to be hostile.”
“I guess I wouldn’t have to stoop to that level if you would just leave me alone.”
Wow, I sound extra rude. But I can’t talk to this guy. Jake hates his guts. And while I’m annoyed with my brother, I have to stand with him. Eli Bennett is a jerk. An egotistical pain in the ass.
If Jake caught the two of us talking right now, he’d probably try to beat the shit out of Eli.
“Damn girl.” He whistles low, and actually takes a few steps forward. He gets so close, I can smell him. And he doesn’t smell like sweaty teenage boy.
Nope, he smells clean. Like fresh laundry warming in the sunshine. As subtly as possible, I inhale, taking in his fresh scent.
What am I doing?
“You got a mouth on you,” he says once he’s standing directly in front of me. “You have a boyfriend?”
“What the hell does that have to do with anything?”
“Clearly, you don’t have one.” He chuckles. “No need to get your panties in a twist. I was just making sure you’re okay, remember? And from what I can see, you are just fine.”
There’s double meaning behind his words. I can tell by the appreciative gleam in his pretty hazel eyes. The way he’s contemplating me.
Like he wants to keep looking at me and never stop.
“Anytime you need help getting those panties of yours untwisted, give me a call,” he says, his voice as smooth as silk. “I’d be more than willing to assist.”
I’m stunned silent. Before I can even work my mouth into forming words…
He’s gone.
Three
Eli
I didn’t realize coming to this camp was going to be such a problem.
Yeah, word on the street was that Drew Callahan would be here for the duration, doling out pointers, which excited the hell out of the entire team, especially me. I hear he’s even going to do some one-on-one work with various teams while we’re at camp. I’m hoping we’re one of them.
Doubtful though, since we’re considered the enemy.
What I didn’t expect was the entire Callahan clan to show up. I used to have a minor thing back in the day for Autumn Callahan, the big sister. She’s hot. Short and cute, with nice, big tits. I used to like older girls, especially when I was a freshman and sophomore. They’re confident. They don’t give you a lot of bullshit. They blow you off when they think you’re being stupid, and hey, I respect that.
I knew I didn’t stand a chance with Autumn, though. One, she’s Jake’s big sister and that asshole hates my guts. Two, she got together with Ash Davis, and while he’s never been totally awful to me, that guy would pound my face in if he heard even a whisper of me saying his girlfriend is sexy as fuck.
So, I kept my mouth shut. Safer that way.
Ava Callahan, though. I remember seeing her in the stands when I was a sophomore, thinking she was a hottie. And she was. Cute as can be. But now?
Now she’s like a walking wet dream.
Okay, that was crass as fuck, but it’s true. She’s pure fantasy material. Last time I saw her, she was a baby. A freshman. She’s a year younger than me. Daddy probably never lets that beauty out of the house—can you blame him?—so I’d peg her as completely inexperienced.
Besides, I’ve never been that into blondes. I prefer brunettes. Always have.
But I caught her walking by the lake earlier, all by herself, staring out at the water with a look on her pretty face that told me she’d rather be anywhere else but here. I took one look at those long legs of hers hanging out of her too short shorts, and I had to do a double take. Tanned skin on display, the wind whipping through her long, blonde hair and I couldn’t move.
She’s gorgeous.
Up close? Even more gorgeous. Green eyes. Pert nose. Lush mouth. And full of fire. Fuck, I love it when they’re like that. Girls with strong personalities who have no qualms in telling you how they really feel.
That’s hot.
Even though I feel like I just got my ass kicked, and my skin literally stings like I got beat up, I walk back into the dining hall with a giant grin on my face, making sure to aim it in Jake Callahan’s direction. He glares at me, nudging his sidekick in the ribs. That Diego asshole. Now they’re both glaring at me.
I could give two shits about them.
If he only knew I talked about his sister’s panties not a minute earlier, he’d come for me.
It’s rather satisfying, knowing that he’ll never know.
Finally, I’m back at my table, happy to see a plate of salad sitting in front of my empty chair. I’m starving. Settling in, I grab a fork and start eating, listening in on the conversation that’s happening around me.
My best friend Brenden sends me a look from across the table.
“What?” I say to him after I swallow.
“Where were you?” he asks. Every dude sitting at my table swivels his head in my direction, waiting for my answer.
“Outside,” I say with a shrug before I shovel another forkful of salad in my mouth. It’s not that great. Standard Italian dressing covering iceberg lettuce. My mom—when she’s not hitting the bottle—makes healthy salads mixed with kale. She’d shudder in disgust if she saw this one.
Glad she’s not here. I don’t care what I’m eating. I’m hungry.
“With who?” Brenden asks, his voice lowered. Everyone else has resumed eating. They’re not paying attention to me.
“No one,” I say, ignoring the unease slithering down my spine. Did he see me with Ava? There’s no way. “Why do you ask?”
“I just saw Ava Callahan come back inside no less than two minutes after you suddenly reappear,” Brenden says, his eyes narrowed. He’s been my friend for a long time. He knows me well. Sometimes, I think too well.
But it’s cool. As in, I know how to play it cool.
“In my dreams I was outside with Ava Callahan,” I say with a snicker. “You know me. I’d give it to her just to piss off that asshole brother of hers.”
“You would,” Brenden says with a sharp laugh. He feeds my hatred for Jake Callahan because he feels the same exact way. We both can’t stand the guy.
Though really, it’s not like I hate Jake. I’m competitive. So is he. We clash because we both want the same thing. During our youth league football days, we both wanted to play quarterback. I ended up going to another youth team just so I could play the position I wanted.