Quarterback Sneak (Red Zone Rivals #3)(9)

“We need to invest in blackout curtains.”

I smirked, turning back to find Holden still staring. His gaze seemed stuck to me until it flicked to where Mary was beside me, and he chuckled, adjusting the bags in his arms and turning for the house. When I looked back at my roommate, it was just in time to see her tuck away the two middle fingers she was flipping him.

I nudged her. “Subtle.”

“I don’t care. He’s being a creep. They’re all creeps — that entire football team.”

I arched a brow. “You know I’m a part of that team, too, right? And my dad.”

Mary waved me off. “That’s different. I’m talking about the players. Emphasis on the word player. The whole lot of them thinks they run this campus and that every girl should just fall at their feet. They’re assholes,” she added. “The number one asshole being Leo Hernandez.”

I frowned. “Leo? He’s been sweet to me. A little flirtatious, maybe, but harmless.”

“Trust me. There’s nothing harmless about that stupid boy.”

Her face hardened, then her eyes flicked to mine, and when she saw me waiting with a lifted brow for further explanation, she sucked her teeth and swept her long blonde hair over one shoulder.

“Anyway. Want to smoke a joint and order a pizza, or are you going to strip for our neighbors all night?”

I winked. “Just trying to keep the block interesting. Pizza sounds good.”

“No joint?”

Mary was already pulling out her stash, the aroma of the flower hitting me as she unpacked it from what looked like a makeup bag.

I swallowed, heart ticking up a notch at the sight, at the fact that it was close enough I could make out the resin sticking to the light green and orange bud.

But a flash of my father’s face twisted in grief hit me next, and I blinked, knocking away all temptation with that one simple gesture.

“Just pizza for me.”





The following week, my father announced the depth chart for the team, and everyone was in a tizzy.

Although football wasn’t my life the way it was his, I knew as his daughter that college football chart day was big, not just at our campus, but every campus around the nation. Reporters would offer full coverage of the charts for each university, and thus would begin the predictions for which match ups would prove the best ones of the season.

Of course, this particular day held more weight than ever — because he was the new coach.

And he’d shaken things up.

I didn’t have to look to know there were surprises, that players used to starting found themselves slated in the number two or even three spots. There was a raucous energy among the team as we all filed into the cafeteria after practice, and when I filled my tray and turned to find a seat, it felt like every set of eyes was lasered in on me.

“Hey, why don’t you sit with us today?”

I blinked at the soft, sweet voice, and found myself looking down to find Giana Jones to my left. She held a tray of her own, her curly hair framing her smile like a halo as she beamed up at me.

“I’m Giana,” she said when I didn’t answer. “I know we haven’t had much time together yet, but I’m the Public Relations Assistant Coordinator. I’ll probably be hounding you for an interview soon,” she added with a laugh. “So, let me at least sit with you at lunch first.”

I tried my best to smile back, nodding toward the room in a silent answer for her to lead the way. If I was being honest, I’d planned on taking my tray back to the training room and eating next to the ice baths.

But again, I felt the weight of my father’s expectation, the pressure of the hope he held onto that this move would be good for me. He wanted nothing more than for me to find friends, to find purpose, to be okay.

I’d rather fake that I could do those things than admit to him that I never could.

I followed Giana through the crowd, ignoring the stares from players as I did. I couldn’t tell if they were angry with me, like I had an influence over my father’s decision, or if they were intrigued by me.

I knew that game well — the one where they took bets on who could get the coach’s daughter in their bed before anyone else.

But this wasn’t my first rodeo. If any of them actually thought they stood a chance, they’d end up disappointed in the end.

Giana slid into a seat at a table in the middle of the room, patting the one next to her for me to take. It was right across from Riley Novo, the only female on the team. She beamed just as brightly as Giana when she noted me.

“Hey, Julep. How’s it going?”

“Peachy,” I answered flatly.

Riley and Giana shared a look as if they were having a silent conversation.

“Don’t worry about all this,” Riley said, waving her hand at the tables around us. “Some of the team is bent up over their poor performance at camp that was reflected in the chart today.”

She said that last part louder, which earned her some disgruntled murmurs from her teammates. But she just smiled, cutting into her chicken and popping a piece in her mouth.

Giana snickered.

“How’s it going so far?” Riley asked next. “Anyone I need to set straight?”

The tension in my shoulders eased a bit as I unwrapped my silverware. “Nothing I can’t handle.”