Page 21 of Offsides

“Why not her?” Jackson counters. “She lives with Dani, so she’s got an in. She’s a chick, so she understands how chicks are. She’s actually really good at figuring people out. And for some reason I really don’t understand, she’s decided she wants to help you.”

I furrow my brow on that last one. “Why shouldn’t she want to help me?”

Jackson guffaws, and I hear Autumn laugh too, though I don’t look her way. “Dude. Seriously? You haven’t exactly been that nice to her.” He shakes his head. “And anyway, you were just questioning why she should help you a second ago. And now you’re questioning why she wouldn’t want to? Are you even listening to yourself?”

Crossing my arms, I harrumph, annoyed that he’s right. About all of it. I haven’t been that nice to Autumn, even though I’d like to think I’ve been more tolerant of her since they officially started dating. Though now that I think about it, who wants to just be tolerated?

I take the spot Autumn indicated, folding my hands on the table in front of me and facing Autumn. “I’m sorry I’ve been a dick to you.” Because let’s face it, I really have. “There was no reason for it, and I’d like to think I’m a better person than that, though my behavior obviously doesn’t reflect that. You make Jackson happy, and that counts for a lot in my book.”

Autumn studies me for a moment, her pixie face still and solemn for the moment. “You know,” she starts thoughtfully, “apologies only work when they’re accompanied by a change in behavior.”

Just as solemn, I nod once. “I understand.” This chick really doesn’t pull any punches, does she? Somehow that makes me respect her more already.

She cocks an eyebrow as though waiting for me to continue. I return her even stare, then it dawns on me what she must be waiting for. "Autumn, will you please help me?"

Autumn purses her lips as though considering my request. Seriously? She's acting like she's not going to help me now?

After a moment, her lips pull wide in a shit-eating grin. She reaches across the space between us and shoves at my arm. "Of course I'll help you, Eli. What do you think I've been trying to do all along?"

I blow out a breath. "So what's my first step?"

She narrows her eyes and looks at the space over my shoulder, considering my question. “Hmmm. Fill me in on what happened last night first."

Burying my face in my hands, I shake my head. "I was a jackass."

Jackson snorts, and Autumn laughs. "Yeah," she says wryly, "I kind of figured that out on my own."

"Of course you did." I drop my hands to the table but can't bring myself to meet her eyes. "I was jealous. I didn't like the way all those guys were gathered around her, drooling over her like she's just another jersey chaser. She's Dani.MyDani.”

"Meaning you're the only one who gets to drool over her?"

That has my gaze jerking to Autumn’s. Jackson snorts again from his place behind me. Whipping my head around, I glare at him. "If you’re not going to be helpful, fuck off."

Jackson widens his eyes in surprise. "I'm not sure that's your call."

Autumn chuckles again, patting the table to draw my attention back to her. "Ignore Jackson. And anyway, you can't complain too much given the way you treated him over me.”

I grunt, unwilling to acknowledge that she's right. But also unwilling to insist on my way. I've been enough of an asshole to everyone, the whole point is to stop. That's why she said verbal apologies aren't enough, right? To let me know that I need to put in the effort to make things right, not just with her and Jackson, but also with Dani.

“Why does your teammates drooling over Dani upset you so much?"

My brow furrows, my frustration mounting. "I already explained that. I don't want her to be treated like she's just another jersey chaser. She's smart. She's dedicated. She's so much more than some chick who just wants to fuck a football player."

"And what about me?" Autumn asks, her voice deceptively innocent. "Did I deserve to be treated like just another jersey chaser?"

I clear my throat, well aware that her question is a trap. "No," I rasp. “You didn't."

Leaning her chin on her hand, she asks, “And what about the other girls?"

"What other girls?”

She spreads her hands in front of her. "Any other girls.Allother girls. Are there any girls who deserve to be treated like just another jersey chaser?"

“Ummm. Well…" I hem and haw, considering her question. Do any girls deserve to be treated like just another jersey chaser?

Before I can answer, Autumn poses another question. "And what if a girl wants boys to look at her? To drool over her? What if she's dressing that way on purpose to get attention?"

My brows pull together again. "Would Dani do that though?"

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