Page 19 of The Anaconda Downstairs

I watched Everett move across the field pushing some guy out of Hayes’s way. If he wasn’t at the top of his game, I’d hate to see what he was like when he was. But if Jules said he wasn’t playing well, she’d know. She probably knew the sport and the mindset of the athletes better than anyone else.

I was a planning and organizational guru, and I could fix this. I was here to learn how to date, not to fall for my teacher. No matter how much I wanted to. But if that was throwing him off his game, we needed to do something about it.

I didn’t want to give up lessons. Even though I was still a complete wreck talking to any guy who wasn’t a Kingman, I felt like I’d learned so much already. Everett really was a love guru. Except, I’m not sure that was the right moniker for him. He was a dating guru, and I had no doubt he was a sex guru too. But maybe he needed help finding someone to fall in love with and not just take to bed.

The sparklies of a new and improved idea jinga-linged in my mind. What if while he was teaching me how to date, I helped him find a date of his own? Not just a date, but someone he could actually fall for.

Yes. I rubbed my hands together, planning and plotting. I’d just insist he continued to go along with me to these dating lessons and get him to demonstrate how it’s done. Oh, or betteryet, I’d use some of my contacts that I’d made to find him someone as gorgeous, successful, and as popular as he was.

A matchmaking I would go.

I glanced back at Jules, who did the two finger eye-to-eye point between us. And right behind her was Marie Manniway giving me the same look.

Two minutes ago that would have scared me. Not now.

I had a plan, and I was going to get the love guru to fall in love.

Just not with me.

BESTIES FACESPACE GROUP POST

[Pic of Kelsey Best, plus size supermodel Sara Jayne Jerry, Penelope, and friends cheering in the Kingman VIP suite at the Miami Sharks Stadium.]

Hey Besties!

It’s game day with the Mustangs and some of our BFFs.

Who says curvy girls can’t rock a jersey?

We’re here, we’re cheering, and we’re looking fabulous doing it.

Remember, there’s no size limit on being a fan or having fun.

Show me your game day looks, Besties.

Your newly excited about football friend,

Mz. Besties’ Bestie - Penelope

#BestiesBestie #CurvyAndCheering #FootballFashion #BodyPositiveGameDay #SharksOrSnakes?

NO USE CRYING OVER SPILLED COFFEE

EVERETT

Itapped my fingers against the steering wheel, waiting for the light to turn green on my way home from practice. Tuesdays were usually the player day off after a game, but I wanted to get in an extra practice. Had hoped it would do my system some good. I was antsy as fuck, and I knew why.

It was becoming harder to ignore the way my stomach flipped every time I even thought about Penelope Quinn. No number of drills was going to work her out of my blood.

But that was ridiculous, right? I mean, sure, Penelope was more than attractive. And smart. And funny. And... I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This was just a crush, nothing more. When I fell in love—really fell in love—I’d know it immediately. I was holding out for that lightning strike, just like it had been for my parents. Just like it had been for Declan when he met Kelsey. Honestly, even Chris had it bad for Trixie the first time he saw her when we were all kids. Hayes was over the moon for Willa and probably had been in high school, if he’d ever admit it.

But I wasn’t in love with Pen.

The light turned green, and I pressed down on the gas pedal maybe a little harder than necessary. I needed to get a grip. Penelope was a friend, a student of the love guru, nothing more. I was just teaching her how to date, how to flirt. So she could get her date for the Grampys. That was all.

Might as well execute that plan. Because once I quit seeing her every day, thinking about her every minute, this crush would fade, and I could go back to looking for the girl I was supposed to fall in love with. Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my phone and hit Penelope’s number. She picked up on the third ring.

“Hello?” Her voice was soft, a little uncertain.

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