Page 1 of The Pass Protection
I close my eyes and see her smile.
I close my eyes and hear her laugh.
She’s like a drug, and I’m an addict who can’t get enough.
But now she’s my roommate.
What did I do in my past life to deserve this karma?
Not only have I been fighting feelings for an unavailable girl, but she’s also my teammate’s little sister and my coach’s only daughter.
After I carried the few belongings she brought to the empty room in our apartment, we both went our separate ways. The guys are waiting for me in the living room, andIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiareruns are playing on the TV. I graciously accept the beer Harris has waiting for me.
“Bro, what the fuck?” He sighs and rests his head on the back of the couch, a cold beer in his hands. “I had no clue the Bret Campbell that applied was a girl, let alone Coach’s daughter.”
“I think that was her plan this whole time. She’s hiding something.”
“I texted Grant.” Both Harris and I snap our heads in the direction of JP who is sitting on the opposite side of the sectional.
“Why?” I ask, bringing the beer to my lips for a long pull. I savor the cold, hoppy liquid as it slides down my throat.
This beer is much needed. Not only because of the new roommate situation, but practices have been brutal as we gear up for the start of our season. Coach has high expectations since we brought home the hardware last season by winning the national championship. Now that we’ve tasted success, we’re all desperate to bring it home again.
Today was a scorcher in Texas, and I wanted to head to the pool, but the impromptu party prevented me from doing so. Football, partying, and farming are a few of my favorite things, but a pool party after the most brutal practice was not what I was in the mood for.
“He needed to know.” JP shrugs. “Grant always worries about his sister, but lately, he’s been even more concerned about her. The fact that she dropped out of the University of Arizona, drove solo thirteen hours, and moved in with a group of guys would have any big brother concerned.”
I nod, resting my head on the back of the couch, and close my eyes. I know he’s right, but a small part of me wants to be the one she turns to. I know it’s absolutely ridiculous to be her sounding board, but I want to protect her. It’s my job on the field to protect the passing game, and I guess that need to protect has seeped over to her.
There’s just something about her that draws me in. The attraction hasn’t changed, even though her appearance has completely changed. I noticed all the ink on her perfect olive skin. Her brown hair is now jet black. And damn, don’t get me started on her new piercings. I couldn’t help but stare at them.
“Did you order the pizza?”
Harris nods his head. “Yeah, should be here in about ten minutes,” he says, glancing down at his smartwatch. “I stuck Bret’s money in thedrawer of the entryway table. She’s not buying on her first night here, but I didn’t want to start a fight, so I hid the money.”
“Smart thinking,” I say with a chuckle.
Silence falls over the room as we all turn our attention to the TV as a familiar beat reverberates off the wall separating the living room from Ad—Bret’sroom. Shit, it’s gonna take a minute to get my brain to call her Bret.
Honestly, hearing that her name is Bret makes so much sense. Addy felt too common for her. She’s too fucking cool.
A beer cap hits my chest as Harris’s chuckle fills the space. I look up and find JP shaking his head at me.
“Dude, you’ve got it bad,” JP says.
“What do you mean?”
“You literally said ‘she’s too fucking cool,’ like out of the blue,” Harris adds.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
There’s a knock at the door, and Harris jumps up off the couch and heads down the hall to answer.
“Where thefuckis my sister?” Grant storms into the living room. If this were a cartoon, steam would be shooting out of his ears. His attention whips in my direction, and his eyes narrow. “Did you know about this?”
“Yeah, Campbell, I knew this whole time,” I retort sarcastically. His glare has me quickly changing my tune. “No, man, I’m just as blindsided as you are.”
Grant runs his finger through his hair, and I can practically feel the turmoil radiating from him. Whatever problems Bret’s dealing with is making her brother stress the fuck out.
