5. Blake
BLAKE
The dining room table is surrounded as everyone from Football Frat joins in on the meal. Everyone except Grady Newman.
Well, shit. There goes my eye candy for the evening.
Not that every other man at this table isn’t something to look at. Except my brother. Gross.
But there’s something about Grady that gets me going in a way no one else has. Maybe ever.
I dated a few guys in high school, nothing too serious, and I got pretty hot and heavy with a couple of guys in Chicago, but none of them hold a candle to the Nolan U Cougars running back.
My lips twitch just thinking about him standing in the bathroom staring at me, the top half of his hot bod on full display. Ooooo, mama.
“Ty, no phone.” Zoey points across the table at the towering center. He’s been texting ever since we sat down to eat, frowning down at his screen and quickly replying, then trying to catch up on the conversation before his phone buzzes again.
“Zoey.” Sienna laughs, lighting touching her daughter’s hand. “It’s okay.”
“No phone, Mommy.” Her sticky little finger points to Zander. “You say no phone table.”
“That’s true.” Sienna picks up a fish stick and holds it out for her daughter. “But different families have different rules, and you’re not the boss of this table, so…”
“Me boss.” She points at her chest, making Zander laugh. She pouts at her father, then looks back at Tyrell with a stern frown. “No phone table.”
I can’t help a snicker as I share a glance with Wily, who is grinning at Zoey with the cutest, most adoring smile.
“Better do what she says, man.” Wily raises his eyebrows. “Don’t want to piss off the boss lady.”
Tyrell slips the phone into his pocket. “Sorry, lil’ one.”
“She is not the boss,” Sienna clarifies, then grins at her daughter. “Eat up, kidlet.”
Zoey takes an aggressive bite of her food, chewing it between huffs while Nylah distracts us all with a story about fish that she learned in class today.
This leads into a discussion about conservation that I find pretty interesting. Bottom trawling should seriously be banned around the world. It’s destroying our ocean floors.
“Have you guys seen that David Attenborough documentary on the ocean?” Nylah asks the table. “It’s so good. Grady recommended it to me.”
“And you made me watch it.” Carson’s upper lip curls.
Nylah laughs at his expression, quickly kissing his cheek. “You loved it, caveman. Don’t tell me you didn’t find it interesting.”
He gives a noncommittal shrug.
“And thank God we did watch it, because Professor Moore put me on the spot in class today.”
“Ugh, I hate it when they do that.” Satch shudders. “That all eyes on me feeling is the worst.”
Wily glances at his girl, brushing his hand down the back of her hair and winking at her.
She blushes, smiling back while Nylah agrees with her, then starts looking all triumphant when she gave an answer that had the professor “Nodding her approval. It was like getting a gold medal, because that woman is hard to please.”
“Moore?” Zander asks. “Yeah, she’s a hard-ass.”
“You’re so lucky you’re doing your classes online until spring break.” Satch smiles across the table at me, like she’s trying to draw me into this conversation.
She really doesn’t need to do that, but I force a smile when she does.
“You don’t have to be put on the spot like that.” Her cute little nose wrinkles.
“Yeah, it’s pretty easy this way. I like that I can watch the lectures in my own time.”
“You managing to keep up with everything okay?” Sienna glances at me before darting out her hand to catch a flying sippy cup.
“Ooops.” Zoey giggles, taking the drink off her mother and loudly guzzling down her water.
I grin, sharing a quick look with Sienna, who gives me a comically pained frown .
“Drink nicely, lil’ bug.” She tucks one of Zoey’s wayward curls behind her ear.
Tyrell’s back to texting, and I start playing with the food on my plate—my appetite disappearing as knots crowd out my stomach. “Yeah, it’s fine. The work hasn’t been that challenging, and…”
“You’re a smart-ass.” Wily winks at me, then starts laughing when Satch tells him off for being rude.
“But it’s true, baby.” He rests his hand on the back of her neck.
“My sister here has always been the smartest girl in the room. Although… that title might be yours now.” He nuzzles her cheek, and I roll my eyes.
“So, you’re one of those annoying brainiacs, huh?” Carson smirks at me.
I can’t help a soft laugh. “Yep. That’s me.”
“She was valedictorian,” Wily murmurs between kisses.
“Stop.” Satch giggles, but she doesn’t really mean it.
Seriously, people! We’re trying to eat here!
Reaching under the table, I try to kick my brother, but I only give him a light tap, just in case I get the wrong leg.
He shoots a look at me, and I bulge my eyes, then mouth, “We’re in public.”
His eyebrows buckle into a frown, and he obviously can’t understand what I’m saying, so I just roll my eyes and go back to poking at my salad.
“Valedictorian is impressive. Well done.” Sienna grins at me.
I can’t help a soft scoff. “Didn’t really have much choice. You’ve got to be the best when you’re a Wilson. Wily dominated on the field, I dominated in the classroom, and…” My words trail off as I shake my head .
Wily won’t get it if I start ranting about Mom and Dad and the ridiculous pressure they always put on us. He never seemed to feel the same way because he loved football so much.
“Aw, come on. You love it.” Wily proves my point with his throwaway comment, and I grit my teeth, forcing a smile when he continues. “She’s the best because she works so damn hard and hates coming in second. Do you remember that time you got beaten by 1 percent and threw a massive hissy fit?”
I cringe, hating this story.
But I was fourteen and hormonal, and Haruki Sato was not allowed to beat me, dammit. That guy was an arrogant ass.
And I made sure he never beat me again.
I had no life while I was doing it, but I did manage to stand on that podium and give the graduation address, right?
Oh so fucking triumphant.
As I gazed down at my classmates, I didn’t feel the pride I should have. All I felt was loss.
Loss of my teenage years as I strove for something I didn’t even want.
Being the best was seriously not all it was cracked up to be.
But no one in my family seems to get that.
Clearing my throat, I squirm in my seat, needing this conversation to wrap up like five minutes ago.
“So…” I jab my fork into my last bite of chicken. “Where’s Grady?”
What the fuck? Why did you just ask that?
I don’t know !
And shit, now I’m blushing. I can feel the heat in my cheeks, and when I glance up and find Wily staring at me with a quizzical frown, I have to quickly improvise.
Waving my forkful of chicken in the air, I glance around the table. “I’m just wondering if we have to save him dinner or if I can finish up the last of the… broccoli.”
“Go for it.” Satch nudges the bowl toward me, and now I have to finish the freaking broccoli. Dammit!
“Saw him leave earlier,” Wily murmurs. “He was heading out.”
“Not for another run, was he?” Zander darts his eyes at my brother, obviously concerned.
“Nah.” Wily shakes his head, then shrugs. “Actually, maybe.”
“But you guys already had training today. I know you’re on lighter sessions, but…” Nylah trails off, obviously concerned too.
“PT’s on him not to push it.” Carson shrugs. “But the guy’s getting over a breakup he never saw coming.”
“It’s been two months.” Sienna winces. “It’s hit him so hard.”
My insides twist.
What?
Breakup?
So that girl in the picture isn’t his girlfriend anymore.
I should seriously not be so happy about that.
Don’t ask about it. Don’t you fucking open your mouth right now!
“They were in love.” Nylah’s lips dip into a sad frown. “At least he was. Losing someone you care about that much is brutal.” Her eyes dart to Carson, and she reaches for his hand. “Do you think he can win her back? ”
Great, now my stomach is starting to writhe. There’s no fucking way I can finish this damn broccoli. Grady’s in love with another woman. She might be his ex, but Nylah just said it loud and clear— they were in love.
I should be grateful. It’ll help with the whole “trying to resist him” thing.
Oh, you mean like earlier today when you thought he had a current girlfriend and still wanted to check him out, walk into his room?
Seriously. You’re despicable.
Although, now that I know he’s single… maybe he needs a good screw to get that girl out of his system. Maybe that’s why there’s so much sexual tension between us. Because it’s supposed to happen. Like my little gift to him.
My lips twitch, a zing firing through me as I think about just how helpful I could be. It’s an effort to hide my smirk.
“I’m not sure if they’ll be able to work it out,” Tyrell murmurs, sliding the phone back into his pocket. “From what I’ve heard, Teah’s moved on with another guy.”
“No way.” Sienna’s eyes pop wide. “Who?”
“Not sure. Just heard she was dating someone new. A guy on the basketball team, I think.”
“I wonder which one.” Zander leans back in his seat, resting his arm on the back of Sienna’s chair and lightly playing with the ends of her hair while looking at Nylah. “You heard anything? Your roommate’s dating one of them, isn’t she?”
“Yeah.” Nylah nods, finishing her mouthful. “Jolie didn’t mention anything to me, but I can ask.”
“Nah, I’m just being nosy.” Zander flicks his hand through the air. “Damn, that’s gonna kill Grady.” Turning to Sienna with a worried frown, he murmurs, “Think I should go find him?”
Without hesitation, she gives him a nod, and I have to resist the urge to offer my help as well.
I’ll come. I’ll find your friend and make sure that girl is the last woman on the planet he’s thinking about.
“We’ll come too.” Nylah rises from her chair, pulling Carson up beside her. He wraps his arm around her waist, and I clamp my lips together.
Keep your mouth shut, Blake!
“I’ll clean up,” Satch offers.
“No way. You cooked dinner.” Wily frowns. “I’ll clean up.”
“I can do that.” I jump all over the task, needing the distraction, while Zoey starts to cry that Daddy won’t be reading her a story tonight.
Unca Wywee jumps in and saves the day, offering to read Zoey’s favorite book while I start gathering dishes off the table and heading for the kitchen.
Yes, cleaning up is just what I need.
Boring!
I know, but at least it’s not trouble.
Just be the good girl you’re supposed to be, dammit.
You can do this.