Chapter 17
DANI
The sun is shining again, and I can smell that awesome spring freshness in the air. Yes! Bring on summer, baby. This blue sky and those blossoms peeking out of the tree we just passed are putting me in a good mood, although there’s a strong chance it’s about to sour.
“What?” My steps fumble as I glance at Nix jogging beside me.
“Yeah, we talked about it last night, and after the summer break, Ricky and I are gonna move in together.” Her gleeful smile quickly dips into a look of remorse. “Sorry. I know that screws you over.”
“No.” I shake my head, sharing a silent look with Tobin, who’s running on the other side of her.
He winces, his lips pulling into a pout before he blows out a breath and slows his pace to a walk. “Jed and I were hoping to sign the lease over to both of you, but Nix, if you’re leaving…”
She stutters to a stop and lets out a huff. “I’m sorry, you guys. I’m not trying to be a pain in the ass, but things are going really well for Ricky and me. I’m ready for this next step.”
“Depending on how your summer goes,” Tobin quips.
I can’t help a soft snort, and Nix is forced to agree with us, even though I can tell she really doesn’t want to.
“Okay, fine. If the summer turns into a shit show, I won’t be moving my stuff to his place.”
“But we need to make a decision before then,” I remind her. “And I can’t take that lease on for the summer. I don’t want to use up all my savings on rent.”
“We could try to find you some new roommates before then,” Tobin says hopefully.
“Three? With summer on our doorstep? Yeah, I can’t see that happening,” I mumble, scuffing the ground with my sneaker.
Tobin reaches behind Nix to rub my shoulder. “Aw, Dani Girl. What are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug, not wanting to think about how depressing Nolan’s going to be without Tobin and Jed. And now Nix is moving in with Mr. Ricky, and I’m… I don’t know what I am.
I need to get myself a fella.
If only one of these dates would work out.
I’ve been having a blast going out with Tyrell. Although, our last double date was a disaster thanks to the yoga queen. But it was fun debriefing afterward. Tyrell was so riled, which I’m not used to seeing, and it ended up making me giggle.
Tyrell Jackson all flustered and indignant that way is kinda cute.
I managed to get my game face on by the time I spoke to Tobin about it. He let out this horrified gasp as I recalled every ugly detail of the date.
Then he started laughing. “Did she really do that?”
“Yes!” I gave him an exasperated frown, and Nix, who had overheard the whole thing, backed me up.
Tobin swore he wasn’t pranking Tyrell and me, but I still revoked his privileges.
He pouted at me, then eventually sighed, “Fair enough. I was just trying to help you guys out.”
He then shared a look with Nix that I didn’t understand, his lips fighting a grin as he sauntered out of the room.
“What was that about?” I questioned Nix before she could take off too.
She shrugged. “Not sure.”
But the way she quickly hurried to her bedroom had my suspicions firing.
Shit, I hope this date tonight goes better. Thankfully, Tobin had nothing to do with the selection process.
I wonder what this new guy is going to be like for me.
Cole was nice enough, but thanks to the yoga queen, I didn’t really get a decent read on him.
But even if I had, would I be into him?
He seemed like a sweet guy, but he just wasn’t…
Atlas?
I wince, wishing that thought didn’t pop into my head after every damn date. Atlas isn’t here anymore. Do I really have to be haunted by him for the rest of my life? I love that man. I always will, but surely he’d want me to move on and be happy.
The right man is out there. You just have to be patient.
And a decent boyfriend has nothing to do with your housing situation, so would you focus, please?
I sigh and get back into the conversation with my jogging buddies. “I’ll start looking for a new apartment. Either a small studio I can afford on my own, or maybe I’ll find some other people who have a spot open.”
“Football Frat will have a few spaces.” Nix winks at me, her grin wicked and playful.
I laugh. “Football Frat is for football players.”
She makes a “Mmm” sound in her throat. “But wouldn’t it be delicious living there?”
Wiggling her eyebrows, she teases me some more, and once again I have to remind her that one, Tyrell is not an option, and two, he won’t even be there.
“He’s graduating soon, and then he’ll be moving back to Texas, so just stop already.”
“Okay, okay. But I still argue that he’s the hottest guy on the team, and the fact that he’s not even an option is insane to me.” Nix pouts, her expression so cute that I have to nudge her with my elbow and laugh again.
Seriously. How many times do I have to explain the situation to these guys?
“Where are you going tonight?” Tobin glides into a redirect, and I can’t decide if I’m grateful or not.
My housing problem is getting me down, and talking double dates with Tyrell is a definite pick-me-up, but… are they just going to hassle me all over again?
“I think we’re heading for that diner with the awesome milkshakes?”
“Oh yes! I love that place. Eat Your Faves.” Nix smacks her lips together. “Get the loaded fries. They are the best!”
Tobin, on the other hand, wrinkles his nose like one of us has just dropped a stinky fart. “Why are you going there? It’ll be full of college students.”
“Uh, news flash.” Nix looks up at him. “Three of them are college students.”
“Yeah, but it’s so unromantic. You go to that diner for study purposes or an unhealthy sugar kick. You don’t go there for a date.”
“Plenty of people go there for dates,” Nix argues. “And for a first date, I say it’s perfect. Pressure-free and fun.”
Tobin still looks unimpressed. Thank God Nix is here so I don’t have to try and justify this choice on my own. It was actually my suggestion. I keep hearing people talk about these milkshakes, and I felt like french fries and milkshakes sounded like a good, safe, fun option for a double date.
Tyrell has never met the girl I’m bringing. She’s a friend of a friend of Nix’s, and apparently she’s really nice.
I haven’t met the guy Tyrell has lined up either, but he’s promised me he’s not an athlete and is big into music. The guy plays guitar and is one of his teammate’s younger brothers or something.
I hope tonight goes well.
Although, even if it doesn’t, it’ll still be fun to hang with Tyrell again.
And speak of the devil.
My lips quirk as I glance across the field we’re walking beside and notice him running. He’s chasing a little toddler with blonde curls who’s holding a football and laughing so hard she can barely stay on her feet. Probably because Tyrell is not the only one trying to catch her.
She lets out a squeal as he makes a dive, so obviously missing her on purpose. He rolls on the grass and she runs around his head, still giggling away while another guy with messy hair growls and tries to catch her.
“Go, Zoey Bird. Go!” a Black girl shouts, beckoning the cute blonde toward her.
Oh wait, that’s Nylah Jones. Tyrell and Jolie have told me all about her.
Actually, Tyrell’s told me about every person on this field. I’m sure of it.
As my ambling steps fizzle to a complete stop, I stare across the grass at what has to be the Football Frat family.
Wow. No wonder Tyrell loves these guys so much. You can immediately feel how tight they all are, watching the way they laugh together while these big, tough players try to simultaneously entertain and shield Zoey.
It’s freaking adorable.
“Oh, my poor heart.” Tobin lays a hand over his chest. “She has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen.”
“I know, right? And I’m not even into kids.” Nix watches the girls celebrate as Zoey crosses the line, slamming the ball down and doing a little dance.
I laugh at her antics, catching the attention of… well, that has to be Grady Newman. He lightly slaps Tyrell on the arm to get his attention, and my insides hitch as Black Jack turns to spot me.
His smile is instant. I end up reciprocating it and walking toward him before I can stop myself.
“Hey.” He goes to give me a hug, then steps back when he realizes how sweaty he is.
Crossing my arms, I grin up at him, then acknowledge the curious gazes all studying me and my friends.
“Hi, everyone.” I raise my hand. “I’m Dani.”
“Hey, Dani” is called in various ways from the group in front of me.
“And these are my roommates Nix and Tobin.”
My friends wave while Nylah nudges herself forward. “Hey, Nixie. Nice to see you again.”
“You too.” She points at her. “Although you missed our last lunch. What was up with that?”
“Finals are on our doorstep.” Nylah laughs. “I was studying in the library.”
“With your boyfriend?” Nix gives her a skeptical frown. “In other words, you were getting hot and heavy in the stacks when you should have been chowing down with me, Jolie, and Chuck.”
Nylah winces, then starts laughing. “Sorry, not sorry?” Her soft giggle turns into a belly laugh when Carson comes up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and plucking her off the ground.
“So, congratulations.” I smile at Zander and Wily, recognizing both of them from the article in the most recent Nolan U Sports Digest. Nix brought it home with her, and I read it over breakfast this morning.
“Thanks.” They both grin at me, looking proud as punch.
“Daddy, Lahlay Charger,” Zoey tells me in her cute little voice, pointing up at her father.
“LA Charger,” Tyrell softly murmurs when he glances at me.
I nod, thanking him with a wink.
I grin down at her. “That’s pretty cool. You’re gonna be moving to Los Angeles. Wow. You know, that’s the city of angels.”
Zoey’s eyes round, her lips parting. “I’m gonna meet an angel?”
“Lil’ bug, you are an angel, so we’re going to the right place.” Sienna smiles down at her, and I love the way she’s brushing her fingers through her daughter’s hair.
This is just cuteness overload.
It makes me wonder if I’ll ever have kids of my own.
If they’re as cute as this little one, then it’s gonna have to be a yes.
Zoey grins up at her mother before looking at me, then holding out the ball. “You play?”
“Oh, um…”
“Great idea.” Tyrell grins, lightly tapping my shoulder and checking with my friends. “You guys in too?”
“Oh, I don’t do… football.” Tobin waves his hand in the air.
“Aw, come on, Tobs. You love balls.” Nix winks at him, her wicked grin back in place as he glares at her.
I can’t help a quick, snorting laugh.
Slapping my hand over my mouth, I spin away before Tobin can see me, then find Zoey right at my feet.
“You play my team.”
“Okay.” Taking her hand, I let her lead me across the grass and quickly find out that this is not really football.
This is… get the ball and try to reach the other end of the field without anyone catching you.
Nix manages to coax Tobin into the game after some heavy-duty hassling, and soon all three of us are as sweaty as the rest of them.
Out of breath, I rest my hands on my knees and suck in some lungfuls of air after my reckless sprint down the field. Like I was ever gonna catch Tyrell with his big, long strides.
It was nice to hearing him laughing as I chased him, though.
He really does have a great laugh.
“You good?” He stops beside me, resting his large hand on my back.
“Yeah,” I puff, sucking in another breath before standing tall.
His hand slips away, and I’m surprised by the rush of disappointment that flitters through me.
I have no idea what that’s about, and I step to the side, disconcerted by whatever the hell is happening in my stomach right now.
Out of habit, I glance at my watch, then have to remind myself that I swapped shifts at work so I could go on this date tonight. I don’t have to rush off anywhere, but for some reason, I’m suddenly desperate to leave.
“Well, we should head out.” I catch Tobin’s eye, and after a micro-moment of confusion, he picks up my silent SOS signal and backs me up like the true friend he is.
“Okay, well, that’s enough sweat for me for one day.”
“But not enough balls,” Nix murmurs, then laughs when Tobin tries to punch her in the arm.
“What? Did you not just tell me before that you have a date with your boyfriend tonight?” Her laugh is gleeful as she jumps away from Tobin.
He starts chasing her toward the playground, and I jog backward, waving goodbye to the Football Frat crew.
“Thanks for letting us play.” I point to Zoey.
She grins back at me, hugging the ball to her chest and waving goodbye. Wily has her in his arms, and she looks like a happy girl as she blows me kisses and shouts, “Byeeeeee!”
“See you tonight.” Tyrell raises his hand, calling after me. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
And there goes that weird hitch in my chest again.
“Yeah, I’ll, uh… I’ll be ready.”
Spinning before he can see my smile slip away, I race after my two crazy roommates and try to shake off this feeling.
I don’t even know what this feeling is!
Man, I really hope this guy Tyrell’s lined up for me is a winner, because I’m not sure how many more of these double dates is healthy for me. I love spending time with Tyrell… but am I enjoying it a little too much?