#Chapter43
QB1McQueen7: We know we look good, but what we really wanna know is WHICH ONE was her favorite?? *laughing face emoji* *shirt emoji* #Don’tLieMineTotallyIs
*picture of Trav, Mase, Kev, Alex, Noah, G, and CK showing off their shirts*
@LacesOutMitchell5: Flag on the play. You didn’t give any of US a chance to pick a custom phrase! *angry face emoji* #YouCheated #WardrobeOverhaul
@CantCatchAnderson22: OMFG @LacesOutMitchell5 didn’t we tell you to stop bitching? #BeLikeElsa #LetItGo
@SackMasterSanders91: ^^What he said
@CasaNova87: Keep dreaming. #SheLikesMineBest
@TheGreatestGrayson37: All you idiots are wrong. MINE is her favorite. #MyTshirtGameIsStrong #Besties
CasaNova87: Cheering on cheerleaders *football emoji* *bow emoji* #MyFavoriteCheerleader #PutMeInCoach #NJAForTheWin
*picture of Mase hugging Kay into his chest so only the back of her COACH PF jacket shows*
#Chapter44
I rush around the dorm making sure I have everything I’ll need for the long weekend.
“You and the girls still coming down tonight?” Bette asks. I should feel bad that I’m not looking at her during our video chat, but when I glance at my open laptop, she’s just as busy prepping tomorrow’s Thanksgiving meal as I am packing.
“Yup. We’ll leave straight from the rally, swing by King’s to pick up T, then continue on down the turnpike to you guys.” That reminds me…
I spin around to make sure Em and Q left their bags and spot them on the floor by the door. Perfect.
“Are you excited for tonight?” Bette pauses to lick a streak of mashed potatoes from the side of her hand.
“Yeah.” In honor of rivalry week—aka when we play Penn State—the school puts on a big pep rally for the football team. Last year, I opted to skip it to spend more time with my family, but this year I’m going to support the guys.
For as hesitant as I was about letting the football set into my life, I have really grown fond of Mase’s teammates. They are ridiculous and genuine and treat me as if I’m just one of the guys. When the bomb dropped that Eric Dennings is my brother, I was afraid I would lose all that.
I shouldn’t have been. Not once have they brought up E to me.
“What I want to know is—” There’s a smack followed by a squeak from Bette, telling me E slapped her ass before pushing her out of the camera’s view. With a final zip of my duffle, I lean back against the bed and meet my brother’s smirking face. “Am I going to be seeing your boyfriend mugging it up for the camera with you on my newsfeed later?”
Ooooh, shit! Look at big brother making jokes. Can I ask you something though? Am I the only one shocked he didn’t freak that you allowed Mase to post a picture of you two on his Instagram? *holds up hands* Now before you start with the whole you weren’t facing the camera thing, your name was, and I would have put money on E losing his shit.
“I thought you approved of that?” I really hope he’s not changing his mind, because as much as saying yes to all the posts the guys made after the cheer competition—where NJA swept the small regional—was scary, I can’t find it in me to regret it. Even Pops cracked a smile as each of the guys read their comments out loud as they typed.
“Oh I do.” E nods so enthusiastically he looks like a bobblehead. “You keep taking those baby steps.”
My head joins his in its up and down motion. I may not be ready to be fully out for the public to see, but as I reach for the new black U of J football hoodie Mase gifted me, I think, Yes, baby steps.
My head pops free of the thick cotton when there’s a knock on the door to the dorm.
Who could that be? I’m meeting G at the AK house.
I say a quick goodbye to my family and jog down the hall to answer the door. When I do, I’m greeted by the sight of an attractive but unfamiliar brunette. “Hi?”
My greeting may have been awkward and sounded more like a question than anything else, but still, she doesn’t return it. Instead she scans me from the top of my head, pausing on the hawk stretching across most of my torso, and down to the tips of my black and white Chucks. I take it from the way her mouth is twisting to the side she’s not impressed. Actually…the face she’s making kind of reminds me of Bailey’s the first time I met all of my roomies.
“Can I help you?” I ask when she continues to stay silent.
Her head swivels left then right before coming back around to face me. “Do you mind if I come in?”
I blink then blink again. I don’t know this girl. The only reason I step to the side to allow her in is that more than one resident is sending questioning looks in our direction as they walk past.
There’s a gasp when I shut the door, and when I turn to face her again, I can tell her eyes were locked on the bold NOVA #87 printed on my back.
Keeping close to the door, the knob within easy touching distance, I ask, “Who are you?”
She squares her shoulders, determination gleaming in her eyes. “I came to offer a little friendly advice.”
Oh-kay…not what I asked.
“That’s all well and good, but seeing as I have no idea who the hell you are, I’d say we’re far from friends.” I make a rolling motion with my hand. “Let’s try this again.”
“I came to warn you.”
Oh my god. Again with this? What is with this chick trying to be all ominous?
“Okay, well that’s great.” I clap my hands in front of me. “But you see, I have somewhere I need to be”—I jerk a thumb over
