Four

When I woke up the next morning I was so disoriented I nearly forgot where I was. A look at the familiar décor reminded me that I crashed in Aiden’s room last night and looked down to confirm with the shirt I was wearing.

I looked around the room and didn’t spot him anywhere, my guess was he successfully crashed in Avery’s room, and he was somewhere asleep downstairs or in the yard. I let out a loud yawn and trudged out of bed to grab my clothes from the bathroom and get changed, but I decided to keep Aiden’s shirt on and tucked it into my jeans.

The smell of eggs and bacon greeted me as I walked down the stairs and I found Aiden in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

“You’re up early. Where is everyone else?” I asked and took a seat at the island counter.

Aiden just pointed over his shoulder with the spatula toward the living room. Sprawled out on both couches and the ground were Avery, Carter, and Noah. None of them made it to their rooms it seemed.

“Sucks to be them, they’re going to miss out on this awesome breakfast,” I said. My mouth was watering by the time Aiden placed the full plate of eggs, toast and bacon in front of me, then joined me with his own plate.

“I still can’t believe for someone of your size, you eat as much as your brother.”

“There is a lot of energy to be put into cheering, and you can’t grow from muscle from nothing, right? As a player, you should understand the fat-to-muscle ratio one needs to carry, it isn’t much different for a cheerleader or dancer.”

He shrugs. “I suppose not. When do you start your first training class?”

“Monday morning actually, we have to prepare for the first game at the end of the week. Speaking of, do you guys know who it’s against yet?”

Aiden groaned. “It’s always the same game. A home game against Jacksonville State, it’s why they always find ways to taunt us beforehand.”

“This isn’t the first time they’ve crashed one of your parties, is it?” I asked.

“No, it’s not. It is the first time Shane has shown up himself.”

“Is Shane the captain of the Jacksonville Gators?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “How did you know that?”

“I met a friend at the party last night, turns out he also plays for them.”

“What the hell, who is it?” Aiden asked, sounding a little angry.

I frowned and put my fork down. “Why does it matter? He’s just some guy I met at Emma Perry’s party a few weeks ago. Anyway, I need to get back to the dorms and finish setting my stuff up. Can you give me a ride back?”

He nodded but still looked slightly pissed off.

~*~

The first week of Uni went by like a tidal wave. My first cheer practice was a disaster, especially after meeting the supposed cheer captain of the team, Leah Palmer. She ran her team like a drill sergeant and barked insults that would make Gordon Ramsey proud.

By the end of the week, I was completely spent and couldn’t feel any muscle in my body. I really thought the summer I attended cheer camp was the worst I would ever experience, but this definitely topped it.

“Wow, you look destroyed,” Isabelle said when I dragged myself into the room.

I flopped onto my bed and rolled over it to try and straighten out my back.

“Everything hurts. Why didn’t they think to put baths in the bathrooms? It’s literally in the name!” I cried, wanting nothing more than a bath to soak into but all we were blessed with was a single stand-up shower.

“You have an entire frat house at your disposal. Don’t they have a bath?”

I scrunched up my face. “Ew, that would be weird. That house is filled with nothing but drunk and horny guys, I doubt my brother would let me.”

“I’m sure one of them would love to sneak a peek at you.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

I tossed my pillow at her. “What the hell does that mean? Please don’t tell me you’re talking about Aiden?”

“Of course, I am, who else? I can clearly see the way you look and act around him, brother my ass.”

“Please, I’m the last girl he would ever think of that way,” I said, almost with a pout.

“Doesn’t mean you don’t think of him that way. Come on, just admit it, I’m way too good at spotting these things.”

I groaned. “Ugh, alright, yes. I’ve had a crush on him for a long time, happy?”

“Yes, you’ve finally admitted it out loud.” She grinned and threw the pillow back at me. “Now, what has taken you so long to confess?”

“Maybe the fact that we’ve known each other since we were in diapers together, and the fact that he is my brother’s best friend. I could never ruin that, and he has always thought of me as nothing more than a little sister. I’d rather not embarrass myself for no reason.”

She shrugged. “Fair enough. But have you ever talked to your brother about it? I mean, does he even know you like Aiden? He might actually be understanding about it.”

I gave her a deadpanned look. “My brother has warned both of us multiple times that we are never to hook up, he has forbidden it.”

“Oh, well then.”

“Besides, this is my year to start anew. I’m getting over my feelings for Aiden and I’m going to focus on the many other fish in the sea. I’ve lost years of experience waiting on him, that isn’t happening anymore.”

Isabelle clapped. “I can get behind that!”

“Anyway, I have to get ready for the game tonight. Are you going?”

“Wait, it’s only been a week and we’re already having a game?”

“None of the sophomores are playing, it’s just the juniors and seniors. I won’t be cheering tonight either, I’ll just be watching.”

She shrugged. “I never really went to games at my high school, none of my friends really liked sports.”

“Then why not go with me? Even if you don’t like the game, the school spirit and fun of it all is still nice to experience.”

“Alright, why not?”

I clapped with excitement and helped her get ready for her first big game.

When we got there the place was already packed and our only seat options were right at the front which most people tried to avoid due to flying footballs and sometimes players. I tried to look for Aiden and Avery on the field and spotted their numbers, 14 and 24, of course, chosen to match each other.

My eyes also wandered over to the rival team, but I realized Jake probably wasn’t playing this game and my heart sank a little in disappointment. But just as the game was about to begin, I heard someone shout my name and turned to see the familiar bright blue eyes of Jake as he wadded through the aisle dressed in full gear.

“What are you doing here, are you playing?”

“Of course, I’m a varsity player. I wanted to see you really quick before the game,” he said and waited until he was closer. “I wasn’t able to ask you at the party but is there a chance you’d like to go out with me?” he asked with a cute grin.

My first thought was about my brother and the hostile way he acted toward Jake and his team. He would despise me if he found out I went out with a team member of the Gators.

“Are you afraid of what your brother might think?” he asked.

“Kind of, yeah. He can be pretty scary when he’s angry,’” I teased.

“How about this, I’ll make a bet with you. If I lose to your brother, you can reject me, but if I win, you have to go out with me. Deal?” He stuck out his hand.

“Do it, Rylee!” Isabelle egged me on.

I bit my lip in hesitation but shook his hand. “Deal.”

A few people in the crowd behind us cheered a little as Jake grinned and ran off excitedly. It was hard to keep my eyes off of him or the grin from my own face.

I felt as though someone was watching me and turned to the other side of the field to see Aiden standing there and looking directly at me, but I couldn’t tell what expression he was wearing before he turned and walked away.