##Chapter 16: Carter"Dude, that practice sucked ass." Noah drops onto the bench that runs parallel to our lockers. "You heading back to the apartment after this?"Most of our teammates are busy bitching and moaning about the grueling workout Coach just put us through, but not me. I welcome the suicides and hitting drills. I want my muscles to scream bloody murder when all is said and done. I want to be so freaking tired that when I fall into bed an exhausted heap, I won't dwell on the girl sleeping twenty feet down the hall from me.Or the curve-hugging tank top and short shorts she likes to torment me with.I push those thoughts away and shake my head before they can do further damage. "Can't." I focus on the inside of my metal locker. "I need to stop at my parent's house."Noah falls silent for a moment and then asks, "Do you want me to come with you?""Nah," I mutter. That would only make matters worse. Just thinking about what I have to do makes my shoulders tense up.He
##Chapter 17: Carter"It's fine, Mom," I say soothingly through gritted teeth.She nods, but her eyes dart around the spacious kitchen with its endless sea of white marble counters and stainless-steel appliances, checking to make sure nothing is out of place. Even though she's in the middle of preparing dinner, everything is perfect and clean. Wiped down and polished. As soon as she uses a spice, it's put away in the cabinet. As soon as she's finished with a dish or pan, it's washed and set back on its shelf.How the fuck does a person live like this?It makes me want to smash everything in my path just to tick my father off.The back door slams and Mom flinches as the sound reverberates through the first floor. A fine tremble racks her hands as she brushes them over the silky material of her dress, making sure it's in place.Heavy footfalls land with sharp clicks that echo against the polished marble tile in the hall.I straighten my shoulders and pull myself up to my full height
##Chapter 18: DaisyMy current relationship with Carter can be summed up in one word.Awkward.We've gone from constantly sniping and taking shots at each other to this bizarre formalness. It's like we're strangers. Strangers who unfortunately live together and are forced to, upon occasion, interact.I dread when Noah takes off and leaves the two of us alone at the apartment. Within minutes, I find excuses to hide out in my room. I spend way too much time there. Which has led to the realization that I need more artwork on the walls. This place is boring. I've created a whole new Pinterest board with ideas.I might crash at Olivia's place for a few days because I need a break from the forced cordialness. Maybe then we can get back to normal. Well, not normal-normal. I don't think we can go back to the way it was before. But we need something better than these painful interactions.I slide the key into the lock and push open the door. My head tips to the side as I listen for
##Chapter 19: DaisyIt's been a tradition since first semester of freshman year that Aunt Marnie hosts family dinners twice a month. There are times when we're able to get together more than that. And there are others when we're lucky to get together once a month. Football season is always a challenge because Noah's schedule is packed tight with practices, film review, study sessions, and games. We never go longer than that without carving out some time.And I love that.Love that I'm a part of their close-knit family.Being that Carter has been Noah's roommate for just as long, he's been invited from the beginning. My aunt and uncle took an instant liking to Carter, bringing him into the fold and treating him like family.It used to aggravate the hell out of me. Now, I'm not sure how I feel. Our relationship has changed over the last two weeks. We're no longer at each other's throats. Just as Noah, Carter, and I walk through the front door of the house, my cell vibrates. I
##Chapter 20: DaisyHe stares at her for a long moment before his gaze swings to his wife. My uncle has a pretty good poker face, but I know he doesn't enjoy Mom's visits. She can be a disruptive, pain in the ass (per Uncle Craig during her last visit). Aunt Marnie's shoulders shake with unconcealed mirth as she turns back to the stove to check dinner. Sixty minutes later and I'm planning my escape. Mom has the tendency to make me feel claustrophobic. While everyone is busy talking after dinner, I quietly excuse myself and sneak out the back door. The sun has just dipped below the horizon as I settle onto a lounger near the pool and stretch my legs out in front of me. I close my eyes and suck in a breath before slowly exhaling. It takes a conscious effort to release the tension from my tightened muscles.Thank God Mom booked a suite at a nearby hotel and isn't staying at the house. I think Uncle Craig would probably pack his bags and vacate the premises if that were the case.
##Chapter 21: CarterWith my arm thrown over my eyes, I try to shut down the thoughts steamrolling through my head. But it's impossible. I can't stop replaying what happened with Daisy earlier this evening.The look on her face when her gaze dropped to my mouth had my dick surging to life. The temptation of her pliant body crushed against mine only made it worse. I've spent the last three years keeping her at a safe distance and now I've managed to blow all my good intentions to hell with one stupid decision. I've opened the door and there's nothing I can do to slam it shut again.I keep telling myself that the only reason I want Daisy is because she's the one girl I can't have. Deep down I know it's a lie. The way I feel about her scares the crap out of me. Maybe calling a truce wasn't such a good idea. If there aren't any barriers sitting between us, how am I supposed to keep her at arm's length? Especially when all I want to do is hold her close.Frustrated with myself for
##Chapter 22: DaisyNoah knocks on my bedroom door and pushes it open enough to stick his head inside. "Food's here.""I'll be out in a minute," I say, not bothering to glance up from the book I'm reading. "I just need to finish up this section.""Don't take too long or your burger will get cold." His stern voice has me glancing up with a grin on my face."Okay, Dad.""No problem, honey. Just, whatever you do, don't call me daddy." Noah smirks. "That would be a scarring experience for both of us.""Ewww! Gross!" I pick up a pillow from my bed and throw it at him. With a chuckle he slams the door closed. It takes at least ten more minutes for me to highlight the passage I was reading. Even though I have a test coming up in sociology, it's not the reason I'm dragging my feet.Carter.I've been doing my best to avoid him since the incident at my aunt's house. Everything has changed between us and I don't have a firm handle on it yet. Before, when I'd see him, the attraction w
##Chapter 23: CarterThe alarm goes off and I roll from bed. I've been lying here for the last thirty minutes thinking about Daisy. I need to burn off some of the excess energy crashing through my body. I have football practice three hours a day, five days a week and lift weights a couple times a week because I'm trying to stay away from the apartment when I know she'll be around. You'd think all this physical activity would be enough to diffuse the hot spikes of need that flare to life inside me at the mere thought of her, but you'd be wrong.She's all I think about.In a last-ditch effort, I'm going to hit the pavement in hopes that five miles will be enough to kill my growing lust.You know what I need?To get laid.I need to bury my cock in some sweet pussy and forget all about Daisy Thompson. Forget about her long golden hair and flashing aquarium-colored eyes, and all those goddamn curves I want to get my hands on.Yeah, that's not helping. As luck would have it, tonight is