Friend Zoned (Barnett Bulldogs #2) (8 page)

Okay, one-
eww
.

And two- damned right I don’t.

I made the epic mistake of not finding alternative accommodations for a weekend last year when he stayed with us.  Needless to say, I had a really hard time looking Carter in the eyes the next morning.

Those two are ridiculously loud.

And just when you think it’s finally over and people can actually catch a little shut eye, they start right back up again.  If nothing else, their stamina is impressive.  Halfway through the first night, when I couldn’t take another moment of their porn-inspired soundtrack, I ended up dragging my blankets into the commons area on our floor.  But I just couldn’t get comfortable on the ratty couch in there because all I could think about was the amount of jizz I was probably sleeping on.

So no, I won’t be sticking around for a repeat performance of that if I can help it.

Mia and Carter are like an X-rated show waiting to happen.  They’re constantly groping one another and making out… like everywhere.  Clothing spontaneously explodes from their bodies.  Which is exactly why it’s better to get the hell out of Dodge for the weekend rather than hang around like some kind of voyeuristic perv.

“Maybe I can crash with Anna.”

Getting out my phone, I fire off a quick text.  A few minutes later her response pops up.

Sorry, headed home for the wknd. Won’t b around.

“What about Sydney?”

I shake my head.  “She’s not getting along with Ellie again and I don’t really want to get in the middle of that.”  Although… if worst comes to worst, I suppose that’s exactly what I’ll have to do.

Silently we rack our brains for another alternative. 

Biting her lip, she throws out a suggestion.  “I guess Carter and I could rent a hotel room for the weekend.  I mean, that would be kind of fun.”

Neither one of us adds
expensive,
but that’s what we’re both thinking.

Making a face, I wave a hand dismissing the idea.  “No, that’s just stupid.”

I’m sure I could just stay with my grand-

Her voice cuts quickly into my thoughts.  “What about Sam?”

Sam?

Well… I guess I could bunk with Sam and his roommate, Roan, for the weekend.  It would be a heck of a lot better than staying here and having to listen to Carter and Mia going at it like a pair of energizer bunnies.  Been there, done that.  Bought the t-shirt.  Zero interest in a repeat performance.

“Yeah, I’ll check with him.”  I shoot Sam a text.

Smiling like a Cheshire cat, Mia asks, “And how is Golden Delicious doing?”

Golden Delicious.

I can’t help but snort with laughter.  That’s Mia’s little pet name for Sam.  Not that he knows it.

When they first met freshman year, she had a massive crush on him.  Nothing ever happened between them, but it wasn’t for lack of Mia continuously throwing herself at him.  Like every single weekend.

I have no idea why Sam wasn’t interested.  Mia is absolutely gorgeous.  Long thick ebony colored hair, mossy green eyes, and an olive complexion that does her Italian ancestors proud.  She’s also tall and curvy.  Rather strangely, Sam has never even batted an eyelash in her direction.

“He’s fine.”

Mia props her chin up on her hand as she purrs out the next words, “Yes, he certainly is.”  

Another small laugh gurgles up from my throat as I shake my head.  “And what would Carter say if he heard you talking like that?”

She sticks out her tongue in response. “Oh stop ruining all my fun.  I’m always careful not to scream out Sam’s name when I’m coming.”

“Mia!”  I can’t help the scandalized note that creeps into my voice.  I really hope she’s kidding about that.  I mean, come on, she has to be.  Right?  Mia loves her boyfriend.  They got together two years ago when Carter was a senior.  After graduation, he moved to Philadelphia for a civil engineering job.

Hence the sexfest that is currently being planned for the weekend.

My eyes narrow as a huge grin slides its way across her face.

Sometimes I think she says these things just to get a rise out of me.  I’ve grown used to it over the years but I don’t particularly like when she makes comments about Sam.  Although I would never say anything to Mia because I love her to death and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her, I’m secretly glad she and Sam never hooked up or got together.  They’re both good friends and it would have been weird if they had slept together or ended up in a relationship.

“Like you’ve never rubbed one out thinking about that sexy bod of his?”

Again my mouth drops open before crashing into our thinly carpeted floor before I quickly snap it shut.

I rest my case.

“Mia!”  Even though I should be used to the over-the-top remarks she makes, I feel heat creep into my cheeks.  “Of course not!”

She levels a knowing look my way before adding a little wink for good measure. “Oh, please, that boy is hotness personified.  Can’t say I haven’t used my battery operated boyfriend a few times thinking about those massive muscles of his.”

When I simply shake my head, she spears me with a look of total disbelief.  “Are you seriously telling me that you have
never
, not one damn time, fantasied about him while getting off?”

Again I jerk my head in denial.  “Never.”

Technically this isn’t a lie.

I have absolutely positively
never
gotten off to thoughts of him.  But lately… for some strange reason… I can’t stop noticing just how good looking he is with all that thick blond hair and those gorgeous bluer-than-blue eyes.

And don’t even get me started on that big broad chest of his...

Plus, he’s just so tall...

Not to mention hard...

His body!

His body is all hard and muscly.

For goodness sake, I have no idea about
that
.

Because thinking about
that
just feels like it would be crossing some imaginary line of our friendship.  Even if he wouldn’t know about it.  I still would.

Thankfully his answering text saves me from the god awful conversation I’ve somehow been sucked into while I wasn’t looking.

Freaking Mia and her freaking questions…

“Well?  Don’t keep me in suspense.  What’s Golden Delicious got to say?”

“
Sam
,” I enunciate slowly while skimming over his words, “says its fine.”

Her grin unfolds into a huge smirk that practically overtakes her face.  God but I hate that up-to-no-good smirk of hers.  I really do.  “I’m sure he does.”

Huffing out a breath, I give her my best narrowed eyed glare.  “He has an extra bedroom because his roommate Dylan just moved in with his girlfriend.” I ground out, “So, I’ll be staying in Dylan’s room for the weekend.”

Her eyes widen before she flutters her long dark lashes all innocent-like at me.  “Of course… wherever else would you sleep?”

Chapter Six

Throwing my bags into the backseat of his truck, I slide in next to Sam. “Thanks again for picking me up.”

His hair is all shiny and wet from his after-practice shower.  “No problem.  This weekend will be fun.”  There’s a slight pause as his eyes cut quickly to mine.  “Sure you don’t mind laying low tonight?  With a game tomorrow, I need to hit the sheets early.”

“Of course not.”

He doesn’t seem to believe me.  “You could always head out on your own, if you want.  Just because I’m making an early night of it, doesn’t mean you have to.”

“No, I’m good,” I reassure again.  I’m not really in the mood to go out anyway.

Biting his lower lip, his eyes stay focused on the road in front of him.  “I figured that we could have dinner, maybe watch a movie afterwards.  What do you think?”

Actually....

“That sounds perfect.”  This week has been exhausting.  Chilling at Sam’s for the night sounds really good.  Plus, I’m sure we’ll end up going out tomorrow night.  Especially if the Bulldogs pull off another win.  Then Saturday night will be crazy.  And it’s not just the team that will be celebrating.  The entire university will turn out to help.

“Good.”

Once we get back to his place, I dump my bags in Dylan’s room before changing into a pair of comfy black yoga pants and a well-loved t-shirt.  Then I pad out in bare feet to where Sam is cooking in the small kitchen.

“So what are we doing for dinner?”  I was thinking we would probably order some take out but Sam already has a whole bunch of ingredients spread out on the counter.  Eggs, bacon, heavy cream, noodles, parmesan cheese, and garlic.

Looks interesting.  And, yeah, incredibly fattening.  Which I’m assuming means that it will taste delicious.  Because those things unfortunately go hand in hand.  “What are you making?”

He wields a knife in one hand while chopping garlic on a cutting board.  “Fettuccine carbonara.”

The easy way he flicks his wrist as he cuts up the garlic has me thinking that this isn’t the first time he’s done it.  A big pot filled with water boils away on the stove.  A large skillet is heating on a burner with chopped bacon.

“Fancy.”

Continuing with his prep work, he gives me a little smirk.  “May sound fancy but it’s actually pretty easy.  It’s something my grandmother used to make.”

I nod.  “Is there anything I can help with?”

He points to the refrigerator.  “Want to put together the salad?”

“Sure.”  Going the the fridge, I pull out lettuce, a cucumber, shredded cheddar cheese, and a bottle of lite ranch dressing.  There’s a ripe, medium sized tomato already sitting on the counter.

“Croutons are in the cabinet if you want them.”

Um yeah, I want them.  Because who can eat salad without crunchy little croutons?  As I finish preparing our salads, Sam drains the noodles before adding the bacon and garlic.  Then he dumps the egg, cream, and parmesan mixture over the noodles before tossing it all together.  Feeling impressed with his mad cooking skills, I inhale a huge breath as my tummy rumbles in anticipation.

“Oh my god,” I breathe, “that smells soooo good!”  It really does smell heavenly.  Other than stopping over to have dinner at my grandparent’s house, I don’t get home cooked meals very often.

“Tastes even better,” he says with a grin before carrying two heaping platefuls to the small table in the dining room.

I literally can’t wait to dig in.  I’m starving.  Pasta is one of my favorites.  Total comfort food.

“You want a glass of wine with dinner?”

Wine…  My eyes nearly cross.  “Yes, please!”  Oh my god, if he continues treating me like this, I may never leave.

He brings me a half filled glass along with a bottle of water for himself before we both start twirling noodles on our forks.  As I take my first bite, my eyes feather closed in utter delight.

Holy hell…

“Sam, this is seriously amazing!”  I’m not kidding either.  It’s freaking delicious.  Cream, garlic, bacon, parmesan, and noodles are like the most awesome combination in the whole world.

Nodding, he shovels another huge heaping forkful into his mouth.  “I’m glad you like it.”  He gives me a little wink.  “Good thing you decided to stay over on a carb loading day.”

Damn right I am!  And
like
isn’t nearly a strong enough word for the way I feel about this pasta right now.  “I absolutely love it.”

We gobble up the carbonara and I enjoy my glass of wine as we talk about everything that happened during the week.  Once we’re both stuffed, I help Sam clean up the kitchen before we settle on the couch in the living room to watch a movie.

“Where’s Roan tonight?”  I’m kind of surprised that it’s so quiet around here. 

Roan King is Sam’s roommate.  He’s also the first string wide receiver for the Barnett Bulldogs who’s looking to turn pro after the season.  He’s pretty much treated like a demigod around campus.  Actually, the whole damn town treats him that way.  About a month and a half ago, he did something that shocked the entire campus.

Yep… he got himself a bone fide girlfriend.

People went absolutely freaking crazy… by which I mean girls who were holding out some kind of irrational hope that he would fall madly in love with them.  There were a lot of unhappy ladies after Ivy Kaster ended up snagging his heart.  A few of them even tried sharpening their claws on her.

“He’s working at the library.  He didn’t think he’d be back until ten or so.”

A couple weeks ago, Ivy, Roan’s girlfriend, auditioned with the Cincinnati Ballet Company and was given a spot.  Making a difficult decision, she decided to drop out of college before the end of first semester.  Yesterday she said her goodbyes to everyone.  Lexie, Ivy’s roommate, couldn’t afford to live on her own, so Dylan, her longtime boyfriend, moved in with her.

I nod towards the spare room they now have available.  “So what are you going to do with Dylan’s room?”