Page 19 of The Love Playbook

I think back to the first time I met Charlotte. It was the summer before my first year. I’d already started conditioning with the Griffins and Brynn was temporarily living with us because of her psycho roommate. Jace was busy running from his feelings and the fact it was obvious he was head over heels for the girl, when her friends, Samantha and Charlotte, stopped by the apartment to pick her up.

The second I swung open the door, I knew I was in trouble. She checked all my boxes physically, and I was so dumbstruck that instead of formally introducing myself or saying somethingwitty, I saidWell, hello, ladies.Brynn’s in the kitchen,when what I should’ve said wasWell, hello, Charlotte. My bedroom is this wayand ushered her inside. Or something like that.

But instead of charming Charlotte, I spent the next five minutes hovering outside our kitchen with a shit-eating grin on my face, torn between watching Jace squirm over the fact Brynn was going on a triple date, and drooling over the hot brunette.

I’ve pined for her Charlotte ever since, and watching Jace and Brynn so happy and in love has only amplified the fact that I want what they have. Which is why I’m not about to let a minor detail like my mom marrying her father get in the way.

I shrug. “Not really.”

“I mean, assuming they actually go through with it and get hitched, that’ll make you and Charlotte stepsiblings.”

“It’s not ideal,” I say with a grimace. “Really puts a damper on my trying to seduce her, that’s for sure.”

Jace laughs. “Yeah, but let’s be real. It’s not like you ever had a chance.”

“Excuse me, but all the ladies love me, including your girlfriend.” Jace’s gaze darkens, so I quickly glaze over my last statement. “It’s only a matter of time before Charlotte is one of them.”

“Right,” he says through gritted teeth.

“It’s just slightly inconvenient. We won’t be blood related, but you know how society frowns upon hooking up with your sister.” Jace chokes on his beer, spluttering as I continue. “It’ll make our inevitable coupling all the more challenging.”

Jace wrinkles his nose. “Coupling? How do you make sex sound so fucking disgusting?”

I laugh, ignoring his question. “Do you think I can take her as my plus-one to the wedding? I mean, it’ll save our folks money if we’re each other’s date.”

“That’s twisted.”

The funny part is I’m not even joking.

A knock sounds on the door and both Jace and I call out: “Come in!”

When it swings open, Damon, now a junior and AAU’s quarterback, steps inside and glances at the huge-ass TV. Any time a game is on and we’re not on a football field ourselves, our apartment is the go-to place to hang since Jace’s parents bought the massive television to compensate for their lack of love.

“You have beer?” he asks, without so much as glancing our way.

“Yep,” I answer.

“Thank god.” Damon turns, his long stride eating up the floor as he heads for the kitchen and throws the fridge open while Brandon, our lineman, enters the apartment after him.

“Help yourself,” Jace mutters.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Damon grins and cracks open a cold one, taking a long pull. “You’re not drinking?” he asks, eyeing me.

“I do my best thinking sober,” I say, giving the football another toss as Brandon takes the chair opposite me.

“What are we thinking about?” Damon asks as he crosses the room and shoves my legs off the couch so he can take a seat.

“You know, the usual. Chris wants to bang his stepsister,” Jace says with a straight face.

“Oh, shit. That’s fucked up, even for you.” Damon takes another long pull as I spring to a seated position like a jack-in-the-box.

“Why is that fucked up?” I ask, my tone defensive. “We’re not related. She shareszeroblood in my veins.”

“I don’t make the rules.” Damon shrugs. “Did you grow up together? Play Barbies and house and now you wanna butter her biscuit? I thought you had a thing for Charlotte? What happened tothat?”

“SheisCharlotte, dumbass.”

Damon chokes on his beer, hacking up a spray of Miller Lite that covers the coffee table in a fine mist. “Hold up!” he says, gasping for breath. “Are you getting all of this?” he asks, looking at Brandon.