Page 82 of Quarterback Sneak

“So, did we completely ruin it?” I ask.

“No,” he says with a mischievous grin. “I’ve got a plan.”

“Uh, oh,” I mutter.

He just grins at me. “Dinner,” he calls out. “Get it now if you want any.”

Quint appears in the kitchen seconds later. “Mmmm, smells good. Evie, you must have done all the cooking.”

“Actually,” I start.

“Yeah, she’s amazing,” Zane interjects, leaning around me to put down some plates. I don’t move as I feel his hard body right against my back. I find it hard to breathe until he pulls away. Quint catches my eyes and grins like a Cheshire cat. “Slate!” Zane calls out, and Slate walks into the kitchen less than thirty seconds later.

“Who’s hungry?” Zane asks as he carries over the heavy skillets. I don’t really see how they can eat all the food we made, but I don’t really know how much athletes eat. Maybe they can.

“Where’s Reid?” I ask.

“Who knows?” Zane shakes his head. “That guy is always out and about doing who knows what.”

It kind of surprises me. I kind of expected Reid to be a home body. As if he heard us talking about him, the front door opens and Reid strides inside. “He smelled the food,” Quint says with a grin.

Reid sits at the kitchen table, and I watch as Zane starts plating the food. “Are we not allowed to make our own plates?” Reid asks, eyeing Zane.

“Hush,” Zane says. “We’re making it special.”

“Uh, huh.” Reid looks suspicious as he watches Zane.

Zane looks over at me and winks before he drizzles a hefty amount of sauce onto the first plate. I barely keep the grin off my face when Quint asks, “What’s that sauce, Man? Is it good?”

Zane winks at me again. “It’s really good.”

Chapter 35

Evie

Once the first three plates are ready, Zane passes them out to the guys in turn. Then he makes a big deal of fixing me a plate. Playing along, I motion to the guys. “Don’t wait for us. Eat while it’s hot.” Somehow, I manage to keep a straight face when I say it. I watch with bated breath as all three of them shove a huge mouthful into their mouths. Quint’s the first to react. His eyes go wide, and he looks like he’s going to throw up. Reid frowns and moves the food around on his plate a moment. Then he looks up and sees my expression. He shakes his head and gets to his feet, crossing over to the fridge and getting out the milk.

“What is that?” Quint asks, panting. Zane turns to me, a huge grin on his face and gives me a high five. I can’t help but grin back at him. “I hate you two,” Quint mumbles before heading into the kitchen and snatching the milk out of Reid’s hands. He doesn’t even bother with a cup. He throws back the jug and gulps it down.

“Quint.” Reid shakes his head.

I face Slate who’s still eating like nothing’s wrong. “Slate has an iron stomach,” Zane says close to my ear. He stands right next to me, his shoulder right behind mine. He's not touching me, but it’s close. We both stare at Slate. “Wait for it,” Zane says against my ear. This time, I can’t contain my shiver. As if he knows the effect he’s having on me, he shifts closer. His shoulder is touching mine now, and I find I don’t mind it at all.Not at all. Slate finally snaps and grabs the cup of milk from Quint’s hand before throwing it back and chugging the whole thing. Zane andI both laugh. I laugh harder when Slate glares at me, the slightest milk mustache on his upper lip.

“Evie, Zane’s already corrupted you. You used to be so nice,” Quint bemoans.

“I didn’t corrupt her,” Zane says, shaking his head. Was it my imagination or did he add a soft,not yet anyway? Before I get a chance to dwell on it, Zane hands me a plate. I look down at it, searching for the orange sauce. “I didn’t put any on yours,” he tells me. I carry my plate over to the small table, wondering how we’re all going to fit. There are only two chairs and three of us looking to sit here.

I turn to Zane. “Do you have another chair somewhere I can grab?”

“Just sit on Zane’s lap, Evie,” Quint calls out.

“What?” I whirl towards him, even as my face flames. “No.”

“It’s yours if you want it,” Zane says in a low voice.

I swallow, but before I can come up with a reply, Reid stands. “You can have my seat.”

“Oh, no, I’m fine.”