Page 2 of The Illicit Play

Wondering. Wishing.

But the guy is flat-out stonewalling me now. It’s so frustrating. He won’t even look at me, even when I put myself right in his path.

I bet he hates that I’m living in the same house as him, but I’m not gonna move out just because he’s trying to avoid me.

I’m here for Wily.

It’s only been a week since my brother’s surgery, and he needs the support. Sienna has Zoey to look after, and Satch has classes. We can’t expect them to drop everything. My time is more flexible, and I want to be here for him.

He’s my favorite person in the world—my best friend—and moving to Nolan to help him out was a no-brainer. My mom’s kinda pissed about it, but she can go suck an egg for all I care.

As far as she’s aware, I’m keeping up with my classes online. And I will keep selling her that lie for as long as I can.

Because I am staying here for Wily. My big brother would do the same for me, so I will drive him to every freaking PT and doctor’s appointment, I will make him food, serve him drinks, and even sit there playing boring-assMaddenwith him—whatever he needs to get through this heart-crushing nightmare.

I refuse to let him give up on his football dreams.

It’s the only thing the guy has ever wanted, and I won’t shut up about this injury simply delaying his plans. I won’t let him fall into some kind of depressed stupor. He’s getting back. He’s fighting for his dreams.

I won’t have it any other way.

Although…

I glance up to check the various pathways leading into the Nolan U campus, my lips stretching into a smile when I spot her.

Maybe football isn’t the only thing Wily wants anymore.

His girlfriend is walking toward me, holding her bag straps while she chats with a woman who looks about herage. I bet they’ve just finished a class together. They look like poster children for hardworking, well behaved college students, with Satch in her cute skirt and cardigan and the other girl sporting a pair of jeans with a loose plaid flannel shirt tucked into them.

Satch is giving her a shy smile and nodding while the woman goes on about something, laughing and talking a mile a minute.

They dribble to a stop at an intersection in the pathways, and I tip my head to watch them, wondering what they’re talking about. Probably studying, or an upcoming assignment.

I snort and shake my head.

Boring!

Shut up, you used to be just like that.

I frown, crossing my arms again and glaring across the campus, watching students come and go after their classes, all studious and disciplined.

Fuck.

With a sigh, I pull my shoulders back and stare at Satch, willing her to see me so she can wrap up this conversation and we can get the hell out of here.

She’s waving goodbye to Little Miss Chatterbox, so I pull Wily’s keys from my pocket and am about to raise my hand and get her attention when she spots something to her left.

The skin on her round, normally rosy cheeks goes instantly pale and she stiffens, crossing her arms over her body and kind of shrinking in on herself.

I ping straight, stepping away from Wily’s truck and making a beeline toward her.

He warned me about this. Told me all about thosebitchy girls and what they did to Satch at her birthday party.

That’s why I’m here to pick her up. He hates that she’s still walking around campus, alone… vulnerable. He hates that he can’t be here to protect her. He’s put us all on guard duty, and I’m about ready to unleash a little hellfire if those girls so much as look at her.

But then my pace slows and I stutter to a stop when I notice Satch pulling herself upright, like she’s just made a decision.

Lifting her chin, she glares up at the girls walking past, looking… well, shit, Satch is looking fierce right about now. A freaking warrior princess.