More Than A Game (The Kings of Kroydon Hills Book 2) by Bella Matthews (the best electronic book reader .TXT) 📗

Declan was quiet because he was thinking about Monday night’s game. I don’t know that Annabelle has time for a guy right now. I’m still helping her out a few times a week at the dance studio. She swears she’s going to hire someone else soon to help us out.” Nat looks down at her phone and laughs. “Chloe just texted. She’s pissed because she knows we meet for yoga on Wednesday mornings, and she’s sitting in calculus.”

“She’s got one year left. She’ll survive. Are we still meeting at your house Saturday to watch the guys’ game?”

“Yup. The game starts at 1:00 p.m. The guys are flying out Friday night. It’s only in Ohio. They’ll be back a few hours after the game Saturday. The invitation still stands if you want to road trip with us the following weekend. The game is in Boston, and Chloe and I are making a weekend of it.” I shake my head no, so she singsongs, “Seeing some sites, doing some shopping. It should be fun. Come on, Brina.”

Just then, Brady, Bash, and Murphy appear behind Nattie, looking like the kings of campus they are. Sleeveless shirts have their sculpted arms on display. Bash has on grey sweatpants, without a care in the world that he’s providing every girl in the room the perfect image to think of later when they’re grabbing their BOBs from their nightstands. Murphy and Brady are both in basketball shorts. Murphy’s wearing his ever-present green baseball hat that makes his mossy-green eyes stand out brightly against his black lashes. When he sees me looking, he winks.

God this man.

Brady leans down, kissing Nat on the top of the head before she even knows he’s there. “We should be back on campus around seven this Saturday. You girls should hang around. I’m sure there’ll be a party happening somewhere.”

Natalie beams up at Brady. “Hi, handsome. I didn’t think you guys had the weight room today?”

Murphy elbows Bash. “These two assholes are trying to catch up to my numbers. Give it up, guys. It ain’t happening.”

“Let’s see what you got, Murph.” Brady leans down, and quickly kisses Nattie’s lips. “See you at home, sweetheart. Bye, Sabrina.” The guys nod and start to leave, but not before I feel a tug on my ponytail. When I turn my head, I see the three of them walking away, looking like they belong on a movie poster instead of at a college gym.

On a sigh, I tell Nat, “It isn’t fair how good-looking those three are. Seriously, when they’re together, how is the female population supposed to respond to all of that?”

“Don’t expect an answer from me. All I need to do is see my man smile, and I melt. Pretty sure Bash and Murphy have shared a girl or two if that floats your boat.” She smiles at me like she knows exactly what I’m feeling.

I can feel my eyebrows shooting up to touch my hairline. “Natalie Sinclair! I can’t find time for one guy, let alone two! Are you insane?”

“Brina, you’ve got to lighten up and make time. Seize the moment. Pretty sure I just saw Murphy tug your hair like a third grader.” She taps her finger to her lips. “I don’t think you could actually handle both of them at once. Murph might be a bit much for you. Maybe just Bash.”

Our laughter echoes throughout the café, and I am so glad I dragged myself out of bed this morning.

10

Murphy

When Brady and I were little kids throwing a football around in our backyards, we used to talk about our dream games. I can still picture the two of us thinking we were so cool because we played football. Brady could always throw better than me, and I could always tackle better than him. Back then, we had no idea the two of us would be playing together at the level we are now. Although, I’m pretty sure that our eight-year-old selves thought we’d both be playing for the Philadelphia Kings football team someday.

Being a freshman starting for the Kroydon Crusaders has been an adjustment.

As seniors at Kroydon Hills Prep last year, we were big fish in a small pond. You don’t realize that until reality smacks you in the face the first week of summer practice. College ball is different than even the very best high school ball. The speed of the game at this level is something you never imagined. Everyone on this team was the best player on their high school team or in their division.

We were all All-Stars.

Brady Ryan was in the top five nationally ranked quarterbacks our senior year, and I was in the top fifty nationally ranked linebackers. We were both recruited for this team, and now we’re freshman, happy to be starting.

As a linebacker, the stars rarely align to give me a chance for the game I had today. Today was the living, breathing embodiment of my dream game.

I had ten tackles and sacked the QB once.

I hit a running back so hard, he fumbled the ball, and my defensive tackle recovered it.

The cherry on top of this already wet-dream-worthy game was when I got an interception that I ran in for a fucking touchdown. A linebacker running for a TD is fucking rare. Today I made Ohio’s offense my bitch.

The chartered flight the team takes back from Ohio doesn’t take long and is spent with everyone mixing old war stories in with their embellished versions of the game we just played.

We’re all riding the high of having beaten one of our rivals.

It’s a fucking fantastic feeling.

Plans are being made for a party at the football house.

Days like today remind me that I love my life.

When Brady, Bash, and I walk into our house, I’m surprised by the sight that greets me. Natalie, Sabrina, and Chloe are laughing on the floor of the family room. There’s a half-empty bottle of Don Julio Tequila on the coffee table, along with three