Page 7 of First Down Promise

He cuts me off. “No, it was a good call and nice of you to compliment her. It’s just so weird to see her grown up. Your sisters probably feel that way about you.”

“Man, I don’t know. They’re so busy with their own lives.” They’re both married with kids in Texas, but they live far from where we grew up. And that wasn’t such a bad thing.

I refocus on Pete, and he’s holding his phone. “Alright, I’m going to order protein-style. Unless you want bread on yours.”

I shake my head. “Not until after the new year. And two for me.”

“Taking a page out of Coop’s book?” Pete snickers.

“I can tell I haven’t had enough protein today.”

Abby comes downstairs when dinner is delivered, slightly more covered, but this is the first time I’ve seen her in a crop top. The hem of her tee grazes her stomach just above her pierced belly ring as if it’s intentionally teasing me, and she messily throws her fluffy hair into a high ponytail that cascades down her back. The sight takes my breath away. Who is this girl? Surely not the same one who’s lived with Pete for two years. And now I have to get used to this new Abby. I’ll be seeing her at every home game for the next four months.

“You alright, Kenz?” Pete asks, unpacking the brown paper bag.

I laugh under my breath. “Yeah, just smells good,” I lie. I meet Abby’s gaze, and her lips pull into a small smirk before she walks over to the fridge. As she reaches for a drink, her shirt exposes her back as it rides up. If Pete wasn’t here, I might already have my fingers slipping under the fabric to caress her back.

If she wasn’t his sister.

Chapter Three

Abby

One morning before practice, a squad member speaks up in the locker room. “I’m Sadie,” she says.

I’m still putting names to faces. Our practices have been rigorous as we get ready for the football season to start, and I thought this fast pace was just what the guys experienced. Choreography, uniform schedules, practices, mandatory workouts. Suddenly, cheering for the Iron Stallions was a full-time job.

I give her a warm smile as none of the other girls have put forth much effort to get to know me yet. “I’m Abby.”

“The QB’s sister,” Sadie replies, and my face falls. Always just the sister. “For what it’s worth, you’re really talented. Sorry the QB thing is your identifier. It’s that or the new girl.”

I nod. “I get it. Fortunately for me, Pete isn’t a dancer,” I joke. I bend down to tie my shoe. “How many seasons have you cheered for?”

“This is my second,” she answers. Her eyes scan over the locker room. “Most of the other girls have been part of the squad for a year or two.”

“Is that why they’re so cliquey?” I ask with a faint laugh. “So, what are you known for?”

Sadie sighs and purses her lips. “Ugh, I’m the teen mom. I mean, I was seventeen when my daughter was born. I’m twenty-three now.”

“Oh, wow. That must have been tough.”

“It was. Her dad is…well, what you’d expect, so I’ve been on my own. But it’s been pretty fun growing up with her. Not that I condone teen pregnancy. I wish I had been older, but I wouldn’t trade her for anything now.” Her eyes dart around the locker room where the other girls are getting ready and slamming their lockers shut. “Anyway, everyone else knows, so you might as well.”

“Thanks for telling me. It’s great you’ve been so independent,” I say, straightening out and fixing my athletic shorts.

“Yeah.” She puts her hands on her thighs and stands from the bench. “Don’t worry about the other girls. They’re just…standoffish.”

I squint at her and turn my head slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Everyone knows you’re Pete’s sister. They found pictures of you with the offensive line, and some of them are pretty jealous.”

I should be surprised at the revelation, but I know what she’s referring to—literally any team function over the past two years. Fundraisers, team dinners, charity golf tournaments. But the sentiment makes me roll my eyes. “That’s crazy. They’re my brother’s friends.”

“It’s a gray area. You know them, and we technically can’t. Personally, I don’t care,” she deadpans.

“You’d get along with Dane. He’s very meh,” I add with a laugh.

She tilts her head, causing her dark ponytail to lean to the side. “Who?”