First Meet Foul

by Jaqueline Snowe

My throat tightened with all the words I didn’t say. Who broke her heart? Where did he live? What idiot of a human had hurt her?

If she learned the power her smile had on me, she could get me to do anything in the world. Like betray Dean without question.

She said the word like a flirtation, a challenge, and despite the reasons I couldn’t get into trouble, I kinda wanted to. With her. My quarterback’s twin sister… my temporary roommate… a girl I could lose all my focus for… why did the things I wanted cause so much damage? “If your plan was to distract me, you’re doing a great job.

“You’re gorgeous. I think, possibly, when I said what I did this morning in front of Callum, you thought

that I didn’t think you were the most beautiful thing on this green earth. You are, by the way. Like, perfection. Stunning. Like, if I didn’t have to worry about my grandma or football or Dean, I’d be doing whatever I could to score a date with you. You’re a goddess, Lorelei, and it bothered me all damn day to know you probably thought the opposite.”

“Yes, that’s my goal. To entice you. My whole purpose in life,” I fired back, absolutely out of control with my emotions and hormones.

“See? Even now, with your sassy attitude, you are a temptation.” He closed his eyes. “One I can’t afford but goddamn, I want to so badly.” “Want to what, Luca?”

“I like my name on y...

Why did I have to have this magnetic pull to someone who was off-limits in so many ways to me?

“Why do we have to be into each other when we are completely wrong for each other?

Grandma: I love Lorelei. She sent me COOKIES. Why aren’t you dating her? I didn’t have an answer because I didn’t fucking know anymore.

can’t be a secret. I can’t be on the back burner until it’s convenient for you.” I sniffed again. “I’m not mad at you, Luca, I understand why football is so important for you. I do down to my soul. And your grandma, I love her.” I hiccupped, my emotions snowballing like I was stuck in an avalanche. “I want to be with someone who is proud to be with me, willing to go through difficult parts together. To put me first, like I matter.

“More like I got my head out of my ass, but that’s a conversation for when you’re better.”

“I love you, Lorelei. I want your smiles, your laughter, your attitude, and your hanger attacks. I want to wipe away your tears when you cry out of joy, fear, or even if you’re sad. I—” My voice shook, and I blinked away emotion. “You want someone to put you first, and I’ll be that person. You deserve the world, and I can try to give you that. I’m done being afraid of all the what-ifs in my life and want to focus on the what-I-haves, and that’s you.

need you to be mine. To be my person.”

Lorelei Romano entered my life as a forbidden distraction,