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?

Despite my strict football schedule, I loved Halloween. When I finally made enough money to help my grandma out, I’d go wild for the holiday. I’d buy the entire Halloween store for myself to decorate the nursing home, my home, all of it.

I waited for her to look at me, and when she did, the words I planned to say jumbled together. She was a knockout.

Callum’s smile grew, and his eyes beamed with victory…like he knew what he was doing.

I KNEW HE KNOWS

How could the girl of my dreams be this sad from a prick like Eric?

If she learned the power her smile had on me, she could get me to do anything in the world.

“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.”

“I’ve thought you were the prettiest thing since I met you freshman year.”

If someone asked me to draw the perfect woman for me, down to the outfit, it was this right here. Her.

Luca Monroe has a weakness for sweet things.” “You have no idea,” I mumbled. She laughed, but clearly, she didn’t get the meaning.

My damn heart pounded in my chest with a continuous break your rule, break your rule, break your rule. It was getting harder and harder to not say to hell with it. Lorelei Romano would be my undoing.

I snuck a glance at Callum, and he winked at me before going back to his room.

I LOVE THAT HE KNOWS WITHOUT KNOWING

“Don’t rush me, Lorelei. It’s not every day I get to live out my fantasy of fucking you. I’m going slow, and you’re going to let me.”

This was my girl. The one of my dreams. I had to kiss her right.

“The truth? I touched your skin, and my knees gave out You undo me, all from your skin.”

Why did the world’s prettiest, made-for-me woman have to meet me right now? Two years from now? I could do this. But now… it was impossible.

Honestly, I couldn’t recall the last time a girl cared enough about me to make sure I went to bed.

I’d say she was made for me.

My favorite snack. “What is this? How did you know?” “I’ve seen you sneak those at the house.” His voice warmed. “I made a quick trip to the store Thursday and thought I’d get those for you.”

“You had your concerned face though, where you get a little line here.” He touched his pointer between my eyebrows, smoothing the skin. “What made you frown?”

HE KNOWS HER SO WELL

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.

“No, baby, it’s me. I begged him to let me help you. I needed to make sure you were okay.” The voice grew soft, warm, and breath hit my face. “I’m going to take care of you tonight, okay?”

“Sleep, pretty girl. Let me take care of you.”

“For not being what you needed before. No secrets, no hiding. We do this thing for real. A relationship. I show you every day how much I love you, and you continue being the light in my world. Football is important, and so is my grandma, but you…I need you to be mine. To be my person.”