Chapter 17: Kisses - Monet

I'm definitely tipsy by the time Amy shoves the third wine cooler in my hand. We've now had no less than five guys coming up to us and either asking for one of our numbers, but the same girl who said hot guys should find us, is not giving her number to anyone.

God, I hope she's not still having her eye on Luke, who is mingling with the corwd and soaking up all the attention. People love him, and I can understand why. He's really funny and overall, a great guy to hang out with.

But Amy should stay away from him, if they get involved it could mean trouble for Luke. And I don't want anything bad to happen to either of them.

"James!" Amy shouts over the music, and I smile when I see him walking towards us wearing jeans and a football jersey. He's really cute, and grls are already checking hm out, but he only has his eyes on me with that beautiful smile of his.

"Ladies." He hoists himself up on the tailgate, hugging Amy before he hugs me, lingering a little longer.

He smiles nice. Not as nice as Cole, but still good nonetheless.

And there I go and compare the two to each other. I shouldn't do that, they're far from the same person. And one is not my brother, one I can absolutely have sexual fantasies over.

"You look great." He fingers the jersey I'm wearing. "Hoepfully one day you will wear my jersey."

I don't know how I should feel about that. I love wearing Cole's jersey, but if I was to become another player's girlfirend, I should probably wear theirs.

"Thanks." I smile, not quite knowing how to respond to that. "Will you also be at the dinner tomorrow night? Amy invited me with as her plus one."

"No, unfortunately not, the red shirted guys don't get to go yet." He pulls a face, but smiles when Amy places a beer into his hand.

"You're a good runnng back, James, I saw some of your tapes."

"Yeah, maybe you could put in a good word with your father."

"No no!"Amy wags her finger. "My friendship doesn't come with any favors, wait your turn like everyone else. "

"I was just joking." He winks at me, but somehow I don't feel his words are sincere.

What is even wrong with me?

I liked him enough a few weeks ago. Why am I suddenly seeing things that aren't even there? I stalked his Instagram, there are no weird posts or anyone leaving ugly comments. That means he's the nice guy I thought he was from the beginning.

"Lets have a drink to the future." Amy holds her drink in the air. "May James' star shine next season like the light he is. May touchdowns find him and a NFL contract."

"Here here!"James likes the sound of that, taking a pull of his beer.

Amy is probably drunk as hell, because she jumps down and starts dancing with the people in the truck next to ours. James chuckles, and pulls me down with him to sit on the tailend.

"I missed talking to you this week," He twirls a strand of my hair around his finger. "I thought you would call me."

"I'm so sorry, my major has a massive workload, and I want to stay on top of things."

"Understood, what are your plans for after the game on Saturday?" He smiles easily again. "There's gonna be a party at the frat house for the football players again."

The last party was an absolute disaster, but Cole and I are on speaking terms again, so maybe this time will be different.

"Maybe I can go to the party." I nudge his shouder with mine, noticing that the butterflies I got in my ny stomach when we just met, is gone.

He smiles, his eyes darting to my lips, and I know what's going to happen before it does.

James bends his head down, and brushes his lips lightly over mine, testing for my reaction. It feels nice, safe. His lips are soft and dry, and even though all the chemistry has disappeared, at least from my side, I lean further into him, and kiss him a little firmer.

"What in the world is going on here!" Luke shouts in my ear and I almost drop the bottle in my hand.

I break away from James, and look into Cole's very angry blue eyes. Before I can say anything, he blinks and schools his features, the anger gone and in its place a very bored expression.

"Are you kids having a good time?" Luke throws his arm over my shoulders and kisses the top of my head. "What are you doing kissing ugly frogs, Stinker?"

I open my mouth to say something, but Amy comes over swaying her hips and throws her arms around Cole's shoulders who looks like a deer caught in the headlights.

I burst out laughing, because for all the skills he has on the football field, Cole is a terrible dancer. Mom and I have tried to teach him numerous times, but he is the definition of two left feet.

"Oh no!"Luke jumps up from next to me. "I have to save QB1!"

Amy is more than happy to throw her arms around Luke instead, and I'm still laughing when Cole takes a few steps away from them. I thought he would join us, maybe laugh at the two in front of us,. Instead, he looks from James to me before walking away, everyone shouting his name to get his attention.

"I really don't think your brother likes me." James comments.

"He's just being overprotective."I watch him walk away , high-fiving people. "He did warn you off, didn't he?"

James' arm creeps around my shoulder and he shifts even closer to me. "That he did, but it's very hard to stay away from you."

I smile up at him, but I still feel off, like I'm not supposed to be in his embrace.

He bends down to kiss me again, but I turn my head at the last second, and his kiss lands on my cheek instead. All the while I wonder where Cole has gone, and if he went too look for Stacey.

I never saw them kiss the other night, and I wonder what it would feel like to have my lips underneath his. Would it feel safe like James? Or would it leave me burning?