Eight Steps to Alpha: A Nerdy by Nature Novel

by Taylor Sullivan

  He rubbed over his face with his hand, his cheeks turning pink with embarrassment. “I didn’t—I didn’t do anything did I—“

  “Oh God no!” She frantically shook her head. “I was just trying to wake you, and you…you trapped me.” She shoved her hands in her back pockets, quickly realizing they weren’t there, and slid her hands awkwardly down the back of her thighs instead. “So ummm… I’m going to go get in the shower.” She slowly rose from the bed and backed toward the door. “I thought we’d leave at nine?”

  He nodded his head, but a shy smile made his eyes twinkle. “Sounds good.”

  She grabbed hold of the door handle, and began pulling the door shut. “I’ll just close this.”

  He grinned “Good idea.”

  “See you soon.”

  He laughed. “See ya.”

  Chapter 26

  It was after noon when they finally pulling into the parking lot of the recreation center. From the driver’s seat, Elliot could see Fe’s brothers, far off on the other end of the field walking toward them. His hands started sweating, and he glanced over at Fe. She seemed nervous too, maybe more nervous than he was. He rubbed his hands up and down his thighs and tried to breathe, “Well here goes nothing.” But before he could grip the door handle, Fe grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him.

  Her grip was firm, digging into his bicep. “There’s something I need to tell you.” Her voice was quiet, breathy.

  He turned toward her and frowned. “What is it?”

  “It’s just…” She looked down to her hands—“It’s just—they think you’re my boyfriend.”

  His heart stopped beating in that second. What? Or he at least he thought he said what? Maybe he didn’t. Blinking a few times, he realized he must have misheard her. Why would she tell her brother’s he was her boyfriend? She wasn’t stupid, and that would be the stupidest thing in the world. Just when he was about to say so, Fe pushed open her door and hurried out of his truck.

  What the hell? No. He hadn’t misheard her. That’s what she said. She defiantly said they thought he was her boyfriend. He quickly followed after her, needing answers, and caught up with her two feet away. Grabbing hold of her arm, he leaned into her ear, trying to keep his face neutral. “They think what?”

  She took a deep breath, but forced a smile. “They think you’re my boyfriend,” she whispered through her teeth.

  “And why do they think that?”

  “Because last time I was visiting, I told them so.” She paused for a moment, then turned to face him. Her eyes pleading, her face serious, but desperate. “Look, it’s complicated, but I promise I’ll explain as soon as this is over.”

  Normally, he would’ve been angry, normally he would’ve asked why she hadn’t explained this on their three-hour drive. But the look on her face was sorrowful, desperate, and he really didn’t care anymore. He took a calming breath, knowing he’d do just about anything to make her happy, but that’s when their conversation ended. Her brothers, all six-hundred-plus combined pounds of them, were only three yards away.

  “Hey, stranger!” one yelled, which caused Fe to plaster the smile back on her face and turn in their direction. Her grin, which started just at her lips, spread across her entire face, until it became genuine. “Hey!” She took off running toward them, crossed the short distance, and launched herself into one of their arms. He almost stumbled backward, catching himself just in time, then spun her around laughing. All four of them were glowing. Like they were seeing a loved one after a long absence. And they were…but then her brothers turned to Elliot, and all of that warmth seemed to fade from their faces.

  Elliot had met them a couple times, and even though it was brief, he still knew them by name. Craig was the largest of the three, and the one staring him down right now. He had longish hair, that was sort of shaggy at his nape, with arms as thick as trees. He may have been as tallest too. The only thing he could find that even remotely resembled his sister were his eyes. Which were the exact same shade of hazel.

  Dave was the oldest brother and looked like a God-damned GQ model. He had dark bronzed skin, dark eyes, and a jaw so sharp it could cut nails. He was now crossing his arms at his chest and nodding toward Elliot.

  The youngest was the one hugging Fe right now and happened to the least intimidating. Phillip. He liked Phil. Phil was nice. Though Phil was the one who punched a guy in the face just because he asked Fe to homecoming. He resembled his sister the most. The same medium brown hair, same round baby face, but a more masculine version with dark brown eyes.

  Craig walked toward Elliot and held out his hand. “Elliot,” he stated, as though it was more of an observation than a greeting. “Long time no see.” The warning in his voice, matched his deathlike grip of his hand.

  Elliot flexed his jaw, not allowing himself to be intimated. “Craig.”

  He then turned to both Dave and Phillip, shaking both their hands before going over to stand by Fe. If he was going to do this, he was going to do it right. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. These brothers wouldn’t leave today thinking he was a shitty boyfriend. No. They would think he was the mother fucking man who was fully capable of taking care of their sister.

  Dave glanced over Elliot and adjusted his stance. “Fe tells us you’ve never played football before?”

  Elliot cleared his throat, ignoring the judgement he heard in Dave’s voice. “No, sir. But I’m hoping we can remedy that today.”

  Craig and Dave shared a look, then turned back to the field and started discussing boundaries. The day was prefect, having rained the night before the ground was still slightly damp, but now the sun was shining, and a gentle breeze made the seventy-two-degree weather almost chilly.

  Phillip walked toward him, tossing a football in his hands. “Have you ever watched a game before?” he asked Elliot. There was skepticism in his voice, like he couldn’t believe it was possible.

  “Once or twice,” Elliot answered, which was a total lie. He’d started watching the second Fe told him about this meeting.

  A smile lit up Philip’s face, and he cupped Elliot’s shoulder. “It’s simple really. Catch the ball, run the ball.” He winked. “Don’t worry. We’ll teach him the rest as we go along.”

  Craig and David were busy setting up the field, which consisted of a set of orange cones on each end, and David’s black hoody which was laid out to represent the fifty-yard line.

  Craig stared at Elliot’s chest, pointing toward one end of the field. “Get past those cones there, that’s a touchdown. Six points.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “We get passed ours, well… I think you’re smart enough to figure that part out.”

  They all started walking toward the field, but Fe ran ahead, and grabbed ahold of Craig’s arm. She whispered something into his ear, but he shook her off and glanced over his shoulder to Elliot.

  “What’s she doing?” Elliot asked Phillip.

  Phillip tossed the ball up in the air. “Probably begging him not to kill you.”

  They finally made it to the center of the field, where David turned to Phillip and gestured to him with his chin. “Phil, you’re with Elliot. Craig, you’re with me.”

  Fe let go of Craig’s arm finally, turned toward her brother, and frowned. “And where am I?”

  David shrugged, then pointed to the closest sideline. “You’re not playing.”

  She planted her hands on her hips. “The hell I’m not!”

  Craig lifted his shoulders, his brow set with determination. “It’ll be uneven. Go sit down, Fe.”

  She started to protest, but Elliot stepped toward her, grabbed her around the waist, and kissed her. He wasn’t sure what possessed him. All he knew was that it felt right. If she was his girlfriend, that’s exactly what he would have done. Exactly what he would do to shut her up. He’d do it every time they argued. Every time she worried. Every time he wanted.

  Her body stiffened, but he began walking her backw
ard toward the tree. “Play along,” he said against her mouth. Then he placed one hand at the nape of her neck and softened the kiss. His thumb ran across her jaw, easing her until she finally relaxed, settling her hand at his waist. “You’re an ass,” she said into his mouth.

  He grinned in response, but kept on kissing. Soon they were at the base of the tree, where he stopped moving, and reluctantly pulled away. Damn, she was a good kisser. He searched her dazed eyes, and smiled.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “For good luck.”

  She grinned softly, then looked to her brothers and narrowed her eyes. “Play nice!” she yelled to them.

  Elliot turned around, winked at her over his shoulder, then ran out to the center of the field.

  When he was a good distance away, Craig clasped Elliot on the shoulder and glanced around the group. “Phil, Elliot, you’re offense.” He then took a quarter from his pocket and threw it in the air. “Heads or tails?” he asked Elliot.

  Elliot shook his head, unsure what they were flipping over, but replied anyway. “Heads.”

  The coin dropped to the grass, where they all gathered around to see the results. “Tails,” Craig said. He looked from Elliot to Phillip and narrowed his eyes. “You’re skins. Take off your shirts.”

  Elliot was pretty sure they would have been skins no matter how the coin dropped, but he’d play along anyway. He pulled off his shirt, walked toward Fe and tossed it in her lap. “Watch this for me?”

  She grinned. “Sure, sweetie. Anything else?”

  He narrowed his eyes and studied her a moment. “Nah.” He shook his head. “But if there is, you’ll be the first to know.”

  When he got back to the fifty-yard line, they were all there waiting. Philip turned in Elliot and draped one arm over his shoulder. “I’ll hike the ball. You run. All you have to do is catch it, okay?”

  Elliot nodded, then glanced over to Dave and Craig who were in much the same position.

  “As soon as you have a good grip on the ball, take off running,” Phil continued. “That way.” He pointed toward one end of the field. “I’ll run that way.” He pointed to the sidelines. When you see me open, throw it. Any questions?”

  Elliot shook his head, gripping the ball tighter.

  Phil took the ball from his hand, positioned his ring and forefinger over the laces. “Thumb on bottom? Like this.”

  Elliot cleared his throat. “Got it.” They broke huddle a moment later, then gathered at the fifty-yard line, where Craig and Dave were already waiting.

  “You look different,” Craig stated, getting down into a three-point stance.

  Elliot did the same, positioning himself behind Philip. “Your sister has that affect on me.”

  “Hut one, hut two, hike!”

  Craig narrowed his eyes. “I’ll give you to three Mississippi.”

  Phillip snapped the ball, hitting Elliot square in the stomach, and all the air expelled from his throat. He started running. “What the hell is three Mississippi?” he yelled, but no one answered him. He ran toward the cones, as fast as physically possible— then out nowhere he could see Dave in his peripheral vision. He turned to the left, trying to evade a tackle, but there was Craig, right on the other side. Then BOOM! The next thing he knew, the ball slipped out of his arms, as he was tackled to the ground, Craig’s full body weight on top of him.

  “Fumble!”

  He heard Craig yell, as mud and grass filled the side of his mouth. He pushed from the ground, spiting pieces of grass and dirt from his teeth, then rose to his knees, just before Craig spiked the ball on the other side of the field.

  “And that’s how it’s done, bitches!”

  Yep. Just like he suspected. He was fucked.

  The rest of the afternoon went in much the same fashion. Elliot on the ground, dirt in his face. Elliot on the ground, Craig on top of him. Elliot on the ground, Dave on top of him.

  Offense or defense it didn’t seem to matter.

  But he always got up.

  Always.

  And he tried his damned hardest. Taking every beating, every tackle, and by what felt like the hundredth time Craig’s booted feet came to stand by Elliot’s side. He was so tired his bones ached, but he took Craig’s hand, and allowed himself to be pulled up anyway. “Good game,” Craig stated. Which was the first compliment he’d heard all day.

  Elliot cleared his throat, then wiped he hands over his jeans, adding more mud to the grass and dirt stains that already covered them. “You’ve really handed it to me.”

  Craig laughed, which was very much unexpected. Craig was a brute, a stone wall. Elliot had never even seen him smile before now.

  David came from the other side of the field and tossed him the ball. “You did good today, Elliot.”

  “Thanks.” He turned toward the sidelines, where a cooler of water was set over by the tree. Fe was there waiting, a frown causing her brow to crease.

  “How do you feel?”

  He took a cold bottle from the chest, drank a big swig of it, then answered her. “Like I’ve been run over by a school bus.”

  Phil laughed, diving hand first into the ice chest. “You look even worse, my friend.”

  The others came over then, almost as dirty as Elliot.

  Craig draped his arm over his sister’s shoulder’s and pulled her in close to his side. “You’re really not coming to Maria’s party tonight?”

  Fe’s cheeks instantly flushed, and she glanced over at Elliot. “No, we have to get back—“

  “What party?” Elliot asked at the same moment.

  Craig’s eyes narrowed as he glanced over to his sister. “It’s our aunt’s birthday. The whole family normally attends.”

  There was blame in Craig’s expression, and Elliot didn’t like hearing it. “I don’t have any plans,” he said looking straight into Craig’s judgmental face. “Do you?” he asked Fe, turning in her direction.

  Her eyes widened, and she was looking at him like she wanted to kill him. “We don’t have any clothes, Elli. I mean look at us.”

  David stepped forward and flipped open his wallet. “The party isn’t for a couple hours. Go shopping.” He handed her a pile of twenties and folded them in her hand. “My treat.”

  Fe’s thumb flew in Elliot’s direction. “But he’s filthy.”

  David laughed, more amused than he should be. “That he is.” He glanced him over from head to toe, then looked back to Fe. “Meet me at my place in two hours. You guys can get ready there.”

  “But—“

  “See you in a couple hours.”

  And that settled that. Her Entire family was about to meet Elliot. Her fake boyfriend.

  Chapter 27

  “Why did you do that?” Fe yelled as she slammed the passenger door behind her. She was pissed. Pissed and embarrassed. She turned to face Elliot, yanking the seatbelt over one shoulder.

  “I could ask you the same question,” he stated, fastening his seatbelt before turning to face her.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? All I was trying to do was get us out of this mess, but nooo…” She threw the wad of bills on the dash before sitting back in her seat. “Now we have this!”

  “Why did you tell them we were a couple?” Elliot asked, his voice low and unreadable.

  Oh. She froze. She’d forgotten about that detail. “It was a long time ago.”

  “So?”

  “It was…easier.”

  He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Easier now?”

  She heaved out a heavy sigh then slowly wiped down her face with both hands. “Because my mom is always on my back. She thinks if I’m not dating, it means I’ll end up alone, and that she’ll never have grand babies because my brothers…” She shook her head, having gotten too far off track. “There was this guy,” She met Elliot’s eyes. “She wanted to set me up with him, and well, I just blurted it out.”

  “Blurted what out?”

  “That you were my boyfriend. That w
e’re a couple.”

  His frown deepened, and he shook his head, as though he still didn’t understand.

  “I just wanted my mom off my back, you know?”

  He nodded.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

  He turned on the truck, threw the transmission into gear, and grinned. “Well let’s do this then.”

  It was a couple hours later when Fe flipped her hair over for the last time and turned off the blow dryer. Across the hall, through the walls and doors of both bedrooms, Elliot’s voice could be heard bellowing out some song about frogs, and fishing, and true love. She grinned into the mirror, brushed her hair down over her shoulders, and smoothed it down with her hands. With limited supplies, there was very little she could but wear it down, but that was okay. Her aunt’s parties were never fancy. Just full of good food, lots of wine, and dancing.

  She slipped the light blue dress from its hanger, dragged it over her head, and fastened the small button at the back of her neck. The dress was simple, with delicate sleeves and a skirt that fell loose around her thighs. Most of all, it was something to keep her mom off her back about always wearing jeans. Taking the lip-gloss from her pants lying on the floor, she smeared some over her lips, then pinched her cheeks to add some color.

  David was waiting for them in the kitchen, so she walked out of her bedroom, down the hall, searching for him. She found him quickly, standing by the counter, dressed in slacks and a dress shirt with a glass of whiskey in one hand. “Yeah, she’s coming. Yeah, he’s here too,” he said into his cell phone.

  Davin’s home was large, big enough for a family of ample size, but David lived alone. He had more money than sin, but he had no one to share it with. She looked around the kitchen, taking in the top of the line appliances and pristine marble counter tops.