Comeback Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Sabrina
I can hear the music from the party as soon as I step off the elevator. The heavy bass spreads down the hall and vibrates the walls. My already frayed nerves bounce around with the beat, and my grip tightens on the champagne bottle.
One deep breath. Two.
I pull out my phone and quadruple-check the apartment number. I’m stalling. I have it memorized and even if I didn’t, it’s obvious by the music which one is my brother’s place.
A twinge of excitement manages to work its way in despite my anxiety. I have a brother. I still can’t quite believe it. Brogan Six—the Maverick’s star tight end who charmed an entire nation last year during his rookie season—is my brother.
When I decided to look for my birth parents, I never thought it would lead me here: ten feet away from an apartment filled with professional football players.
I take another step. My boots click on the hardwood floors. Boots that were absolutely a mistake. I look like I’m trying too hard. I feel like I’m trying too hard.
I take one more deep breath. If I don’t go now, I never will.
I’m not usually the kind of woman to get all spun up about attending a party, but this is a big deal.
Brogan has welcomed me into his life with open arms. And I genuinely like him. Even if he wasn’t my brother, I could see us being friends. He’s fun and warm. When I was a little girl, sitting at home bored, wishing I had a sibling, I’d imagine what it would be like to have a sister who I could share secrets and make up fun dance routines with or a brother that would protect me and let me tag along with him and his friends to play sports or build forts.
And while I had wished a lot harder for a sister, Brogan is the brother I dreamed about. I don’t need him to look out for me now, but it means so much to me that he’s trying to include me in his life.
My hand lifts to knock on the door, but it flings open before I make contact. The guy is moving forward, clearly not expecting someone to be standing on the other side. He sees me at the last second, then does an agile sidestep so he doesn’t run me over, all while somehow still managing to hold the door open for me. I guess chivalry isn’t dead.
“Hey, sorry.” His gaze sweeps over me, giving me time to recognize him.
Archer Holland.
The Mavericks’ wide receiver is six feet of hard, lean muscle. He’s too handsome for his own good with a chiseled jawline and long dark eyelashes that frame expressive hazel eyes. Eyes that are currently examining me the same way I am him.
In the few seconds it’s taken for him to realize who I am, his entire demeanor has changed. Gone is the happy, cheerful expression and instead he’s looking at me with a mixture of surprise and disgust.
“What are you doing here?” His gruff voice skates over my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
My brother’s best friend and roommate looks at me like I make a full-time job out of party crashing. The smile on my face falters for just a moment.
“Is that your standard greeting?” I ask, trying to infuse some humor into the moment because seriously, what the hell?
He doesn’t budge, but his voice is maybe slightly more polite when he asks, “Does Brogan know you’re here?”
“Not yet but if you let me in he would.” I peer around him. Or I attempt to. He’s tall and broad and taking up most of the doorway. And still not moving.
I can’t see him, but I can now hear my brother inside. He has one of those voices that carries when he talks or laughs, both things he does a lot of. Unlike his best friend.
“Seriously, Sabrina, does he know you’re back in town?”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. It isn’t like I think Brogan sits around talking about me all the time, but I did assume he’d mentioned to Archer that I was coming tonight.
“Yes, and he invited me.” I hold up the champagne bottle as if that’s proof somehow.
He doesn’t like that answer. His brows pinch together, and a flash of uncertainty takes the place of his glowering.
“When did you get back?”
“Three weeks ago.” I let out an exasperated breath. “What is the problem?”
It’s a loaded question. Archer has always had a problem with me. He doesn’t trust me. I’m not sure the exact reason, but it’s been obvious since the first time I met him.
Keep reading the rest of Chapter 1 of Comeback https://rebeccajenshak.com/comeback-c...
Sabrina
I can hear the music from the party as soon as I step off the elevator. The heavy bass spreads down the hall and vibrates the walls. My already frayed nerves bounce around with the beat, and my grip tightens on the champagne bottle.
One deep breath. Two.
I pull out my phone and quadruple-check the apartment number. I’m stalling. I have it memorized and even if I didn’t, it’s obvious by the music which one is my brother’s place.
A twinge of excitement manages to work its way in despite my anxiety. I have a brother. I still can’t quite believe it. Brogan Six—the Maverick’s star tight end who charmed an entire nation last year during his rookie season—is my brother.
When I decided to look for my birth parents, I never thought it would lead me here: ten feet away from an apartment filled with professional football players.
I take another step. My boots click on the hardwood floors. Boots that were absolutely a mistake. I look like I’m trying too hard. I feel like I’m trying too hard.
I take one more deep breath. If I don’t go now, I never will.
I’m not usually the kind of woman to get all spun up about attending a party, but this is a big deal.
Brogan has welcomed me into his life with open arms. And I genuinely like him. Even if he wasn’t my brother, I could see us being friends. He’s fun and warm. When I was a little girl, sitting at home bored, wishing I had a sibling, I’d imagine what it would be like to have a sister who I could share secrets and make up fun dance routines with or a brother that would protect me and let me tag along with him and his friends to play sports or build forts.
And while I had wished a lot harder for a sister, Brogan is the brother I dreamed about. I don’t need him to look out for me now, but it means so much to me that he’s trying to include me in his life.
My hand lifts to knock on the door, but it flings open before I make contact. The guy is moving forward, clearly not expecting someone to be standing on the other side. He sees me at the last second, then does an agile sidestep so he doesn’t run me over, all while somehow still managing to hold the door open for me. I guess chivalry isn’t dead.
“Hey, sorry.” His gaze sweeps over me, giving me time to recognize him.
Archer Holland.
The Mavericks’ wide receiver is six feet of hard, lean muscle. He’s too handsome for his own good with a chiseled jawline and long dark eyelashes that frame expressive hazel eyes. Eyes that are currently examining me the same way I am him.
In the few seconds it’s taken for him to realize who I am, his entire demeanor has changed. Gone is the happy, cheerful expression and instead he’s looking at me with a mixture of surprise and disgust.
“What are you doing here?” His gruff voice skates over my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
My brother’s best friend and roommate looks at me like I make a full-time job out of party crashing. The smile on my face falters for just a moment.
“Is that your standard greeting?” I ask, trying to infuse some humor into the moment because seriously, what the hell?
He doesn’t budge, but his voice is maybe slightly more polite when he asks, “Does Brogan know you’re here?”
“Not yet but if you let me in he would.” I peer around him. Or I attempt to. He’s tall and broad and taking up most of the doorway. And still not moving.
I can’t see him, but I can now hear my brother inside. He has one of those voices that carries when he talks or laughs, both things he does a lot of. Unlike his best friend.
“Seriously, Sabrina, does he know you’re back in town?”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. It isn’t like I think Brogan sits around talking about me all the time, but I did assume he’d mentioned to Archer that I was coming tonight.
“Yes, and he invited me.” I hold up the champagne bottle as if that’s proof somehow.
He doesn’t like that answer. His brows pinch together, and a flash of uncertainty takes the place of his glowering.
“When did you get back?”
“Three weeks ago.” I let out an exasperated breath. “What is the problem?”
It’s a loaded question. Archer has always had a problem with me. He doesn’t trust me. I’m not sure the exact reason, but it’s been obvious since the first time I met him.
Keep reading the rest of Chapter 1 of Comeback https://rebeccajenshak.com/comeback-c...
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