The Rogue Next Door

Maya

“Mmm… come here, you perfect, cheesy masterpiece,” I murmured as I flipped open the pizza box like I was unveiling buried treasure.

Steam curled into the air immediately, carrying the scent of garlic, melted cheese, and pepperoni straight to my soul. After the day I’d had, this pizza wasn’t dinner. It was emotional support.

I settled deeper into the couch, tucking my legs beneath me while my neglected laptop sat open on the coffee table. Technically, I was supposed to be working on my Moral Philosophy essay. Realistically, I was currently engaged in a much more important philosophical debate: whether it was acceptable to eat half a large pizza before starting an assignment.

The answer was yes.

Absolutely yes.

I reached for my first slice.

THUD.

I froze.

The sound echoed through the house again.

THUD.

My hand stopped halfway to my mouth.

“What the hell?”

For a second, I wondered if one of the neighbors had finally driven into the mailbox again. It wouldn’t even crack the top ten weirdest things that had happened this semester.

With a sigh, I set my pizza down and dragged myself toward the front window.

The answer was waiting on my porch.

A football.

Just sitting there.

Like it paid rent.

Of course.

Because I lived next door to that house.

When I’d signed the lease six months ago, I’d thought I’d found the greatest housing deal in university history. Three bedrooms. Walking distance from campus. Dirt-cheap rent.

Too good to be true, apparently.

The house belonged to an elderly woman whose family had moved her into assisted living. Rather than sell the place, they’d started renting the rooms to students.

What nobody bothered to mention was that the property happened to sit directly beside the most notorious house on campus.

The football house.

During the season, it wasn’t too bad. Coaches kept the players on a tight leash. Curfews existed. Mandatory workouts existed. Consequences existed.

But once the season ended?

The place transformed into a twenty-four-hour frat party with shoulder pads.

The entire campus worshipped those guys. Girls practically threw themselves at them. Professors magically forgot attendance policies whenever a player strolled into class twenty minutes late looking like he’d just stepped out of a sportswear commercial.

Meanwhile, I was one failed class away from losing my scholarship and moving back home.

Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly part of the fan club.

I grabbed the football and stepped outside.

The evening air was warm, and music drifted faintly from next door. I barely made it two steps before a familiar voice called out.

“Right there, sweetheart.”

I groaned before I even looked up.

Because I knew exactly who it was.

Leaning against the fence like he belonged on a billboard was Cole Ryder.

Football captain.

Campus celebrity.

Professional pain in my ass.

The man somehow looked annoyingly perfect all the time. Dark blond hair. Broad shoulders. Blue eyes that permanently looked like he was seconds away from causing trouble.

Which, to be fair, he usually was.

People called him Ryder the Rogue.

Personally, I thought Ryder the Nuisance was more accurate.

I bounced the football once and then punted it back toward him.

The ball sailed cleanly through the air.

His eyebrows shot upward.

“Well, damn.”

He caught it effortlessly.

“Didn’t know you had legs like that, sweetheart.”

I rolled my eyes.

“And they kick real nice too.”

“Cole,” I said flatly. “I’m trying to eat dinner and finish an essay. Can you please keep your balls in your own yard?”

The grin that spread across his face should’ve been illegal.

“Oh, my balls are definitely in my yard.”

I immediately regretted saying it.

“If you’re talking about the football, though, I’ll do my best, sweetie.”

I hated him.

Truly.

Deeply.

With remarkable consistency.

Without another word, I turned around and walked back into the house.

Pizza.

Essay.

No football players.

That was the plan.

I sat back down, picked up my slice, and prepared to finally enjoy the first bite.

A hand appeared out of nowhere.

The pizza vanished.

I stared at the empty space where my dinner had just been.

Slowly, I turned my head.

“Are you kidding me?”

Cole stood beside the couch chewing like he belonged there.

I nearly choked.

“Cole! Why are you in my house?”

He shrugged.

“You said you were eating.”

“That is not an invitation.”

“I interpreted it differently.”

“You broke into my house!”

“I walked through an unlocked door.”

“That’s still breaking in!”

He took another bite.

Honestly, the audacity was almost impressive.

“Good pizza, by the way.”

I pointed toward the front door.

“Get out.”

He kept chewing.

“Now.”

With a dramatic sigh, he backed toward the exit.

“Fine, fine.”

I practically shoved him onto the porch.

The second he crossed the threshold, he lifted the slice like a trophy.

“Thanks, sweetheart!”

The door slammed.

Silence filled the room.

I stood there staring at it.

Then I rubbed my temples.

“He is such an asshole.”

“Who’s an asshole?”

I turned to find Bree wandering in from the kitchen carrying a bottle of water.

Her messy bun sat crooked on top of her head.

Never a good sign.

Crooked bun Bree was always plotting something.

“Cole Ryder,” I muttered.

Her eyes widened.

“The football captain?”

“Yes.”

“The hot one?”

“Unfortunately.”

“The one who looks like he was genetically engineered in a sports lab?”

I pointed at the empty pizza box.

“He stole my dinner.”

Instead of being horrified like a normal person, Bree looked delighted.

“Oh my God.”

“It isn’t funny.”

“It kind of is.”

“He literally walked into my house.”

“That’s football-player flirting.”

“That’s trespassing.”

Bree ignored me.

“I don’t see him breaking into random girls’ houses for pizza.”

“Because most girls would hand him the pizza voluntarily.”

“Exactly.”

Before I could argue, bass-heavy music rattled the walls.

The football house had officially come alive.

I glanced toward the ceiling.

“It’s Wednesday.”

Bree’s grin widened.

The expression instantly made me nervous.

“It’s party season.”

“No.”

“Oh yes.”

“No.”

“We’re going.”

I laughed.

She wasn’t serious.

Unfortunately, Bree looked very serious.

“Why would we go?”

“For revenge.”

The answer came far too quickly.

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’ve thought about this.”

“A little.”

“A little?”

“A lot.”

I sighed.

Of course she had.

Bree moved closer, lowering her voice dramatically.

“I give you a makeover.”

“No.”

“You wear that red dress.”

“No.”

“The one hidden in the back of your closet.”

“Definitely no.”

“We walk into the party.”

I was already regretting this conversation.

“You do one lap around the house.”

“No.”

“Rogue Ryder completely loses his mind.”

I crossed my arms.

“And then?”

Bree grinned.

“And then we leave.”

I hated that part of me was intrigued.

“I have an essay.”

“Due in two weeks.”

I glared.

She smiled.

“You need to have fun at least once before graduation.”

I glanced at the empty pizza box.

At the slice Cole had stolen.

At the bass shaking my walls.

At the football house next door.

Cole Ryder had started this.

Maybe Bree was insane.

Maybe this was a terrible idea.

But maybe…

Just maybe…

Watching the campus golden boy squirm sounded kind of fun.

“Fine,” I muttered.

Bree screamed.

Actually screamed.

Then she started clapping like she’d just won the lottery.

“Lady in red it is.”

And somewhere next door, Cole Ryder had absolutely no idea he’d just declared war.