Bending Bethany Read Online Free Page A

game-crushing win last night, there was only one thought on my mind.  
    Her.
    Like a robot, I’d sputtered out my message. His eyes had widened when I finished, so what could I do then but offer a rakish half grin?
    I was already front-page gold for the tabloids anyway. Let them chew on this one for a while. Only difference was, the others were fantastical stories, public relations spins if I took a friend out to a gala, but this, this was something.  
    I grinned when I thought of the little present I had tucked away in the pocket of my athletic bag.  
    Her panties.  
    And you can bet I would have kept them if I could have gotten away with it, but instead of stewing and waiting for her to find that damn note, I pulled the trigger and ran with the best play available. The Panty Play.

Five
    Bethany
    “He has my panties, Taylor!” I shrieked, nearly splitting my own eardrums.  
    “Okay, okay, I see you’re upset. I know this isn’t common for you, so I want you to know, as your big sister, I’m here for you.” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “Now calm the fuck down.”
    I scrunched up my nose at her in disdain. “Easy for you to say. You didn’t screw a pro soccer player and have him announce that he has your panties all over national television!”  
    “I know, you’ve always been the lucky bitch,” she grunted, and I swung a pillow at her head. “So obviously you have to go talk to him.”
    “What? No, he can keep the panties. I just hate that he announced it all over TV. And the fact that he lied—you know he told me he worked in the Athletics department?”
    “Well, he kinda does.” Taylor shrugged unhelpfully.  
    “Stop defending him!” I swung my other pillow at her head.  
    “Okay, okay,” she giggled, then curled up with the pillow I’d just tossed at her. “Seriously…was he good?”
    “Taylor—”
    “I’m not kidding. Do you want to see him again? It’s a valid question. I mean, obviously, he wants to see you.” She popped a Cheeto in her mouth and crunched obnoxiously. “And what if you left more than just your panties? Maybe you left a credit card or something? Did you check? I think you should call him.”
    “Taylor, you know you’re not of much help.”
    “Hey, just because you don’t like my opinion doesn’t make it unhelpful. I happen to think Jenson Abbott, star player of the New England Red Bulls, might be good for you.”
    I arched an eyebrow at her.  
    “I Googled him.” She shrugged and popped another Cheeto in her mouth.  
    “Great. I’ve got a sex-on-a-stick soccer player mentioning me in interviews, and you’re practically pushing me into bed with him. I don’t know why I still live with you.”
    “Because you’re broke and you can’t afford rent anywhere else,” she offered simply.
    I huffed, narrowing my eyes at her. “Get out of my room. Leave the Cheetos.” She snagged one last cheesy bite, then waved as she sauntered out of the room, closing the door and leaving me some much needed privacy as she went.  
    I picked up Jenson’s note, having tucked it safely in my nightstand. Flipping over the bleached white paper in my hands, I traced his slanted handwriting with my finger. I sighed and picked up my phone.  
    I punched in the few numbers, then felt butterflies climbing up my esophagus as it rang.  
    “Hello?”
    “Jenson? Uh, hi. It’s me, I mean, it’s Bethany.” I pushed a hand through my hair and tried to refrain from audibly sighing. I was no good at this stuff.  
    “Bethany! I’m glad you called.” His voice warmed instantly, sending lava charging through my delicate veins.  
    “I, uh, got your message.”
    “Ah, right,” he chuckled, and I almost lost my mind. “Sorry about that. I just needed a way to get your attention.”
    “Well, you’ve got it,” I replied, then kicked myself for being too curt. Despite my best defenses, I liked him. That revelation surprised me more than anything else.  
    “Let me take