I've never been one who thought she needed a man by her side. I'm a strong independent woman who likes to give a middle finger to the patriarchy, you know?

But whenever I do find myself in a bind—a bad date, an arrest, you know, normal things—Cole Campbell is always there.

He's my knight in shining football pads.

And so when I need a place to stay, my brother’s best friend is there with a key in his hand.

Living with a man I’ve known since childhood should be easy. Except seeing him walk around the apartment shirtless with only a towel around his waist has me biting my lip…among other things.

We try to keep it friendly, but the pull is too strong. The chemistry is undeniable. And when our lips touch for the first time? We both know this is more than a mutual crush.

Our living situation was supposed to be temporary. Only it’s starting to feel like forever.

Which is probably dumb, right? Falling in love with your brother's best friend? The man who's paid millions of dollars to protect him on the football field?

Definitely not what a strong, independent woman would do.

We know we need to come clean. But how?

Because if there's one thing I've learned about football over the years, it’s that teammates shouldn't fall for sisters.

And sisters shouldn't fall for their brother's best friend.