“There’s a bar in town,” Bo says as we gather up our duffels and head outside. “Red’s. You coming?”
“I won’t drink, but yeah, I’m coming.”
“Sweet.” He hollers the same question to Demarius, who gives us a thumbs up from across the parking lot. “There’s always a ton of girls there after a win, so if you’re looking to hook up, you won’t have any trouble.”
“Good to know.”
Not that I plan on it. One, because I don’t want to create false expectations for some poor girl, and two, because the only one I’ve been fantasizing about lately is Bex. I’ve tried not to—it’s not like anything is going to happen—but whenever I rub one out, she’s who I picture. Her fantastic tits. The way her nose scrunches up when she’s frustrated. The pouty curve of her lips.
Fuck. I need to figure out a way to put a stop to this, especially if she’s going to be my tutor.
“There he is,” Coop says as he walks toward me. He hugs me, then steps back so Seb can do the same. “Great game, bro.”
I smile. “Didn’t know you came.”
“The perks of having an afternoon scrimmage. Which I crushed, by the way. I’m ready to relax.”
“I’m heading to a bar, want to come?”
“Red’s?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Sweet,” says Seb. “That place is great. I’m down.”
“Same,” says Cooper. “Maybe I’ll see Elle.”
“That girl from the sorority party? I thought you didn’t do more than one hookup.” Seb knocks his shoulder into Cooper’s.
“I don’t.” He grins. “But that doesn’t mean she can’t try.”
I roll my eyes as I get into my car. “Show me where to go.” I wrestle my phone out of my jeans pocket, unlock it, and toss it to Coop. “Do I have any messages? Didn’t get a chance to check, ESPN wanted to do a live interview right after the game ended.”
He snorts. “Only you could make that sound casual. And yeah, Mom and Dad texted. Ooh, and someone else.”
“Who?” I try to sneak a peek while we’re at a red light, but Coop holds the phone to his chest.
“Look, Seb.” He hands the phone over to Seb, who whistles.
“I regret this,” I mutter. “Who is it?”
“It’s that girl,” says Seb. “Beckett.”
My heart thumps extra hard in my chest. “Beckett Wood?”
“Do you know more than one Beckett?”
“What’s it say?”
“She wants to talk.”
“That’s it?”
Seb and Coop exchange a glance. “Should there be more?” Coop asks.
“I mean, no.” I make a right at Coop’s direction. “But since she wouldn’t let me just hire her, I’ve been trying to figure out her price.”
“Oh, good,” says Seb. “Especially since you went ahead and lied about her being your tutor.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Maybe she wants you to hook up with her,” Coop muses. “As payment, I mean.”
I think back to our conversation after that first class. I pretty much stomped on any chances of that happening. “Dude, I’m not going to sleep with my tutor.”
“What? She’s hot.”
“And my teammate’s ex.”
Coop waves his hand. “Doesn’t count because they broke up before you got here.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t see it that way.”
“Well, he’s an idiot anyway.”
I park the car in a lot down the street from Red’s and heave out a sigh. “Won’t argue that point.”
Outside the bar, which looks packed with college kids and town regulars alike, I hold up my phone. “I’ll be there in a minute. Order me a non-alcoholic beer, okay?”
Bex’s text is three simple words: Can we talk?
I call her instead of texting back. This feels too important for a text, and fine, maybe I want to hear her voice.
“Callahan,” she says when she picks up.
“Bex. What’s up?”
“Where are you?”
I glance around. A bunch of girls in jerseys—some in seemingly nothing but the jersey, their shorts are so short—wave to me as they cross the street and head into Red’s.
“Downtown Moorbridge, at Red’s. You can’t talk over the phone?”
“Not about this.”
My grip on the phone tightens. “Are you okay?”
I hear keys and a beep; presumably she’s unlocking her car. “I’m fine. I just think if we’re going to discuss the terms of this… arrangement, it should be in person.”
“Arrangement, huh?”
“I’ll come to Red’s.”
“Where are you? I’m sober, I can pick you up.”
“Pine Ridge.”
“Where’s that?”
She laughs. The sweet, throaty sound makes my heart beat a bit faster. “Not too far. I’ll see you soon, Callahan.”
“You can call me James, you know.”
There’s a pause, then I hear her car turn on. “I know.”
I search for Pine Ridge as soon as she hangs up. It’s not too far from here, about thirty minutes or so. What was she doing there?
Maybe she’s got a new boyfriend, my mind taunts.
I force myself to head inside, although all I really want is to wait out here. I should celebrate the win, after all. We crushed Notre Dame tonight. As soon as I enter the bar, I see my brothers and teammates waving to me, so I head over to the pool tables in the back. Coop hands me my non-alcoholic beer—which tastes almost the same as a regular beer, even though he never believes me—and nudges my shoulder.
“What’s going on?”
I lean back against the wall, getting comfortable. “She’s coming here to talk.” I feel more relaxed already. Whatever Bex wants in exchange for tutoring, I’ll give her. A ridiculous hourly rate, whatever. I can afford it. And the fact it means I’ll be seeing a lot more of her? Not complaining about that either.
“About the… thing?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes. The thing.”
“Fucking A,” he says. “That’s great, man.”
I watch as Seb lines up for his next shot in the game of pool he’s playing against Demarius. One of the things I like best about him is that he can fit in anywhere. He’s never spent time with these teammates of mine, yet he looks perfectly at home. His attempt goes wide, and he laughs at himself, accepting another shot from Demarius.
“Every missed turn is a shot,” Coop murmurs. “We’re going to be wiping him off the floor at the end of the night.”
“Is he your brother?” someone asks. I turn; there’s a girl at my elbow, giving me doe-eyes as she sips her beer. She’s pretty, with bleach-blonde hair tucked back over one shoulder and pouty lips. Her v-neck shirt shows off the top of a lacy pink bralette. Seeing that she has my attention, she leans in a bit, her hand grazing my bare arm.
I smile at her. “Yeah, baby. Want an introduction?”