My hair is down in large, loose curls, my eyes lined with shimmery shadow and accentuated with dark liner. My lipstick is as red as my shirt and my jeans are high and tight.
I’ve only finished tying my black boots when Noah shows to pick me up, his gorgeous blue eyes giving him away. The last thing he wants to do… is leave this room.
He cocks his head, his lips parting, but all that comes out is a gravelly chuckle.
I bite back a grin and lead our way out the door.
The pizza pub is an adorable, mom-and-pop establishment. The silver-haired woman behind the counter is kind and inviting with a bold mouth that reminds me of my grandmother.
The food is delicious and plentiful, which is the key to success with two dozen athletes running around. Several of which make their way over to me, asking about my brother and I tell each of them the same thing. That he’s good, resting, and can’t wait to get back out on the field. I would bet Brady and Chase went home and gave an update similar to mine, but buzzed boys like talking to girls. I’m pretty sure their questions were used as an excuse to come up to me and Cameron, and the few other girls who have migrated our way. It’s not long before the jukebox is playing something slow and seductive, and the beer-filled boys push a few tables aside. Pretty soon, it’s just me left sitting, the girls having all jumped up to join them.
Noah tries to return to me, but Trey is quick to swoop him up as a pool table becomes free.
He looks to me, but I push him away.
“Go.” I smile. “He’s been hounding you to be his partner since we got here.”
Noah lets out a playful groan, following his friend.
Brady comes over then, setting a fresh glass of beer in front of me. “Drink this. I know last night must have kicked your ass ‘cause I know mine’s bloody and bruised.
“You’re not wrong.” I lift it in cheers, taking a small drink. “You talk to him again?”
“Nah, he don’t want to talk to us yet. Imma give him two days, and not a minute longer.”
“He’d except nothing less.” I grin, swallowing another sip. My eyes slip over Brady’s shoulder, and I lean forward. “Don’t look now, but there’s a very familiar face that’s just walked through the door, and it looks like she’s spotted you.”
Brady spins his entire body around, and I chuckle. The girl snaps her head away, tucking her hair behind her ear. Smirking, he brings his eyes back to me. “That’s the shy little lady from the library, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“Woo,” he whispers, finishing his drink and lowering it to the tabletop with a hard knock. He stands, leaning closer. “And you said I didn’t almost have her.”
Chuckling, I salute him on his way, and not a second later, Chase drops into the seat beside me.
He leans back and almost slips off the seat, but quickly rights himself, a drunken grin on his lips.
Entertained, I pinch my lips together. “Feeling good?”
He nods, takes another sip, and faces me. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I chuckle.
“Are you with him?”
My amusement clogs in my throat, my mouth opening, but no words come out. His question, so sudden and unexpected, has me frozen.
His eyes pierce mine and my muscles seem to coil.
“Are you serious right now?”
“Will you just—” His brows cave. “Just say it for me. Please.”
A startling hollowness creeps over me, but I nod. “Yeah, I am.” My voice is strong, sure, and I know he hears it.
Chase’s chin lowers, and he brings his knuckles down on the tabletop in soft, quiet raps.
“Okay.” He looks to the side, and then he walks away.
I watch him go, a hint of sadness washing over me, but it’s far outweighed by the relief that follows now that the air is clear.
Cameron falls in the space beside me, eyeing me expectantly.
“He wanted to know about me and Noah.”
“And?”
“And I told him the truth, that we’re together.”
Cameron sighs in reprieve. “Good. That’s good. Maybe he just needed to be sure you were okay now.”
I nod, but a frown still forms. “Yeah.”
Maybe.
A few hours and several pitchers later, the place is as rowdy as you’d expect, but the bit of energy I gained after going back to sleep this morning is slowly fading away.
I drop my head on Noah’s shoulder, and he rubs my back.
“You ready to go?”
I peek up at him. “Yeah, but you can stay.” I glance Cameron’s way, she and Trey are saying bye to a few others at their table. “I think Cameron’s going now, I can ride with her.”