Dude.
Crew wrinkles his forehead, a grin peeking out as the guy’s wife smacks his arm. I’d smack more than his arm, lady.
Crew clears his throat, squeezing my hand before he lets go. “How about a picture?” he offers as his face turns away from his biggest fan, his eyes locking with mine.
He mouths, You good? before I nod and smile back. The man is almost vibrating from excitement as he steps in next to Crew.
“I can’t believe I’m meeting you. You’re on my fantasy team.”
Crew nods politely. But I chuckle, locking eyes with him, mouthing, Same.
Number one fangirl tosses an arm up, trying to get it over Crew’s shoulder. But even standing as tall as he can, it’s not happening. So ever so discreetly, Crew Matthews leans down.
Aw, he’s letting his nice guy show.
The wife steps up and takes a few pictures before nodding, but the guy isn’t done. He grabs Crew’s hand, shaking it.
“I really appreciate it, man. I’m going to frame this and put it on the wall.” He looks back at his wife, who looks at him like he’s crazy. “Babe, we could put it next to our wedding portrait.”
Oh my god.
Crew steps away, his hand finding the small of my back as he urges me forward before he gives another wave to his biggest fan, saying, “Have a good one, guys,” and we walk away.
But I’m still staring up at him because…I don’t know, just something.
He looks down at me, eyes narrowing.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I scowl before it morphs into a smirk.
“Like what?”
“Like you want to get tacos and then let me eat your taco.”
A laugh explodes from my chest as I shove his shoulder and shake my head.
“Let’s just order the food and go back to the room before we get assaulted by any more people who think you’re the equivalent of a farm animal.”
sixteen
“I’m nice to you in public, but I still get to play with their privates.”
crew
“Where are we going?”
I don’t answer, glancing over my shoulder and grinning at her as I tug her up another flight of steps, holding the bag of our dinner in my hand.
“Oh my god, will you slow down, please? I might drop the drinks,” she huffs, the smile on her face too big for her to really be irritated.
I’ve been second-guessing myself for the last five minutes because this is uncharted and dangerous territory for me. I don’t want to give her the wrong impression, but she was so cool when we were approached by those fans.
And although I know we made a deal, a truce, to be nice to each other for the sake of my deal, she was genuine and gracious under pressure.
So, if anyone deserves what I’m about to share…it’s her.
I stop, turning around before turning the corner to take the last flight.
“So, here’s the thing. You know how you’ve been watching that same movie over and over again every night?”
She nods, looking impatient.
“The Hangover?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, that one. And you were rambling on about how it’s so unrealistic that they put shit like going on rooftops in movies…”
Her eyes grow wide as her mouth drops open before she stomps her foot.
“Shut up right now. Quit it.”
Eleanor lets go of my hand, starting around the corner past me, but I grab the back of her shorts, forcing her to stop and look over her shoulder.
“Settle down.” I laugh. “Let me make the grand gesture. You’re like a toddler.”
Her hip pops as she turns around, smiling at me.
“Look at you, QB…being all nice to me. Careful, I might start to think that you like me just as much as you dig my pussy.”
My head draws back before I walk past her, taking the four steps to the door labeled ROOFTOP, and shove the door open, the entire sky coming into view.
“Oh, come on, Wild Card. I could never. Only one of them isn’t annoying.”
She laughs as she walks out onto the roof, shoving the drink holder in my hand before looking up at the sky. I smile as she spreads her arms wide and stares up at the stars.
The door closes behind me, ruining her moment, because in sheer panic, she spins around, her hand covering her mouth.
But I shake my head.
“Calm down. That’s the thing movies do get wrong. The door reopens.”
I lean back, pressing it open before letting it close again. She smiles before going back to her moment as I walk over to two lawn chairs I snuck up here months ago.
It squeaks as I sit down, setting the drinks on the other chair before I open our dinner bag. Eleanor looks over her shoulder and spins around, walking over to join me.
“This is pretty amazing,” she breathes out, taking her tacos. “I bet you bring all the girls you marry and end up having to live with for thirty days here?”
“Obviously,” I throw out with a wink. “Why else would I invest in this kind of luxury?” My hand motions to the cheap lawn chairs we’re sitting on.
She laughs, and I join before I watch her take a ginormous bite of her taco. She leans over the paper to catch the spillage. Eleanor really is the definition of authentic. The girl doesn’t give a shit about being anyone other than who she is. It’s refreshing.
I also have no idea what to do with her because people like this make it so whatever guard you have up is hopeless. She makes me want to be myself.
And that’s not someone I can really ever be with anyone. A thought strikes.
“I’ve actually never brought anyone here. Not even TJ or Nate. This is my hideaway. I figured…”
My voice trails off because she mumbles through a mouthful of food, but I still make out that she’s saying, I thought you guys were in love. My shoulders shake, and I abandon what I was about to say, opting to take a bite of my food as she starts talking.
“I guess I should be honored. But why do I feel this is more about escaping the public eye? Back there in the casino…you were really nice to that guy. You even leaned in for the shot. But that has to get overwhelming. I mean, I was a little tripped out. And there aren’t nearly as many eyes on me as there are on you.”
I take a swig of my beer, then hold it between my fingers, letting it dangle.
“My first year as a rookie, that was hard. People were really intrusive, and my privacy felt like a sacrifice I had to make in return for the fame. But now, I guess I’m kind of used to it.”
I look up at the sky, smirking before adding, “But it is nice to be able to eat without people taking a photo of me and ending up as a meme. You know?”
My face turns to Eleanor’s. She’s mid-bite, mouth wide open, staring up at me before she lowers her taco.
“No, I have no idea what it’s like.”
The grin on my face grows. “Lucky…for them and you. Because you eat like an animal.”
“I’m hungry,” she growls.
“You’re feral,” I toss back.
She shrugs. “That too.”
We laugh before eating in silence for a few minutes, only moaning over how good the food is. I take another swig, relaxing back on the chair before she steals my beer.
“You know, you’re not terrible to hang out with,” she muses. I raise my brows, smirking, as she grins. “How is it that you haven’t had a girlfriend? I mean, I know I was joking the other day, but I get the vibe that you’ve been single for a hot minute.”