Page 34 of Hard Count (Newhouse University #4)

NASH

It’s almost ten at night when I walk into the house. I can’t wait to get my hands on Drew. I didn’t see her car out front but maybe she had to park down the street. I’ve been thinking about waking her up ever since she sent me those photos. I want her naked but I'm hoping she has my jersey on.

I get halfway down the stairs when my phone starts ringing. Gage . “Hey? What’s going on?” I ask.

“Are you back in town?” I can barely hear him over the awful singing in the background.

“I just walked in the door to see Drew.”

He laughs. “Is that so? Pretty sure I’m watching your girlfriend drunk on whiskey and singing really bad karaoke with Frankie.”

That can’t be true. She doesn’t drink for one thing and two she said she would be here waiting for me. I open the door to my bedroom and sure enough, it’s empty. “Where are you?”

“The Armory.”

“It’s her birthday. She’s celebrating.” I would have preferred her waiting for me in my bed but I’m glad she went out with her friends instead of being by herself.The alcohol is a little surprising.

“She did mention it was her birthday once or twice when she pointed out her party dress.” He chuckles. I don’t know why that’s funny. “You might want to bring Eli. Frankie’s ex is here. Nothing’s happened but he’s been watching her.”

“Fuck.” I knock on Eli’s door. Once he sees my face he puts a shirt back on and grabs his keys. “Keep an eye on them. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“I have been all night.”

“And you’re just now calling me?” I ask with a growl.

“Calm down. They’ve been having fun. I already told the bartender to stop serving them. Their last drink was straight ginger ale.”

“Sorry. Thanks, man.” I hang up the phone, hustle to change clothes, and meet Eli outside.

“What’s going on?” he asks as he starts up his car.

“Gage called and said the girls are at The Armory. Frankie’s ex is there and Drew is drunk.”

He grips the steering wheel tighter and pushes harder on the gas.

I would ask questions about it but I’m too concerned about Drew.

She doesn’t drink. I don’t know why she would start now.

I’m worried she’s sad she’s spending another birthday alone.

I feel like shit I was stuck traveling home on a bus instead of spending the day with her.

My phone starts ringing again and I don’t even look to see who’s calling, figuring it’s Gage again. “We’re turning into the parking lot now,” I say.

“Are you with Drew?” Coach asks.

“I’m going to pick her up now.”

“Good…that’s good.” He sighs in relief.

“Did something happen?” I get out of the car and signal Eli to go ahead. I know he won’t be able to relax until he has eyes on Frankie. I feel the same about Drew, but the concern in Gavin’s voice is making me hesitate. I want to know exactly what I’m walking into.

“She came by the house,” he says. I knew this already thanks to the sexy photos she sent me earlier. “She went through my office. She…she—”

“Coach, take a deep breath,” I say, when he’s close to hyperventilating. He inhales and exhales slowly along with me. “Start from the beginning. What happened?”

“I don't know what happened. I came home and my office was a mess. She found the divorce papers. She knows the truth. She knows I tried,” he mumbles more nonsense. I don’t understand what he’s telling me.

“What did you try to do?” I ask.

“I…I wanted her with me. I’ve always wanted her with me. I tried but there was nothing I could do to keep her. Nothing I did worked. I never gave up.”

“I know, Coach. I’m going to go get her now and make sure she’s alright. Are you going to be okay by yourself tonight?”

“I’m fine. I'll be better once I know she's okay. I’m worried about my daughter.”

“I’ll take care of her,” I promise .

“She found the letters, Nash. I wrote her letters everyday and she found them,” he says in distress.

“We'll figure this out. She's with Frankie and Eli and soon she'll be with me. I’ll text you once I get her home. I’m going to come by your house in the morning to talk and check on you.”

He agrees and we hang up. I mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to find inside. I walk past the main bar and dance floor, heading straight to the back room where they have the karaoke stage setup.

Drew is easy to spot singing on stage in my high school football jersey.

I realize now why Gage was laughing at her party dress.

I’m not laughing. Every time she raises her arm she’s dangerously close to giving the crowd a free show.

She does look hot as fuck with the hem of the jersey grazing the top of her thighs.

“Do we stop them?” I ask Eli. He’s standing off to the side keeping a close eye on Frankie and her ex. I spotted him at one of the back tables when I walked in.

They’re belting out a rowdy country music song at the top of their lungs. I’m sure at one point in the night they actually sounded good. Singing on key probably went out the window three or four drinks ago. The crowd doesn’t seem to care. They're singing right along with them.

“I’m tempted to record it,” he says with a hint of a smile. “What is Drew wearing? Is that… ”

“Yep,” I answer, smirking. “I’m going to find Gage. Then we can try and get them home.” I walk the edge of the room and find Gage hiding in a dark corner as I suspected I would.

“Ahhh…my reinforcements are here,” he jokes, his eyes pinned to a table in the middle of the room.

“Babysitting shift is over. Thanks again for keeping an eye on her.”

“No problem. I'm glad I was here."

"Why were you here? You hate this place." He never comes to The Armory to drink, choosing a friend's house or somewhere in his old neighborhood instead.

"I needed to deliver a message to someone.

" He glances over at the same table. "I’m going to get out of here.” He tosses me her keys.

“Stole them after she threw back her third shot of Jack. Good luck.” He grins up at Drew and Frankie belting out the final note of their song.

Then leaves for the door, walking by the table of girls he was staring at moments ago.

One of them looks like she wants to be anywhere but here.

I laugh when she ducks her head to avoid eye contact with Gage.

I walk back over to Eli who’s somehow managed to get the girls off the stage. Walking behind Drew, I wrap my arms around her waist. “Happy birthday, baby.” I pull her hair to the side and kiss her skin that’s exposed.

She twirls in my arms and throws her arms around my neck. “You’re here! You came to my party,” she says in surprise. “Everyone usually forgets about me but you made it.” She bops me on my nose .

“Of course I came.” I kiss her whiskey flavored lips.

“Do you like my dress?” She pushes off my chest. Then runs a hand over the mesh fabric of my old jersey with wobbly, unstable legs. I place a hand on her hip to steady her.

“I do, very much. Are you ready to go home so we can take it off you?” I lay on the charm hoping it will entice her.

My only plans for her are pain meds and some water.

Maybe a bite to eat to soak up some of the alcohol.

I have a feeling once we get back to my house she’s going to be asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.

She glances over at Frankie. “She’s going to come too.

We’ll all head back to my house for an after party.

” I shrug at Eli. He nods in agreement. I escort a very talkative Drew out of the bar and to her car.

She gives me the play by play of the whole evening on our drive home.

Including an encore performance of her favorite song of the night.

“I didn’t know the words but Frankie said I can just read them on the monitor,” she says, as we walk into my room. “But it wasn’t working right. It was all blurry. They should really get that fixed.” She flops down on the bed.

Laughing I say, “We’ll have to tell them the next time we go. Let’s get you ready for bed, baby.”

“I know that song.” She pops upright. “Baby, baby, baby,” she sings a poor man’s rendition of Alicia Keys, making me laugh again.

At least she’s a fun drunk. “I think I missed my calling.” She slumps her shoulders as I get on one knee to help her with her tennis shoes.

“Maybe if I could sing my mom would actually care about me. She never gave a shit.”

Her mom? What did she read in those papers? Sighing, I lean forward until my forehead touches hers. “You won’t remember this tomorrow but I think you’re pretty incredible just the way you are,” I whisper so quietly I’m not even sure she can hear me.

“You really like me?” she asks.

“I do, baby. I like you a lot.”

“No more kind of?”

“No. I’m all in.” I stand and search my dresser for something for her to sleep in. As much as I love her wearing my jersey, it’s not very comfortable.

“I think my dad likes me too.” She spins her bracelet around her wrist as water pools in her eyes.

“I know he does. He loves you. Hey, it’s going to be okay.” I kneel in front of her and hold her until her shoulders stop shaking. “Listen to me, baby.” I cup her face in my hands and swipe at her tear stained cheeks. “You and your dad are going to be just fine.”

“How do you know? I’ve been a terrible daughter.”

“No, you haven't. Don’t think that. Lift your arms for me.” I help her out of the jersey and swap it out for a cotton shirt that’s worn and soft. She stands and fumbles like a baby deer figuring out how to use their legs for the first time. I cough into a closed fist to hide my laugh.

I help her to the bathroom. While she does what she needs to in there, I run upstairs and grab her some water. I also send Coach a text and let him know she’s safe and we can talk to him in the morning .

The bathroom is empty when I get back downstairs. I grab some aspirin before going back to my room. Drew’s laying face first on top of my bed. “Alright, let’s get you tucked in.”

“I don’t want to move,” she groans.