Page 28 of Nailing Heat

“Uh-huh,” Cassie says, her attention now turning towards the living room, no doubt looking at the sight that I was. “We’ll see about that.”

“What are you getting at?” I ask her. “Me and Dex?”

Cassie outright cackles at me. “Why would you assume that I meant you and Dex?” Her laughter catches the attention of our friends in the living room. They all look our way, and I make my way into the living room.

“What are we doing? Just sitting and drinking, or what?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.

Thankfully, it works because August lowers himself onto the couch and starts talking. “I was regaling the boys with the story of my latest hookup. Would you like to hear it?”

Dex and Danny chuckle. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Jase pull Cassie close, rolling his eyes at August’s suggestion.

“Why is it that you own a professional sports team, like you are the face of the Blaze, and you are still doing the random hookup shit?” Hendrix asks him, rolling her eyes. She heads into my kitchen. I hear the clink of a bottle falling into the recycling bin and the refrigerator door opening and closing.

August shakes his head. “I am not the face of the Blaze. That is where you ladies come in. No one cares about August Cromwell. But they do care about Mac Dixon, Cassie Simmons, Amelia West and Hendrix Monroe.” He mentions each of us by name and then cracks open a pizza box, pulling out a slice. He looks us all over before adding, “Maxwell Cromwell, sure, but not August. No one expects much of me, remember?”

His comment is addressed at Dex. Dex claps him on the back. “Well, they should, dude. Just like I said back in college, you have some great ideas. We gotta get you to stop plowing all the random pussy.”

The room erupts in laughter. The guys all grab some pizza.

“So, you haven’t changed since you were in college. How long ago was that?” Jase asks him.

August doesn’t answer; he flips him off.

“Last year,” Dex replies to Jase. He nods. “People will expect more if you’d act a little different, August. You have their attention with the team; it depends on what kind of attention that you are looking to attract. And by attention, of course I mean the random parade of ladies that come walking out of your bedroom.”

“What makes you think he waits until they are in his bedroom?” Danny adds.

“I don’t need to take them home. Like Barney Stinson, I only have one rule,” he says, chuckling but not finishing his sentence.

“Let me guess, never take them home?” Dex asks him.

“Bingo!” August points at him, shoveling in the rest of his pizza.

“Or you could admit that some girl hurt you and you can’t move on,” Mac challenges him, leveling him with her stare. We all stare at August, and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat.

“Yeah, that’s not what’s wrong with me, Mac. But good try.” He takes a pull of his beer. “You and I both know you mean your friend over there.” He uses his bottle to gesture towards Hendrix who is lounging on the couch, glaring at him. “But unfortunately for you, I’m not that deep and it’s not simple.”

“Whatever,” Mac replies, shaking her head.

I see Hendrix tense. Her face falls and she stares at the carpet like it’s the most interesting thing she’s ever seen.

Cassie must see the same thing because she quickly changes the subject. “So, is there a game on or something?”

“I’m not sure.” Dex picks up the remote from where he found a seat on the floor. The TV volume is turned back up, and he looks for something to watch. There’s a baseball game on; the Marlins are playing.

“Oh, look at that, you can see if big brother is going to be on the TV,” Dex tells August.

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, the camera loves him.”

Dex catches me staring at him and winks at me. I mouth, “Thank you.” He returns a nod.

The rest of the night is spent with some light conversation while we all watch the game.

The game seems to drag on, with the Marlins pulling out a win with a huge hit in the last inning. Finally, Danny says, “It’s getting late, I better take the Mrs. Home.” He pulls Mac to her feet.

“Yes, there are some people here who have an early practice,” Jase stands and also pulls Cassie from the couch.

“And I hear there will be health checks tomorrow, so I have to prepare myself for all the whining,” Dex says, switching off the TV.