Page 89 of Wild Card

“Don’t worry. I’m fairly certain he was well informed of our situation before he volunteered to take you out. So he took the risk and lost. I’m sure he’ll find someone else. Not nearly as fucking good as you, but too fucking bad.” I grin at her, kissing her temple before she leaves me.

“All right. I’ll see you back there.” She opens the door and hurries out back across the hall to the restrooms and I grin as I watch her go.

A minute later Nick appears, peering into the room and smirking when he sees her panties in my hand.

“Just making sure it was that and not that she got lost or something. Didn’t want to be derelict on my date duties.” He smirks.

“Yeah. Sorry about that. I did warn you.”

“It’s all right. I don’t mind playing the wingman in this particular case. I knew going in that’s probably where things were headed based on what the girls told me. I was going to ask if your sister is single.”

I laugh then because any man who thinks he can handle my sister definitely hasn’t spent enough time around her. She would tear Nick to shreds before they could even make it to a date.

“Yeah. She’s single, but I like you, so I’d recommend steering clear of her.”

“Ah. Not fond of guys you know dating your sister?”

“If my sister thought I was giving out permission slips to date her, she’d kick my ass. She makes her own decisions. I’m just saying I think you’re a good guy, and she’s hell on fucking wheels.”

“Noted. You and Scarlett together now then?” He gives me a curious look.

“Yeah. We are.”

“Good. I’m happy for you. Seems like everything’s coming back together again for you.”

“I hope so, but let’s not fucking jinx it. Okay?”

“Fair enough.”

We walk back out to the table together after I finish smoothing my shirt and tucking her panties away in my pocket. We get knowing glances from several of our friends.

“No blood or broken bones, I’m impressed.” Colt gives me an amused once over.

“Yeah. I’m not Xander. I can settle things without any of my teammates needing an ER.” I smirk at my friend.

“Yeah well, Jones isn’t half the guy Harris is.”

“I also know how to gracefully take a loss,” Harris pipes in.

Scarlett appears then, returning from the restroom and all eyes turn to her as her cheeks heat. She straightens her spine under the weight of their gazes though and grins at Joss.

“What? A girl can’t get railed in a bar without everyone staring?” she huffs and then sits down in my lap as Joss reaches over to high-five her.

FORTY-SEVEN

Tobias

The roarof the crowd is deafening tonight, and it feels good to be back on the sidelines even if I can’t play. Having my black and teal back on, being with the guys while we play this last season game feels right. I pace the sidelines for the thirtieth time though as the game seesaws back and forth on the board. First we’re ahead, then the other team. Back and forth a nauseating amount as we approach the last quarter.

Ben comes off the field with Colt after an unsuccessful drive, both of them looking demotivated.

“Hey. You guys are doing good. Don’t let me see those faces.” I pat Ben on the shoulder, and he gives me a look while he tries to catch his breath.

“Fucking need Jones to stay on his feet, so I’ve got fucking time to throw.” Colt glances down at his linemen as they rehydrate, and the defense prepares to take the field.

“That would be a fucking plus, but you got this either way. Just keep moving and watch your right side. That’s where they keep coming for you. They’ve realized you’ve got a bit of a blind spot there, so you’ve gotta keep them guessing.”

“Yeah.” Colt tosses his helmet on the pin behind the bench, staring out at the field as we punt the ball. “We need fucking points though.”