16. Libby
“You know what they say!” Kesley squeals next to me. “What happens in Vegas…”
“Get’s plastered all over Page Six?” I say with a smirk.
“I mean, I really hope not. Because I intend to do some pretty questionable things with my husband while I’m here.”
“Ew. Please don’t talk about sexy things when it has to do with my brother,” I say, my nose scrunching at her comment.
She giggles to herself as she pulls her luggage behind her.
We don’t fly with the team like Rina and Izzy do. But technically I’m here to help with the Heatwave social media efforts so for the first time I’m not only going to be watching the game—I’m going to be posting about it too.
“Speaking of Page Six…looks like that charity date you and Fergie went on got blown out of proportion,” she says.
I look up at her. “What are you talking about?”
“You seriously haven’t seen it? What kind of social media manager are you?”
“A cheap one, apparently. I’m doing it for free,” I say, my heels clacking in time next to her silent tennis shoes.
“Well, there were a few articles that speculated that you and Fergie were an item. Rina was all over it of course and even asked the Pulse to run a piece about the charity auction using the photos from your shoot with Izzy.”
“Really? She didn’t mention anything to me.”
“Probably because she squashed it. I mean you two are obviously not a thing. You’re the two most opposite people I know.”
“That’s not true,” I snap. “We’re both Houston Heatwave fans.”
She laughs and intertwines her arm through mine. “We’re all Houston Heatwave fans.”
Just as she says it a group of Vegas fans in black jerseys and t-shirts approach the baggage claim area. They’re all obnoxiously high fiving and chest bumping.
“Except those douches,” she clarifies.
I laugh through my nose. One of them winks at us as we walk by, and another licks his lips. “Douches for sure.”
“So you’re telling me that the only way you’re going to a show is if you get to be on stage?” my brother asks.
“Yes, Zane. Why is that so hard to believe.”
“It’s just so unlike you to want to be the center of attention,” he says sarcastically.
I punch him in the arm, just as his teammate’s are strolling up.
As always, Landry, Hicks and Fergie all arrive together.
“You do know that just because you guys live together doesn’t mean you have to do everything together?” Zane offers.
“At this point, these two are my extra limbs. If I don’t have them nearby, I can’t function,” Landry says.
“That’s a problem,” Kesley says. “What are you gonna do when they find the women of their dreams and want to move out?”
Landry makes a pouty face. “Don’t put me in a bad mood before a big game, Kesley. Haven’t you learned the rules yet?”
He pulls out a chair next to Zane and the other guys take the remaining seats at our circular table. Which puts Michael right next to me.
His hand ghosts across my thigh briefly and my breathing hitches. Tonight is our night.
“What rules?” Kesley asks.
“Pre-game rules,” Hicks says. “I’d be happy to list them out for you. Rrrrrule number one,” he begins. But he’s quickly cut off by Zane throwing a bread roll at his face. “Hey!”
“We’re not doing that again,” Zane points to him.
“But seriously, what rules?” Kesley asks again.
“They’re not written rules,” I clarify.
“More like unspoken rules,” Michael adds, his hand now floating onto my bare thigh under the table.
“Yeah,” Keelan says. “Unspoken rules like… thou shall not interrupt the pre-game nap.”
“Or thou shall not disrupt a player’s focus,” Hicks adds.
Thou shall not fuck your brother’s teammate especially when he’s playing in the conference finals.
Michael looks completely relaxed above the table. It doesn’t even look like he’s moving. But little by little his hand is gliding up my thigh. I gulp as he does. And when he reaches the apex of my legs and doesn’t meet resistance, he glances over at me.
That’s right, Ferguson. I’m not wearing any panties.
He mutters something to himself as he wipes his other hand over his jaw. I could’ve sworn he just said, “Fuck me.”
My stomach flutters from the thrill of him realizing it.
“So you’re all sissy little divas that can be thrown off by any little inconvenience,” Kesley blinks at the boys.
I feel my grin slowly spread at my friend’s comment.
“I mean, no,” Landry says thinking about it.
“Basically,” Michael admits, picking up his phone and typing something.
“Thank you,” Kesley says grabbing her wine and taking a sip in celebration.
My phone vibrates in front of me and I look at the text.
stranger
No panties? You’re breaking unspoken rule number two, butterfly.
My heart palpitates. In an instant, another text comes through.
stranger
Meet me near the bathrooms in two minutes. Drink up.
He slides his hand off my thigh and pushes his chair back. “Gotta make a call,” he announces to the group.
Everyone is too busy discussing what to order to even notice. A few of them wave him off. He gives me a pointed look before walking off.
I grab my phone and text him a response.
Me
This isn’t safe. We were going to be careful, remember?
stranger
You weren’t being careful when you decided to go commando.
Come here.
Now.
I huff at his audacity. Who does he think he is?
Me
What happened to hooking up later?
stranger
You happened, Libby.
A picture comes through next and I jump to cover it from Kesley who’s now watching me text. It’s a picture of his pierced hard on.
Normally a dick pic wouldn’t be enough to convince me. But this particular one… has me intrigued.
Kesley gives me a curious look before whispering, “I thought you and stranger weren’t talking anymore.”
I hold the phone to my chest.
“I gotta…”
“Go,” she motions toward the bathrooms with a grin. “Tell stranger I say hi.”
I roll my eyes.
Ok, so my best friend doesn’t know that stranger isn’t actually a stranger. And I do feel pretty shitty knowing that I’m keeping that detail from her.
But she exchanged loyalties the moment she said I do to my brother. She’s his person now.
So… I shouldn’t feel too bad.
“I’ll be back,” I say excusing myself.
The guys are all discussing the upcoming game and are way too enthralled in their conversation to care that I slip away.