Chapter 16 #2
“What’s going on over here?” Maya asks, coming up next to me and linking her arm with mine, followed by Sarah and Emmy.
“Where’s Maddy?” Sophie asks, looking around.
“She and Cam left already. Ethan and Riley are home with Cam’s mom and they wanted to get back to them.” Emmy looks around our little circle, her eyes landing on me then dropping down to where my hand is still in Drew’s, devious grin on her face. “So, what’s going on over here?”
I immediately try to yank my hand back like I’m in middle school and just got caught holding hands with a boy, but Drew holds tight, letting out a low chuckle that does crazy things to my insides. “I was just asking Caitlin if she needs a ride home.”
“No, you weren’t,” I say automatically.
Drew squeezes my hand then strokes his thumb over my palm, and goosebumps race over my skin at the light caress.
“Wasn’t I? Maybe it was just in my head.
I’ve been planning on asking you if I can take you home since the minute I saw you in the stands.
You looked so pretty up there, I knew however much time I saw you in the stadium wouldn’t be nearly enough. ”
“Oh my god,” Maya mumbles, and I don’t have to look over at her to know she has hearts shooting out of her eyes.
“Seriously,” Emmy says under her breath. “So much swoon. So goddamn hot.”
Drew tosses her a wink. “I know. So, what do you say, Princess? Want a ride?”
“Princess?” Sarah mouths, eyes shining as she holds a hand to her heart, shaking her head as if she’s never heard anything quite so wonderful, and I am questioning every life choice I’ve ever made that has led me to this moment.
“My car is here,” I say automatically. “I can get myself home, and I need to get them home too.” I gesture to Maya, Sarah, and Emmy.
“No you don’t,” all three of them say simultaneously.
Sarah takes advantage of my momentary confusion and reaches into the bag on my shoulder, pulling out my car keys from the inside pocket.
“I have to borrow your car tonight. Important…medical school business,” she finally says, giving a definitive nod as if to say that’s that, and if my stomach wasn’t currently tying itself into knots at the thought of being alone with Drew, I would laugh at how bad a liar she is.
“I’ll take Maya and Emmy home on my way and drop your car off at your house later.
Drew, you can get our girl home right? Okay, bye!
” Without another word, she drags Maya and Emmy away and then they’re gone, Sarah practically skipping, Emmy giving me a thumbs up, and Maya mouthing “Fuck the wide receiver” as they disappear down the hall.
“Okay, we’ve gotta go too.” Sophie’s grin says, clear as day, Go get him, as she drags Tyler away.
“Don’t think I won’t need details, Drew!” Tyler yells as they head out. “I’m a slut for gossip, and you’re my best friend which means I get to know all the good stuff before anyone!”
As soon as they’re gone, I take a long, slow breath, trying to figure out how I feel about my friends maneuvering me into being alone with Drew and unused to the feeling of being handled when I’m usually the one doing the handling.
My brain races as my eyes bounce around the emptying hallway, looking anywhere but at the man standing in front of me.
Drew grips my chin lightly and turns my head so I meet his eyes. “Can I take you home?” he asks, his gaze steady on mine. “I would really like to.”
“Whose home?” I ask, my voice a little unsteady.
Drew’s smile is soft, his thumb moving back and forth over my jaw in a slow sweep.
“That’s your choice, Catie. Always your choice.
I’d love to take you home with me and make you dinner.
Talk to you for a while. If that isn’t something you want, I’ll take you to your house, but I can’t help it if I walk you to your door and kiss you goodbye. ”
“Can’t you?” I ask, amused despite myself.
Drew shakes his head. “I definitely can’t. It’s been weeks since I kissed you, and I haven’t been able to think of anything else. I think I might die if I don’t get to feel your lips on mine again soon.”
The smile comes automatically because it turns out I want that too. And more than that. Maybe. “I guess I could go home with you, on account of the touchdown and all.”
Drew’s eyes go dim for just a second, the humor draining out of them. He looks away, as if he’s trying to hide it from me but he can’t because it turns out, I see him too. I’m not sure what to make of that right now, but I definitely don’t hate it. At all.
Reaching out, I lay my hand on his arm. “I was kidding, you know. If I go home with you, it has nothing to do with football and everything to do with you.”
Drew lifts his gaze back to mine, something like hope swimming in his eyes, and the thought that for so much of his life he’s only been known and wanted for football, even by the people who were supposed to love him wholly, makes my heart ache. “Really?”
I nod, squeezing his arm. “Really. Besides, I told you, I’m not a sports girl.
Sophie had to basically give me a play-by-play, and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by telling her I couldn’t care less.
Hand to god, I’m positive even after her little tutorial I couldn’t tell you the difference between a touchdown and a field goal or explain what a down even is. ”
When Drew grins, there’s joy there, and everything about his smile is perfect. “How do you feel about pasta?”
“I’m very serious about pasta, so it has to be pretty much the best pasta ever for me to get interested.”
Drew wraps an arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss to my hair just like Tyler did to Sophie, and for a second it feels like my chest is filled with air. “When I’m making it, it’s always the best pasta ever and you will definitely be interested.”
Tipping my head back, I look up at him and holy shit, did he get hotter in the last two minutes? I don’t even know what’s going to happen and I already know there’s a ten out of ten chance I don’t survive this night. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
“We sure are,” he murmurs, kissing my head again, and as we walk out of the stadium, I think right here, tucked under Drew’s arm, isn’t such a bad place to be.