Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
Claudia
“Oh my God,” Nalani says, jumping on my bed at hers and Koas’ place, reaching across me and grabbing my phone and showing me the screen. “Look! Dash Sterling was at the wedding, and he and Noelle looked so hot. Coach is pissed.”
I already knew some of this, but of course I can’t say anything because it was Deacon who ‘implied’ it.
The group chat lights up.
Sofie:
Dash flew out last night. No one knows where he is. Everyone’s freaking out.
Nalani: Correction, we didn’t, but we do now. He’s with YOU!
Me:
Girl. Pics don’t lie. Dancing. Sitting with college buds. And, yep, arm around you, getting in the SUV.
Noelle: Do NOT freak out. Seriously. It’s fine.
Sofie: They call him the ONE NIGHT DASH. Noelle, tell me you didn’t.
Nalani: If you did … bless you. Also, DETAILS.
Me:
He looks like trouble. Delicious trouble. But still trouble.
Sofie:
You deserve BETTER than a one-and-done.
Nalani:
Or … maybe she deserves exactly that. For cardio and cobweb removal.
Me:
Oh my God! Nalani.
Nalani looks at me and grins as she types out,“What? I’m trying to be supportive.”
Sofie:
Also, Coach D thinks he had a family emergency.
Nalani:
But can’t confirm or deny because his phone is off.
Sofie:
You are in so much trouble for holding out on me. ME of all people!
Me:
Worth it?
Nalani:
Better be. At least tell me it tastes like champagne.
Sofie:
STOP.
Me:
Noelle, blink twice if you need rescue. Just … not yet. Get it, girl!
Deacon:
He’s back
Me:
Trouble?
Deacon:
By the look on his face, it was worth it.
The Detroit game was incredible! Deacon was amazing, and Dash? Even in the doghouse and probably with much less sleep than needed, he got a hat trick.
The text messages remain epic; all of us are so happy for her and can’t wait until we get full details. Instead, over the next couple of days, we get internet updates, including Dash and Noelle running a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in her hometown.
Naked, sweaty, and panting, I look up at the ceiling, and Deacon rolls to his side, pushing my hair back. He asks, “Are we going to talk about this or—”
“I’ve been able to ignore it and have had a grand time living vicariously through Noelle and Dash’s epic … whatever it is.” I roll over. “And this,” I grab his dick. “This helps too.”
He kisses my forehead, “It’s a court date.”
I flop back, “It’s a court date.”
“It’s going to take some time, but you know I’m all about building a strong defense, even if I know it’s going to ruin me.”
“You’re the best goalie on the team, stats don’t lie.”
“You do know I was speaking metaphorically, and I could give a shit less about that, I have different priorities now.”
I turn my head and look at him, “You do know that if we did this, and things went bad, I could still end up having to share her?”
“I would never do that to you,” he says, and I know, God, how I know he means it.
“I could never do that to her.”
He flops onto his back, “If it ever came to that, I am still the better option.”
“What if you find a psychopath and—”
“Let me be straight, you are it, and I don’t play a game I am not dedicated to and intent on winning.” She presses her nose into the crook of my neck. “I’m so far gone for you that there is no turning back.”
Me too. I think, but I turn and look at him, “Same.”