Chapter 6 Flirting
CHAPTER SIX
FLIRTING
COLSEN
“Come on, man. Drink up.” Tucker slams a shot glass full of clear liquid in front of me, making the contents slosh all over the table.
“What the fuck did you even order?” I ask him, eyeing the shot glass suspiciously. “I thought you were our designated driver tonight, anyway.” I can’t help the accusation in my voice as I glare at my teammate.
Tucker is one of my best friends on the team, but I’ve been worried about him for the past year or so.
He started last year as usual, partying, hooking up with a different girl every weekend and planning one prank after the other.
Then our former team captain’s sister moved into Luke’s condo on campus and Tucker got a huge crush on her.
When Bex didn’t seem to notice but started dating our starting center Jamie Hart, Tucker didn’t take it very well.
“Dude,” I grab his wrist before he can take the shot glass to his mouth. “Are you ok? Remember what happened last time you overdid it with the booze at the art center opening last year?”
His jaw ticks and his smile falters, but it just lasts for a couple of seconds. His usual, easy going grin is back in the blink of an eye. “Yeah, I know. I tried to grope Bex and made a fool of myself. Don’t remind me.”
That wasn’t my intention, but I would be a shitty friend if I didn’t look out for him. “You promised Coach you would keep the drinking under control. I don’t think drinking and driving is the way to start the summer.”
Tucker lowers himself into the chair next to mine, and his voice goes down so that I’m the only one who can hear him in the crowded outdoor area of Joe’s bar.
“I bought a round of tequila, but my glass is filled with water. I asked the bartender to keep giving me water all night.”
I shake my head at his revelation. “Why fake it? Who cares if you aren’t drinking?”
“The guys and I are trying to get Mack laid.” He says, as if that explained everything.
“And?” Tucker’s thought process isn’t always linear.
He shrugs. “I don’t know, I don’t want to be a party pooper. I think the man needs a few drinks in him to make sure he doesn’t cave when Gen shows up. Talia told me the bitch’s on the warpath and wants Mack back.”
“Wait a sec, didn’t she dump him? That’s what I heard her saying last week at the graduation party we threw for Luke and the others.”
Tucker shakes his head. “No. He ended things with her. Fucking finally.”
I try my best not to meddle in other people’s love lives, but I can’t help but agree with Tucker. “I hope he stands his ground. Gen is beautiful on the outside, but the rest could use some serious work. She and Mack go way back, though, right?”
“Yeah, they grew up together. Their fathers used to be teammates and best friends.” Tucker confirms.
“Do you know what made him pull the plug on their relationship? Did she cheat or something?”
Tucker lowers his voice again. “It’s not my story to tell; you’ll have to ask Mack. But let’s have fun tonight and make sure Gen sees that our boy has moved on, yeah?”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. But what about you? Still holding a candle for Bex?”
“Shut the fuck up, dude.” Tucker’s tone hardens for a moment, but it’s fleeting. “The heart wants what the heart wants, and I’m not completely over her. I know it’s stupid because she’s never seen me that way, but I can’t turn my feelings on and off that easily.”
I feel bad for Tucker. Most people stop at the front he puts on and think he’s a jackass.
But if they bothered to look beyond his cocky exterior and the endless pranks, they would see an entirely different man.
The Tucker I know is a loyal friend and devoted big brother, and has a huge, sensitive heart he hides from anyone outside his inner circle.
“No one is talking about feelings.” I tell him. “You should just get laid to take your mind off of Bex.”
He barks out a laugh, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Nah, pass. Been there, done that. On the other hand,” he lowers his voice again, pointing out our new teammate Nash, who’s just coming back from the restroom.
“Our new boy there looks awfully tense. We should make sure he finds a hookup too.”
I grab his shoulder in the hope that for once in his life Tucker will listen to me. “Leave him alone, dude. He just got here. He might have left a girlfriend at his old school. We know nothing about him.”
As predicted, Tucker is one stubborn motherfucker. “He’s single. I asked him earlier, while we were connecting all of our game consoles to the TV in our new apartment at camp.”
“Still.” I caution him. “Give him a second to acclimate before you make him one of your pet projects.”
“No can do.” His grin widens. “The dude needs to relax before training starts. Or he’ll never survive one year under Coach Harrison.”
It seems that Tucker’s plan to get people laid is to lower their inhibitions with alcohol.
“Here, Nash.” He offers him a shot from the tray he brought to the table.
Then he raises his voice to get the attention of the rest of our teammates who are spread out across two more neighboring tables.
“Does everyone have a shot? Let’s toast to summer training and to another season at the top of our game. Frozen Four, baby!”
Everyone raises their shot glass and joins in.
“Frozen Four!” we all yell before tossing back our drinks.
“So,” Tucker rubs his palms together in anticipation.
“This year there are some really cool rides on this pier and I think we should try them all. Who wants to ride the mechanical rocket?” He points out a mechanical bull in the shape of a pink rocket—whoever chose that shape and color was either trying to be suggestive on purpose or very na?ve—”I bet I’m gonna stay on it longer than all of you. ”
There’s a middle-aged man climbing on that thing right now and he lasts less than two seconds.
“Oof.” I flinch when he lands on the mat in a humiliated heap. “No, thanks. That’s an injury waiting to happen. And if we get hurt riding that rocket, you might as well find a real rocket and leave the planet when Coach Harrison finds out how you got hurt.”
For once Tucker finds a little sensibility in his daredevil attitude. “You’re right. I can’t risk getting hurt after Coach vouched for me with the Dean and with the GM of the Los Angeles Gladiators.”
I slap him on the back. “Atta boy. You’re twenty-two; it’s time to keep that head of yours firmly planted on your shoulders.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Tucker sighs. “I know. Coach called me immature and a pain in his ass, and I don’t even want to tell you what my dad said when he heard about this fucking mess with those two classes.”
“Hey guys,” Nash, our newest teammate and roommate, gets up from his seat. “I’m gonna get a beer, and after that, I’m calling it a night. Would you like one too?”
The new guy has been mostly quiet, so I decide to accept his offer, not wanting to look standoffish. “Sure, thanks. I’ll get you next time if you’re leaving. Get Tucker a near beer, though. He’s driving.”
Tucker makes a gagging nose. “No fucking way. That shit tastes weird. Can you get me a soda water with lime instead? At least I can pretend it’s vodka soda.” He whispers to me after Nash walks back inside the bar.
I’m about to give him shit about it. “A man should be able to choose if he wants to drink or not without being judged…”
The words die in my mouth when a large group of women steps out on the boardwalk from inside the bar.
I recognize Talia, Sam, and most of the Zetas, including Gen and her minions.
But my eyes are immediately drawn to the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. She has long, wavy blonde hair that flows around her like a halo of spun gold. Her white dress hugs her perfect curves, the light color popping in contrast with her sun kissed skin.
I have the chance to take a better look when the group walks by us on the way to a table that has just become vacant.
She’s only wearing minimal makeup, letting her natural beauty shine through.
Her gaze lands on me for just one second. I’ve never understood all that sappy, romantic crap about love at first sight, but I swear my heart skips a beat. I’m not saying that I’m in love with her but holy shit, her green eyes send a current of electricity all over my body.
My lips part as I try to catch my breath.
For a second I’ve forgotten where I am, but Tucker’s voice brings me back to the present as I hear him gasp.
“Holy shit,” Tucker says, echoing exactly my thoughts. “Who’s that blonde girl who’s talking to my sister? She must be a tourist, definitely someone coming from out of town. There’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed her if she had been going to school with us.”
I make a noise of agreement, still too taken by the blonde beauty to articulate any coherent words.
“I need to meet her.” Tucker says, again giving voice to my own sentiment.
“Well, she seems to be quite friendly with Talia.” I offer, finally able to speak again. “Maybe she can introduce you.”
Tucker’s eyes narrow as he looks at his sister.
“Hmm, I don’t know about that. You know Tal.
She’s gonna start telling her stories about me and kill any shot I might have with that hot girl.
No, I’m gonna do this properly. I’m gonna buy her a drink first, and then go over there to introduce myself.
Hey Sandy,” he waves to a waitress who just served another table in our section. “Do you mind coming here for a second?”
TARYN
“How’s your margarita?” Jodie asks, taking a sip of her vodka cranberry.
“Delicious. Do you want to try some?” I offer her my glass, and my best friend’s brown eyes widen when the cold, tart cocktail hits her tongue. “Good, huh?”
Jodie licks a little of the salt from the rim of the glass off her upper lip. “I’m gonna have one of those next.”
A waitress, carrying one single margarita on a silver tray, stops by our table, clearing her throat. “This is for you.” She says, placing the new cocktail in front of me. “From the gentleman over there.”