Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CAITLIN
Smart Bitches
Me
Taco and margarita night next week. Friday. I happen to know the guys are all going to Oliver’s game, and Cam is taking Ethan with him.
I don’t know what Riley’s plans are, but she’s fourteen and it’s Friday night, so I assume she has something.
Maya
Do my eyes deceive me? Is Caitlin Parker initiating a gossip sesh?
Me
Don’t make it a whole thing.
Emmy
Oh you better believe we will, my beautiful bestie.
Maddy
We absolutely will. Riley has a school dance next Friday night. She’s having an after-party sleepover at a friend’s, so my house will be kid and man free.
Sophie
Perfect. Now, Cait, explain.
Me
Explain what?
Sarah
Explain why you’re calling a taco night. It’s Drew, right? You had sex with him and have been having sleepovers ever since. Please tell me that’s the reason you weren’t home at six in the morning three days this past week.
Me
How do you know I wasn’t home three mornings?
Sarah
Had to be at school early. I drive by your house on my way there, and I didn’t see your car in front. It was there this morning though.
Me
Two of those mornings were Saturday and Sunday. You go to school on the weekends?
Sarah
I may have signed up for early morning spin classes for the sole purpose of having an excuse to see if your car was there.
Sophie
Getting up before six to suss out if Caitlin slept with Drew? That is a dedication to gossip I can respect and admire. All the stars, Sar.
Sarah
You can’t see me but I’m taking a bow.
Me
You should really mind your own business.
Sophie
Obviously your business is our business. Now, don’t make us wait. The first time was after the game last week, right?
Are you officially a card-carrying member of the very exclusive club of women who know what sex fueled by post-game professional athlete adrenaline feels like?
Maddy
Please say yes.
Maya
I swear to god, if Sarah and Emmy find themselves football players too and I’m the only one of us without one of those cards, I’m going to lose my shit.
The dating world is even bleaker than usual this week.
Maddy
Another hair flosser?
Maya
Worse. This one told me he was going to the bathroom, but instead he hunted down our waitress to change my order because I didn’t order what he recommended.
What he recommended had cashews in the sauce, but what’s a little anaphylaxis between friends?
Sophie
Holy shit, My, are you okay?
Maya
Yeah, I caught it before I ate it, so the EpiPen stayed in my purse, but it was a little too close for comfort.
I think maybe it’s time I dipped my toe into the playboy athlete pool and gave up on finding The One.
Emmy
You know football isn’t the only professional sport in the city. We have an in with a team full of hockey players that not one single one of us has taken advantage of and that’s just sad.
Sarah
He Who Shall Not Be Named had a hockey playing brother, and the smell of that gear put me off hockey players forever. Pass.
Emmy
Are you sure it was the smell of the gear and not the fact that He Who Shall Not Be Named is king of the assholes who will be forever dead to us?
Sarah
It was years ago. I’m over it. Wishing anyone dead is bad karma.
Me
Well I’m not over it. He’s deader than dead to me.
Sophie
Same.
Maddy
Absolutely same.
Maya
I mean, obviously same, but the fighting in hockey is so fucking sexy. I think I could overlook a whole lot for a guy who drops his gloves and just…goes for it like that.
Me
I don’t know. I can’t help but wonder what they have to be so angry about. Men already have it easy, and those guys are being paid millions of dollars to hit a puck around.
Why is it such a big deal if someone fights their goalie? Professional sports are weird.
Maddy
And yet that didn’t stop you from going home with Drew after the game last week.
Sarah
And sleeping at his house three nights since.
Sophie
About that. We’ll be needing some of those details. Now, preferably.
Me
Next Friday.
Sophie
That’s one possibility. The other possibility is you tell us now. Just one teeny tiny detail. Pretty please with a cherry on top?
Me
Isn’t it weird to give you a sex detail in a text message?
Sarah
A SEX DETAIL OH MY GOD [row of applause emojis]
Maya
Are you applauding sex?
Sarah
Of course I’m applauding sex. I’m especially applauding Caitlin’s sex, and the fact that she’s willing to share it.
Me
I share.
Emmy
[eyeroll emoji]
You occasionally share unimportant details when we drag them out of you. This is neither unimportant nor tiny. Unless it was tiny?
Maya
It being Drew’s dick, in case you don’t speak Emmy.
Maddy
I think after all these years of friendship, we all speak Emmy.
Me
It didn’t feel tiny when I was riding it while fully clothed. It also didn’t feel tiny when he literally came in his pants just after I did. And I know for sure it isn’t tiny because I saw it with my own eyes. Had it inside me many, many times.
No one is saying anything.
Sophie
I had to take a beat. I have no words. I’m wordless.
Sarah
I have SO MANY WORDS but they are all versions of OMFGOMGOMGHFKDKDAENFJEFHE [fire emoji][panting emoji][melting emoji]
Maya
You win the smart bitch of the week award on account of making the hottest Renegade come in his pants. You are an icon. Someone should erect a statue in your honor.
Sophie
Tyler is the hottest Renegade. Drew is, at minimum, number two.
Maddy
Tyler and Cam can duke it out for number one. Drew drops to three.
Maya
No way. He’s got that playboy golden retriever thing mixed with just a hint of something darker that wins him the title, hands down.
Me
I…can’t argue with that.
Sarah
I’m screaming. Literally screaming.
Maddy
I love this so much I don’t even know what to do with myself right now. Justice for dry humping though because it’s so hot and there should definitely be more of it, not less.
Emmy
I know you’re in your hyper-focus era and working at home this week, but I feel like I need to come over and present you with a gold medal and all the ice cream in the world.
Me
It’s really not that big of a deal.
Sophie
It is, Cait. It is a big deal. Not just what happened. The fact that you told us about it. Thank you for sharing.
Me
I have more to tell you. More I want to tell you. I just need some time. Next Friday, okay?
Maddy
Definitely next Friday.
Sarah
We’re going to need extra queso for this.
Maya
And ice cream. So much ice cream.
Emmy
You don’t even like ice cream that much, weirdo.
Maya
Nah, but Cait does and she called this meeting, which means you better get all the best flavors.
Sophie
I’m on it.
Me
I really love you guys.
Maddy
We love you too.
Maya
So much, Cate.
“Catie.”
At the sound of Drew’s voice, my head snaps up, phone falling from my hands onto the blanket covering my legs.
He’s standing at the entrance to my curtained-off area, tall and gorgeous and perfect in black joggers and a cozy-looking gray hoodie, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and relief.
But there’s something deeper there too. A something that has my beleaguered belly swooping.
I don’t know whether it’s the look or the fact that I just made plans to come clean to my friends about what’s been going on with me or my defenses being low from everything I’ve been through today, but to my utter shock and surprise, tears swim into my eyes and cascade down my cheeks before I can stop them.
My instinct is to brush them away, but I don’t because the man I have deep and complicated feelings for is looking at me like he sees the whole of me, and I am suddenly desperate to be seen.
By him, and judging from everything I just texted my friends, by them too.
But mostly him.
“You came,” I manage.
Drew is next to the bed in two strides, taking the empty chair that has haunted me since six this morning, and when I see him sitting there, something deep inside me slots into place, like this space was meant to be filled by him.
Without a word, he takes both my hands in his and kisses the back of each then cups my face, kissing me softly and resting his forehead against mine.
His thumbs sweep over my cheeks and wipe the tears away.
“You called, Catie. I’ll always come when you call. ”
“I needed you.” My voice is a raspy whisper, but the words come more easily than I expect, so I try for a few more. “I didn’t think I needed anyone, but I really needed you.”
“Oh baby,” Drew says quietly, pressing kisses to both my cheeks. “I really like being needed by you.”
“I swear it’s not just because the hospital wouldn’t let me leave without having someone to take me home and I didn’t feel like explaining this whole thing to my family today.” I pause, considering my words. “Okay, I guess it’s a little because of that.”
Drew smiles, pressing his lips to mine again.
“Princess, I don’t give one single shit about the reason.
I’m just happy you called. I know asking for help from anyone isn’t easy for you, and I’m glad you chose me.
That you knew you could. I’m…happy to see your face,” he says, a flash of anxiety-tinged relief crossing his.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my hands coming up to circle his forearms.
He shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Is it really nothing or are you saying it’s nothing because I just had a surgeon digging around my insides and my best-case scenario is being diagnosed with a chronic and incurable gynecological condition because then at least there’s something to treat?”
Drew huffs out a laugh, which is the exact response I was hoping for. “That one.” He pauses, eyes bouncing around the room. “My dad texted me earlier when I was hanging out with the guys. More about how he wants to see me. Come to one of my games. It…affected me is all.”
I suspect that’s not all. Not nearly. But I can also see he’d rather be here now than in whatever memories and feelings the texts dredged up, so here is where I’ll keep him. “I’m glad you told me. When you’re ready you can tell me more. Or not. Not is okay too.”