Page 101 of Off Sides
Brendon immediately perks up. “Give him the keys, P Man.”
Paul sighs and shakes his head but gives me the keys.
“If you don’t come back with a cinnamon roll, I will be your worst nightmare.” Brendon pokes me in the chest, and I believe him. He’s so random that I believe he could actually fuck with me.
“I promise.”
A smile breaks out on his face and he bounds away to the elevator with Paul muttering something about puppies behind him.
Joey comes out of his room and looks at me suspiciously. “Why are you standing out here alone, like a creeper?”
“I was talking to Paul and Brendon.” I hold up the keys. “Come on, I have plans.”
“That should make me nervous, shouldn’t it?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
But he follows me out of the building and while it takes us a minute to find the car, we do, and I head to the bakery. I need a hug from Debbi and some pastries.
“I don’t want to hide you anymore,” Joey says, forcing nonchalance. When I glance at him, he’s picking at his fingers and chewing on that damn lip again. He’s out to the team, since half of them saw me kiss him, and no one gossips like jocks, but I don’t know about his family or anyone else.
“That’s cool, I’m here for it.” I’m really past the point of anyone giving a shit about my sex life. “Does that mean I can introduce you to someone important to me?”
He glances at me, a soft smile on his face, and nods. “Yeah, I would like that.”
While the light is red, I give him a quick kiss and squeeze his thigh.
Since Joey wasn’t with us when Brendon and Paul met Debbi, he doesn’t know where we’re headed until he sees the bakery name, Whisk Me Away.
“No.”
I smile like the Cheshire cat. “Yes.”
“I cannot face that woman after you ate her dessert off my dick!” He points toward the shop like I don’t know who he’s talking about.
“She doesn’t know that unless you tell her.” I pat his cheek. “If you’re easily embarrassed, I suggest not telling her that.”
I climb out of the car and turn to see Joey in the front seat with his arms crossed. Pulling open his door, I duck down to look at him.
“If you don’t come in and meet her, she’ll think you hate her, and her pastries.” I shrug. “Up to you.”
Joey growls but pushes me back so he can get out.
“Good boy.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” I wink at him and open the door for him to enter. The little bell on the handle rings and Debbi pops her head out of the back.
“Nick!” She dusts her hand off on her apron and comes around the counter to give me a hug. I hug her right back, not giving a single fuck if I’m covered in flour afterward. “It’s been too long. How are you?”
“I’m good, busy trying to finish my classes.”
I watch Joey inspect the display cases like he’s from the health department and stifle a snort. It’s so painfully obvious that he’s trying to avoid talking to her.
She glances over at him too and gives me a weird look. I smile and shake my head before loudly saying, “This is my boyfriend, Joey.”
Joey spins around to stare at me, wide-eyed, but a little smile is tugging on his lips. I wink at him and Debbi gives him a big smile.