Page 63 of Finally Home
I grimace and stop near the entrance so I can shoot one last text to Wren, waving the guys on to the table.
Me
Wish you were here, Starling. This is so not my scene.
Starling
Didn’t you just get there? It can’t be that bad already.
Me
Trust me, it is. It smells worse in here than our locker room after a summer of brutal practices.
Starling
Oh so you’re used to it then lol. Go have some fun, babe. You’ve earned it.
Me
Fine, but can we have a different kind of fun when I get home tomorrow?
Starling
Be a good boy and let loose tonight, and I promise to do something extra fun when you get home.
Me
You don’t play fair, but I love you anyway, my little tease. ??
Starling
Love you too ?? Oh and hey I need to catch you up on the Derrick thing when you get home. Nothing bad, but I saw him today and wanted you to hear it from me.
Me
Okay, baby. Are you safe?
Starling
Perfectly safe and settled at Dad’s.
*image*
Me
Goddamn, Starling. You look better in my number than I do. I expect to see you in that and nothing else on Monday night.
Starling
Already on it. ??
I’m really glad I wore my Wren Luck Charm hoodie tonight because her text about Derrick has my anxiety ready to spiral. I know she’s home safe, and she wouldn’t see him alone after promising me she’d have backup, So I need to trust that she knew what she was doing. I slide my phone into my jeans pocket with a sigh and glance up, stumbling back in shock to find three smirking men inches from my face.
“Hey!” I shout with a laugh. “What are you guys doing here?”
Jamie, Wes, and Asher look happy to see me, and it feels really good to know they like me, especially given how they felt about Derrick. Wes even pulls me into a hug, surprising the hell out of me.
It’s nearly impossible to hear their responses on the dance floor, so we make our way to one of the roped-off booths to a chorus of friendly boos from my teammates. They all know who the guys are in some capacity and like to give me shit for “fraternizing with the enemy.” I don’t see Copeland or Aidan, so I’m guessing they’re dancing or at the bar.