It’s ridiculously nice, and telling himthank youdoesn’t seem like enough.
“I’m good.” I squeeze his arm. “I felt great out there today.”
“You looked great too. Are you going to come out with us?”
“You’re going?”
“Thought I would. It really was a great win, and celebrating sounds like a good time.”
“I wasn’t planning on it. A hot shower, a glass of wine, and a warm dinner in my pajamas sound way more enjoyable than loud music and three hundred people.”
“What if I make it worth your while?” He trails his fingers down my shoulder. “It would be fun. An excuse to touch you out in public, and no one would know I’ve already been inside you.”
A club is my idea of hell, but I don’t doubt Maverick’s ability to change my mind.
Dark corners and loud music. A hand on my waist when our teammates aren’t around and standing close so we don’t get separated.
It’s risky, but he makes me want to break the rules.
“Okay,” I say, and his lips pull up into a smile. “On two conditions.”
“Name them,” he says right away.
“I get my favorite ice cream at the end of the night, and you give me a piggyback ride on the way back to the hotel when we’re finished dancing.”
“One pint of chocolate chip and having your legs wrapped around me? Done and done.” He hops onto the bus and offersme his hand so I don’t slip on the icy steps. “You’re making this too easy.”
“We’ll see if you’re still saying that when you’re exhausted and climbing up the hill outside our hotel.”
His pinky hooks around mine before he drops his hand away and plops into a seat. “I can’t wait to see what you’re going to wear tonight.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. It’s just something I threw in my bag.” I scan the open spots on the bus and decide to sit next to Maverick. “I’ll probably look like a troll.”
“You could never look like a troll, Red.”
“Grant.” I turn around, and he pops his head up. “What time are we going?”
“You’re coming, Emmy? Holy crap. A road win against a divisional rival. My favorite person on the team is healthy again, not murdered, and joining us at the club. Can today get any better?”
“Hey. I thought I was your favorite person on the team,” Seymour says, and Grant rolls his eyes.
“You got demoted weeks ago. I’m thinking we’ll meet at nine. It gives everyone time to chill so we can rage until dawn. Three days off after this—we’re goinghard.”
“Our flight is at six.” Maverick yawns. “You can’t rage past that.”
I rifle through my purse and try to find my phone. “Can I invite Piper?”
I got an earful when she got back from visiting family, a twenty minute speech in the living room about how next time I need to call or text her the second I feel sick, and I’ve missed her.
“The more the merrier.” He looks around the bus until he finds Lexi, and he lights up. “Did you hear that, Lex? The girls are coming out tonight. Will you come too?”
“Say please,” she says, and I swear I see hearts in Grant’s eyes. “And maybe I’ll think about it.”
“Please come.” He drops to his knees in the aisle, and Hudson steps over him to get to his seat, shaking his head. “I’ll get you whatever kind of drink you want, and I’ll make sure no creeps hit on you.”
“Does that meanyouwon’t hit on me either?” she asks, and the bus breaks out into a chorus ofoohs.
“Kids these days.” Maverick yawns again and scratches the cut on his cheek. “They don’t know when to stop.”
