“I told you that I’d make it to one of the games! I even brought a friend with me.” She glances over to me before she focuses back on Garrett. Both of us know what she’s saying, her friend should be sitting next to her. He’s already nodding his head, not letting his smile drop as his attention stays on her.
Dude totally has a crush on her.
“That’s perfect! Dom, can you move down a bit more so we can fit one more chair between us?” I chuckle but turn to do as he asked. Garrett has always been a flirt and is not as innocent as his left dimple lets on, but he’s a romantic through and through. I strongly suspect that ninety percent of his future wedding is planned. He wears his heart on his sleeve, which has scared off alot of women who aren’t ready for commitment. Yet, he doesn’t let it get him down, he says it’s for the best and he’s perfectly fine waiting until he can find someone who can handle every bit of him.
“I’m going to take a wild guess and say that you’re Lilly, the friend that Paige brings up every single day and somehow even more since your first draft got pushed through to Sam.” Garrett bumps me slightly as he helps set up a second chair between us and the sound of the most adorable giggle has me smiling before I finish turning around.
“Every single day, huh?”
While the other two from Garrett’s office move past us to set up on the other side of him, Lilly stays beside me, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as she smiles teasingly at her friend.
Her hair is braided back, but a few stray curls are already falling out and framing her slightly freckled, tan face. My sister would be proud of me for being able to tell that she doesn’t have a lot of makeup on, only some of that mascara stuff that makes the green in her hazel eyes pop. The faint dimples that have appeared as she smiles draws my attention to her lips, the way her bottom one sticks out has me thinking of how it would feel between my teeth. Considering Garrett and I are both just over six feet, it’s no surprise that we have height on these girls. Lilly’s head would probably sit right at my pecs if I were to hug her.
Paige’s laugh draws me away from those thoughts, reminding me to not just stand here staring at her friend.
“Oh hush, like you don’t talk about me just as much. Fifteen years of friendship means I can relate almost anything back to you.” Paige pulls her straight black hair up into a messy bun as she turns toward me.
“I’m assuming you’re the BFF that big guy over here talks about just as much as I talk about Lilly.” Laughing, I offer my hand for Paige to shake.
“I’m Dominik, thebig guy’soldest friend.” The smirk of mischief that flashes over her face has me smiling at Garrett. I’ve known her for less than five minutes and I can already tell that she is exactly his type. Paige is the definition of a spitfire. Garrett glares at me over her head as Paige lets my hand go, laughing as she turns to Lilly.
“Come my little Lil, we need drinks.” They go to move past me, but I stop them and glance at Garrett.
“Actually, Gare-bear and I were about to go grab some drinks anyway, what do you both like?”
Sarah had once told me about students on her campus getting roofied, and while it’s unlikely for that to happen here, I can’t squash the protectiveness that takes root. At least if we get the drinks, I know everyone is safe.
Garrett takes one look at me and nods as he moves to pass Paige and Lilly. He stops in his tracks as Paige throws her head back and laughs.
“Hold up.Gare-bear!?” As she loses herself in a fit of laughter, Lilly stands next to her, shaking her head in amusement at her friend’s joy. Garrett doesn’t even seem to care that I gave Paige a new name to use against him, he’s too busy watching her in clear adoration as she struggles to talk through her laughter.
“How have I never thought of that one?! It’s my new favorite, and I will no longer call you anything else.” He tries to glare at me, but it just causes me to join in on Paige’s laughing fit. Leaning toward Paige, but still watching Garrett, I make sure to raise my voice so he can hear me.
“I’ll fill you in on some of his favorite pet names and his hidden tickle spots later.”
“You two are trouble waiting to happen.” Garrett grumbles while Paige and I beam smiles at him in response.
“You have no one to blame but yourself. You dragged me here.” I sass back, earning a laugh from Lilly.
“Good to know I’m not the only one with a best friend who drags me places!” She exclaims.
“The things we do for our friends.” I say dramatically.
“We’re either the biggest push-overs ever or just suckers for pretty smiles.” Lilly shakes her head, a wide grin spreading across her face.
“Aw, dude, do you think I have a pretty smile?” Garrett bats his eyes and grins at me, causing me to roll my eyes and sigh as I turn toward Lilly.
“That’s going to go straight to his oversized ego.” My heart skips a beat as she laughs. The sound of her joy and the perfect smile on her face has me wanting to give her reasons to do both again.
Clearing my throat as that thought crosses through my mind, I nod back to Garrett and position myself to step away.
“So, what can we get you ladies to drink?”
“Damn it, this isn’t good.” Lilly turns to me with a raised eyebrow and amusement shining back at me as she questions my remark.
“The home team being up two to zero at the start of the final period isn’t good?” I chuckle.
“No, that’s fucking amazing. The team is killing. What isn’t good is that I’m going to have to tell Garrett that he was right.” I groan at the thought while Lilly giggles next to me.
