“Bring Lucky along.”
“I’ll ask him about it tonight.”
“Cool.” She sounds chipper. “Awesome.”
32
Lucky
I can’t believeshe talked me into coming to this stupid party. I’d seen the signs up all over the complex about it, but I’d ignored it. It’s not like I don’t enjoy a good party; it’s just I don’t enjoy one being thrown by a bunch of undergrads.
Now, before you think I’m a snob, that’s not it. I’m older than most of these yahoos, and it’s obvious that I’m over this kind of thing. But Becklyn isn’t. She’s just getting started, so I’m going to do what I can to support her. Not to mention the fact that there’s no way I’d let her go to one of these things without me. Not now. Not anymore.
Not after the last couple of weeks.
A couple of weeks of us spending every evening together like an old married couple. Shit. I’m smiling just thinking about it. The only thing that’s different is that we haven’t slept together. Literally or figuratively. I’ve walked her to her place every night. At her door, I’ve pressed her up against it and kissed her like I’m never going to see her again. It feels that way sometimes; like she’s my world and the minute she walks through her door, everything stops.
Sure, that sounds overly dramatic, but I’m just telling you my take.
“You made it.” I look up and see my girl racing toward me. She nearly knocks me down as she throws herself at me, her arms wrapping around my neck. I wince a little, but there’s not a lot of pain. Plus, I’ve got it wrapped up pretty tight. I was worried one or more of the yahoos I mentioned would bump into me.
“Of course I made it.”
“Isn’t this party crazy?”
I look around the place and do a mental calculation of the size of the group. “Pretty crazy.”
“Deena’s around here somewhere.” She’s up on her tiptoes, doing her best to see over the crowd. I spotted her roommate a little while ago.
“She’s hanging with Theo Blazek.”
“She is?” Becklyn starts to jump up and down in an attempt to see the quarterback. “She didn’t tell me she called him.”
I shrug, because I have no idea what she’s talking about. And honestly, I don’t really care. I’m only here for her.
“Where are they? She said he was almost as good-looking as you.” She winks at me. “Almost.”
“Good to know.” I raise my arm and point to the far corner of the room. “Over there.”
“Let’s go. You want to meet him?”
“Uh.” How do I tell her that I already know him? I guess I’ll just say it. “We’re friends.”
She stops suddenly and turns to face me. “You are? With the starting quarterback of our football team?”
“He’s not that good.” Okay, he’s pretty good. He may even go pro, but we’re going to need some offensive linemen who can stop the blitz.
“I thought he was really good.” Becklyn looks confused. “So, if you know him, is he a good guy?”
“He’s cool.” And he is. We work out together from time to time at the university gym. I’ve had a beer or two with him as well. “I don’t know how he is with his dates, though.” We don’t get personal.
“’Sokay.” Becklyn sounds a little tipsy.
“You been drinkin’ babe?”
“I had one,” she holds up one finger, “beer.”
“You gonna have more?”
