Sulley’s family was in town this week so Vance didn’t see much of her. He’s just as much on edge for tonight as I am, so much so he doesn’t realize I, too, am freaking out.
I’m aimlessly rubbing BJ’s belly because she swallowed her steak whole and is now suffering the effects, when Beau interrupts my thoughts. “What’s wrong with you, D? You’re a million miles away.”
I look down at BJ, willing her to help me come up with an adequate deflection. “Oh…umm…I was just thinking about what a dog and a near-sighted gynecologist have in common.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “What?”
I plaster the biggest, fakest smile I can muster. “A wet nose.”
The guys all burst into laughter and don’t bother me about my weird mood anymore. Crisis averted.
We talk and laugh throughout dinner. Vance keeps checking his phone to see when the girls are done with their dinner, anxious to get to Sulley. I wish my girl was texting me when they’re done.
My girl. Fuck, why do I think of her that way? Is she my girl?
Champ tells us about a new guy he’s been dating. We tellhim to invite the man to join us tonight, but Champ maintains that he doesn’t want to be the poster child for gay professional football players.
I shake my head. “That’s bullshit. Fuck what anyone thinks. You should be free to be you, however and wherever you want. We’ve got your back, brother.”
He gives me a small smile. “I know. But for every one of you, there’s someone else who’s ignorant. You’ve seen the bigotry I’ve dealt with, and that’s just on our team. Imagine how bad it is in the world.”
I nod in understanding. We have a player on our team, Reece Sanders, who treats Champ like a leper because of his sexuality. It drives us all nuts. A new rookie is threatening his job. We’re hoping Reece gets cut before the season. If he doesn’t, Vance, Beau, and I have discussed talking to management about Reece’s unacceptable behavior. Coach hates him too. We know he’ll have our back on this issue.
“They’re ready,” Vance excitedly announces as he stands, holding up his phone.
I chuckle. For a guy in a secret relationship, he’s not doing a very good job of hiding it. Beau and Champ aren’t supposed to know about him and Sulley.
Beau raises an eyebrow at me in question. I shrug, pretending I have no idea why Vance is wriggling around like a virgin on prom night.
I stand too. “Can you guys clean the dishes? I’m going to change my clothes. I’ll be right back.”
“Why?” Beau asks. “You never give a shit about what you look like. It’s weird enough that you have a real haircut and an evenly shaved beard. Clean clothes too? What’s this world coming to?”
I want to look nice for Kennedy tonight, but I can’t say that, so I just give him the finger and say, “I smell like the smoke from the grill. I slaved away making nice steaks for you fuckers.You can give me ten minutes to jump in the shower and change my clothes.”
Forty minutes later, we walk into the club. I’m in khaki slacks and a clean, fitted, black T-shirt that shows off my muscles. The guys were relentless with me over how nicely I’m dressed. Do I really always look like shit? I suppose I know the answer to that. I’ve never cared about how I look for anyone.Until now.
The bouncer allows us to butt to the front of the line and tells us the girls and Presley are already at our usual table in the VIP area.
Vance takes the steps two at a time. It’s good that he’s taking all the attention because my own excitement would otherwise be hard to hide. I’m right behind him, barely able to contain the quickening beating of my heart.
My eyes immediately find my girl. She takes my breath away. She’s so beautiful. Her ponytail and makeup are perfect, as they always are when we go out…and pretty much all the time. I don’t know what she did with her eye makeup tonight, but her green eyes sparkle particularly brightly.
She’s wearing tight, black leather shorts that show off her mile-long legs with some sort of tiny white silky top that leaves little to the imagination. And I don’t have to imagine anymore because I’ve seen the sultry perfection that lies underneath those clothes.
I have to adjust myself just thinking about her naked body. I’m hoping for a repeat performance tonight. How much longer do we have to stay here before she and I can leave together?
The table erupts in laughter just as we approach. “What’s so funny?” I ask with a smile.
Kennedy’s eyes meet mine, but I can’t get a read on her. She’s looking at me like she used to. With annoyance. I must be misreading it.
She gives me a less-than-warm glare. “I was just tellingthem that I can sit on TikTok for hours, watching videos of cement being power washed, thinking it’s absolutely brilliant. Then I’ll watch some award-winning documentary on Netflix and think it’s total crap.”
I chuckle. “That’s very true. I watched two straight hours the other day of someone popping pimples on TikTok. I couldn’t stop. It’s intoxicating.”
She doesn’t smile. She narrows her eyes at me. “You know what else pops up on my feed? Topless videos of my father working out. I’ve recently learned he doesn’t post them himself. Someone else does it.”
I grimace, but the guys burst out laughing. Champ elbows me. “Oh man, you’re so busted.” He looks at Kennedy. “Does Coach know? He’ll tear Daylen a new one if he finds out.”
