“What is the point then? Why are you calling me when you have someone to talk to in person?”
“Because I need you to come pick her up and return her to her home.”
“Return her?” Chance laughs. “Mav, she’s not a dog. I’m sure she had her reasons for leaving.”
“I don’t care what her reasons are. I just… need you to come and help her out.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, mate. But you’re on your own this time.”
“Chance! Fuck.”
“You need to get to Chicago. Now, so does she. It’s a win-win.” He chuckles. “So go win, champ. See you. Call me along the way so Aubrey and I can reminisce.”
“You asshole. I told you, it’s not like that…”
Silence. The bastard hung up on me.
“You really are a cocky bastard, aren’t you?” I say into my phone.
I try Colton next.
He’s with a realtor looking for a place to live, but he says Dylan’s nearby. “He met some girl last night and she lives out by San Bernardino.” Colt laughs. “You know Dyl. He doesn’t have a good track record with women. He’s already texted me that he’s leaving her place.”
Perfect. I text Dylan and ask him to meet me at the motel.
One of the great things about Dylan is he won’t ask why you need his help. He just texts me back, “On my way.”
I go inside the room to pack and get dressed. Hannah can apparently sleep through anything because she doesn’t even budge the entire time I’m in the room. I glance over at her hugging the pillow I’d slept on into her chest, and then I look away quickly. I can’t change my mind on letting her tag along. All that would come out of our trip is a messy situation. She’s just getting out of a serious relationship, and I’m not a guy who can be anything more than a rebound.
And Hannah doesn’t strike me as a casual kind of girl.
Despite what I tell myself, I walk closer to the bed. Her dark hair is half-covering her face, and I take a moment to brush a few stray hairs off of her soft cheek. She looks so innocent when she’s asleep. I drag my gaze away from her and watch out the window for Dylan.
When I see him pull up alongside the truck and get out of the car, I step outside to meet him.
“I’ve got a situation,” I say immediately.
He tilts his head, his dark eyes narrowing underneath his baseball cap pulled low. “Okay. Shoot.”
Before I can say more, the door to my room opens, and Hannah walks out.
And I let out a choked cough.
She’s wearing nothing but my t-shirt and a pair of boy shorts. She must have kicked off the sweatpants in the night.
She looks between Dylan and me. “Good morning.”
I introduce Dylan to her.
“You’re a football player also?” she asks him.
“Quarterback,” he says. “Mav here was one of my favorite receivers in college.”
Hannah nods. “Cool.”
I point to Dylan. “He’ll make sure you get home safe.”
She shoots me a hard stare. “I told you I don’t have a home. That’s why I’m going to Chicago.”
