I shrugged, using the gesture as cover to move a little closer to Saylor.“I transferred from FBS to FCS where I’m the backup.How many scouts are going to find me interesting, do you think?”
“If you’re dropping dimes on receivers at sixty yards when they come to watch the rest of us, better believe they’re going to notice you,” Finn said as though the idea were a foregone conclusion.
Beside me Saylor stiffened.After our conversations about her friends giving up their dreams to follow their football superstars, I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what her response meant.Then again, if she weren’t interested in me, she wouldn’t care.I hid a grin as I slipped my palm over the top of her jeans-covered thigh.
“Honestly, I lost my chance when I blew my knee out sophomore year.Doesn’t matter that now it feels better than before I hurt it.”I did my best to withhold the bitterness from my voice.“My old school would have only put me on the field during garbage time.At least here I have a real shot at helping the team.”I gave Saylor’s thigh a small caress.“I’m not looking for more than that.”
Beneath the table Saylor’s hand found its way on top of mine.Willing myself to remain relaxed, I waited to see what she’d do—push my hand away or… Her palm covering the back of my hand and lightly squeezing pulled my grin out of hiding.
Huh.Looked like she might be on board for dating a football player who didn’t harbor NFL aspirations—or at least one who had to concede any pro aspirations were an outer-space long shot.Our server arrived with the pitchers of beer and one of water.Finn passed around the mugs while Dally and Saylor took over pouring duties.
“That’s a perfect head,” I said as Saylor handed me a mug of lager.“Where did you learn to do that?”
“Comes from being a Montana girl.We all learn how to pour a flawless beer as a rite of passage, don’t we?”She winked across the table at Chessly, who held up her mug in salute.
“Every time I see you, I learn of another of your talents.”
The sardonic lift of her right eyebrow said she thought I was teasing.
“Serious.According to Dalton, you’re a poker-playing genius.I’ve witnessed your mad cornhole-playing skills firsthand.You know how to paddle a raft, and you can pour a flawless head.From where I’m sitting, you’re pretty close to perfect.”
Chessly coughed into her hand.“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you, Cash?”
I kept my attention on Saylor, meeting her narrow-eyed gaze with a smoldering one of my own.“Nah.I’m all about being straight up.”
Finn and Dally choked on their beers, and I let a grin ghost over my mouth at the way Saylor blinked at my double entendre.
With impeccable timing, the server arrived with our pies.Chessly passed around plates, and we took turns sliding slices onto them.For a couple of minutes, our attention went directly and completely to our food.
After downing a slice, Finn said, “Party’s at our place tonight.You’re gonna be there, right?”
“Depends.”
He raised his brows.“On what?You have better plans than hanging out with your teammates?”
“Depends on what Saylor wants to do.”I slid her a side-eye.“If she’s going to your party, then I’m going to your party.”
“They’reyourteammates,” she said with enough sarcasm to make me laugh.
“But none of them are as stunning as you,” I replied.
Chessly let out a snort.“You two are pathetic.”
“Kinda like you and Finn were in the beginning, if I remember right.”Dally didn’t glance up from his plate, but none of us missed his sly smirk.
Chessly elbowed him in the side, which only made his smirk bigger.Then she trained her gaze on me.“I’m not a big fan of parties, but the ones on Jock Street are pretty fun—aren’t they, Saylor?”
Something passed between the two women I couldn’t decipher.Damn, what was it with women and their silent communications anyway?
Beside me, Saylor shrugged.“Tarvi and Patty find better DJs, but the drama is always bigger at your place,” she said to Finn with a laugh.“So yeah, I like going to football parties.”
“So that’s our plan for tonight, huh?”I asked.
“It’smyplan.You can suit yourself,” she said with a haughty sniff.
I cracked up, as did my teammates, but for different reasons.While Dally and Finn tossed me shit for Saylor shooting me down, I smiled and slipped my hand under the table to give her thigh a warning squeeze.Our friends might think I was out of the running, but she and I knew better.
After we’d finished our meal, I was reaching for the check to determine Saylor’s and my share when Finn pulled it away from me.
