“Nah.” I opened both our beers and tossed the caps in the trash. “If you’re going to play professionally, you know you’re gonna get catered to and used in some ways. That’s how it is for me, so honesty is refreshing.”
“That doesn’t happen to women, Dean. The sports world is vastly different for you and me. I don’t mean that to be combative to you, but it’s the truth.”
I handed her the beer, and our fingers brushed. The contact sent a jolt through my forearm, which was fucking weird. Clearing my throat, I pointed toward the door. “You’re right. Lo and I have had a lot of talks about that and how utter bullshit it is. I’ve seen Lo and you work harder than some men I know, and the system is built to support us, not women.”
“Exactly. Hey, maybe you’re not so bad.” She grinned andlet her eyes drop to my chest. “I’m kinda into Shrek. This look suits you.”
“Mallinson,” I barked out, laughing. I was not expecting that. “Are youflirtingwith me?”
“You? No. Shrek? Yes.” Her eyes sparkled, and she walked out the back door, her hairy back sending the same conflicting thoughts through me. She was hot waist down.
I followed, more intrigued in this journey than I would’ve assumed. Since she’d practiced on me at the bar, I’d thought about her more and more. She wanted this summer to live it up, where I wanted this summer to return to normal.
Was my standard hooking up with random girls? Was it partying? I didn’t know whatnormalmeant to me now, but I liked how I felt hanging out with Lo and her friends. I enjoyed how they had fun. My teammates were great, but Callum was still in the partying phase. So were Oliver and Xavier. Luca never was, but now that I was changing, it was hard to find the new balance.
Mack held her head up high, her blonde and blue hair clashing with the black back hair on the T-shirt, and I grinned. Callum did a great job with these stupid shirts.
“What have you done to me?” Mack asked her crew, sitting in the lawn chair and crossing one leg over the other.
That meant her calf was facing me, inches from my own leg. It was tempting to touch it.
“We have the playbook. Now, most playbooks have a few standard plays that are basic. We have those. But then we have some special plays in there too for you,” Callum said, his face almost manic with joy.
He loved this shit.
“Okay. Okay.” Mack nodded to herself. “You know I’m competitive, so I’m going to do it all, but Callum, if there isanything… too much for me in there, I’m going to do it with you.”
“Gladly.” He beamed.
My stomach hardened. Dowhatwith Callum? One-night stands? For whatever reason, the thought of that made me uncomfortable. Callum was a total playboy. He was never serious, ever. He lived life by the seat of his pants, and his personality was great to have as a teammate and friend because he was always a good time, but for Mack? No. She deserved more even if I couldn’t explain it. Callum was a great dude but wasn’t right for Mack.
I frowned and gripped the side of the chair tighter. “What did you put on the list for her to need you, O’Toole?”
“Oh, this and that.” He winked at me. “Now, are you ready for the big reveal?”
Mack showed all her teeth in a grimace, her gaze darting from person to person before she took a huge breath, her chest rising and falling twice before she nodded. “Let’s do this shit.”
“Gah, I am so excited!” her friend Vee said, rocking back and forth even in her chair. She seemed to be the leader of this particular thing. “They are in no order, except we put the first one because it’s already done. Now, here are the rules—”
“Fuck the rules, give me my playbook,” Mack said, her eyes lighting up with fire. “I want to see it.”
FTR—I liked that one. Fuck the Rules.
Vee tossed her the notebook, and Mack stared at the white page covered with blank ink. She gave nothing away as she studied it. The only indication she was still awake was her teeth gently nibbling the side of her lip. My own stomach lurched as Callum and the other girls grinned, watching her.
“Hm,” Mack said, pursing her lips.
“Hm, what?” I asked, leaning closer to her. “Can I read over your shoulder? I’m dying.”
“Oh, yeah, of course. You weren’t here with these assholes.” Mack scooted her chair closer to me, her flowery, summer scent calming my unnecessary nerves.
I read through the list, my mind going to inappropriate places.
Buy a guy a shot
