“Ouch.” I laugh. “Guess I have to work hard to keep my nickname.”
Alice brushes a lock of hair off my forehead. I peek one eye up at her. She looks tired. At this late hour, how could she not be?
We’ve been at the bar for hours. Looking at my watch, it’s pushing three in the morning. “Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”
Alice shakes her head, sipping on her water. “Nope. I told Leon I was going to be celebrating with you.”
“Awfully certain that we were going to win.”
“I mean, have you seen the talent on this team? You would’ve been hard to beat.”
The bar is still crowded. No one wants to leave. I know as well as the next person that this same group of guys won’t be here next year. Hell, I’ve only been here a few months. Nothing is a given in this league.
“I still can’t believe we won it, Alice.”
“I’m really proud of you, Dec,” she tells me. “Thanks for letting me be here.”
I reach over the table and grab her hand, squeezing it. “If you hadn’t come, I would have dragged you here myself.”
“Good.”
“Besides, my parents couldn’t hang. They left for the hotel hours ago.”
Alice laughs. “The only reason I’m still here is because I didn’t want to leave you on your own.”
“I’m not on my own. The team is still here.”
“You know what I mean.”
“You can leave if you want.”
“I’m okay,” she tells me.
She’s fading and fading fast. “Why don’t we both head home?”
“No. I want you to stay.”
“Nope.” I motion to her water glass and she passes it over for me to drink the last of it down. “Let’s go.”
“Want me to call a car?” Alice asks, slinging her bag overher shoulder. My championship hat still rests on her head. She looks fucking adorable.
“Yes please.”
Thank God that Bex arranged rides for everyone tonight. The last thing I want to do is try to figure out getting home tonight.
I hug every single guy as the two of us leave the crowded bar.
I slump over her as we wait outside the bar. Even though it’s late, people are still out celebrating. Two cups in as many years? Yeah, people are fucking ecstatic.
“There he is,” Alice points out. A black SUV pulls up to the curb.
Swinging open the back door, I slide in as Alice gets in next to me. My head falls into her lap as exhaustion takes over.
“Thanks for taking us home,” I hear Alice tell the driver.
They carry on a quiet conversation as I let the happy buzz of alcohol fill my veins. I don’t remember a time when I’ve ever felt this good. Sure, maybe when I got drafted, but this? I want to hang onto this feeling for as long as possible.
“Spend the night with me?” I ask my best friend as the car rolls its way closer to my house. I can’t wait to get into bed and crash.
