My hand dropped, my heart aching and expanding at the same time. “Pres….” I started.
“You asked,” he interrupted.
I didn’t want to admit the truth about my father. Especially to him. That I wasn’t worth sticking around for. But he gave me his honesty. The least I could do was give him mine.
“My mom got pregnant with me during my dad’s first year in the NFL. They tried to make it work. It didn’t. He left when I was six.” I swallowed past the unwanted lump in my throat. “He called on Christmas and sometimes on birthdays if he remembered.”
The clench of his jaw didn’t go unnoticed. But the pity that accompanied it was too much. The exact thing I wanted to avoid. So I clasped the handle again and yanked the door open.
“I’m sorry about your dad.” I paused, long enough to catch the perfect reflection of the stars in his eyes. “Have a good night, Coach."
Back inside, I barely made it across the room when my name was being called, followed by a heavy arm draping over my shoulder.
Lawson grinned. “You haven’t had a drink with us yet.”
Theushe was referring to was half of the football team crammed into the corner of the bar. The table was covered in empty cheese fries baskets and a few bottles of beer.
“I thought you didn’t drink during the season?” I questioned.
He chuckled. “Coach allows one for celebration.”
The rest of the crew waved me over, and they clapped and cheered when J.C. threw a dart that almost took off Krew’s ear.
Everything in my bones screamed to go home, scald my skin in a hot shower, then crawl into bed, but the smile Landry gave me as she plopped down on J.C.’s lap had me reconsidering.
I didn’t have a whole lot offriendsgrowing up. My mother was convinced the only reason people were nice to me was because of who my dad was. Sofriendshipwas never something I was able to establish with too many people. I had one in college. If you could even categorize her as a friend. She was my roommate and while I thought what we shared was mutual respect and the typical college dorm bonding experience, she had a different angle. That angle ended up being screwing my boyfriend inourroom when they thought I was in class. That was when theno more athletesrule was firmly put into place. I learned my lesson. No need to repeat it.
“Just one shot, Trinity.” Lawson guided me to the crowd as a tray of pink shot glasses was lowered to the table.
A hand reached out, snatching up a shot with a smirk.
Jagger winked at me. “To the Cougars!” he shouted before downing the shot.
Letting my fingers grip a glass, I clinked it with Landry’s before tilting it back, the burn going down not nearly as smooth as I had hoped. I coughed, my hand plastered to my chest as I was maneuvered to the booth beside Landry.
“Have you eaten, babe?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No. I’ll probably just grab something at home.”
“Absolutely not. You can’t come to Laces Out and not have the hot wings.” She snapped her fingers at a passing waitress, gold bangles dangling down her wrist.
I found myself smiling, relaxing into the leather booth as I scanned the crowd. My gaze caught on a pair of eyes across the room, and even through the noise, the people, and the low lights, I couldfeelPreston’s gaze.
The trance was interrupted when a body slid in beside me. I glanced up to see the cocky grin of Jagger Ross.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I deadpanned.
His arm casually relaxed behind me, resting on the top of the booth.
“You got a boyfriend?” he asked.
I took it that Jagger had no issues in the female department. So it was as easy as talking about the weather to ask such a bold question. The only way to shut him down was to tell a white lie.
“Yes.”
He leaned in. “He from around here?”
