Poppy nods, letting me continue with my thoughts. We are close enough that she knows how guarded I have been with that part of my life for the last few years. It’s something we have in common. After her ex betrayed her trust in a completely different way, she shut out the possibility of finding someone until Hendrix.
“You know what it’s like to hold that part of yourself back. Now that I’m opening myself back up, and with my best friend of all people, tonight feels monumental. Like it’s going to change everything.”
“I know it does. Can I give you some advice?”
“Please,” I practically beg, “because I feel like a floundering mess. He’s going to take one look at me tonight and decide I’m not ready. He’ll try to get me to wait, and I don’t want that. I am ready—so freaking ready.” My laugh comes out a little high-pitched and manic.
“Try not to focus on the big picture. Just stay in the moment. These guys, with their singular focus on us—it’s consuming, and it’s easy to get caught up in that. Let him sweep you up in the moment and don’t focus too much on what it might mean. You’ll get lost in your head.”
“I think I can do that.”
“Good, but know you don’t have to. That man only wants what’s best for you. He’ll go at whatever speed you need.”
“I know, but I want this. No, I need it. It took us years to get to this point. I don’t want to wait any longer.” Saying the words out loud just makes me realize how true it is. This is the path we are meant to be on—the two of us together, I’m sure of it. Pushing off against the wall, I squeeze Poppy tightly. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
“Anytime, now let’s go get your man,” Poppy says before throwing her arm around my shoulder and walking down the tunnel toward the family waiting area with me.
When we get to the area where friends and family wait, the players are trickling out of the locker room.
“Are we going to see you guys at Draft tonight?” Dean asks. He’s got that clean-cut look with a little bit of a broody personality that drives girls crazy. He’s a bit more reserved than Dom, even though the two are practically attached at the hip. But there’s a definite difference—Dom is the playboy ready for a good time, while Dean tags along. He’s not as light-hearted. It’s obvious that he prefers to be in Dom’s shadow in social situations.
“Not tonight,” Poppy answers, looking at the door for a moment before looking back at Dean and Dom. “Hendrix and I are going to grab dinner, just the two of us.” A smirk crosses her face before she looks at me, waiting for me to respond.
“Nope. Cruz and I have plans.” That’s all I’m willing to say. I don’t know what he’s told the guys, and I’m already too on edge to have that conversation right now.
Dom has a knowing look in his eyes and when he opens his mouth with, what I’m sure would have been a smartass remark, Dean backhands his stomach, causing him to double over and wheeze.
Thank you, Dean.
Dom is known for the way he lives life to the fullest and that extends to his mouth. He will say anything that pops into his head, no matter how brazen. With the way I’m teetering between eager and nervous, I don’t need his commentary on Cruz and me.
When the door swings open this time, it’s Cruz and Hendrix walking out of the locker room, both laughing and looking content after a stellar game. Before Hen has even cleared the door, Poppy takes off toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and long legs circling his waist. She peppers his face with kisses in a display that puts movie night to shame.
“Hey there,” Hendrix says, holding her tight to him. “Are you ready for our date?”
“I think that’s pretty obvious,” Dom says sarcastically as he nudges Dean with his elbow. “Ready to get out of here? I don’t want to catch what they have.”
Dean just grunts, but from the look on his face, I’m not certain that it’s in agreement.
“You just wait.” Hendrix shoots back, lowering Poppy to her feet but keeping her pressed up against him. “It’s coming for you, and you might not realize it now, but you’ll welcome it with open arms when you meet the right girl.”
Poppy beams up at Hendrix, but my attention is pulled away when I feel Cruz step up behind me, his hand finding my waist. My skin tingles with anticipation as he leans in.“And are you ready for me, Hermosa?”His voice is gravelly and laced with double meaning, the term of endearment rolling off his tongue in a way that makes me clench my thighs together.
“Later guys, have fun,” Dean says with a knowing look on his face, but thankfully he stops there, which might make him my second favorite Bandit. The two very unattached and happy-about-it teammates head off to see what shenanigans they can get into tonight. With those two, the possibilities are endless.
“Remember what we talked about,” Poppy says, leaning in, so her voice doesn’t carry as Hen pulls her toward the exit.
“I’m about to change your life with these tacos, babe,” Hendrix says as they walk away.
“If the tacos are the highlight of her night, you aren’t doing your job!” Cruz shouts at his back, earning him a middle finger from his teammate as they disappear into the parking lot.
When the door swings shut behind them, I’m distinctly aware that it’s just the two of us alone in this hallway. I focus on the advice Poppy gave me and stay in the present instead of getting sucked into the meaning of it all.
Turning to Cruz, I run my hands up the hard planes of his chest. “Let’s get out of here.” The words make his dark eyes seem even deeper, his pupils expanding so there’s barely any of the chocolate color I love so much.
Chapter 23
DTF
