Page 30 of Draft Pick
“Cool. We’ll grab something on the way back. Gus and Tenley are long gone, so it’s just you and me. Pick a place.”
“Shit. That’s right. You don’t have to do that,” she protests. “I can call a ride.”
“Absolutely not. I only had one beer, and I’ve never been more sober. Trust me,” I say, hoping she doesn’t take much convincing. I could never and would never just leave her here. Making sure she makes it home safe is a priority. “Here, take my keys, and you can wait in the car if you want. King and I can handle all this. Should only be another five minutes or so.”
We’ve been frequenting Joe’s Bar for years, and it’s nice to be trusted by him. Sabrina left to secure the back doors and kitchen area while King, Jethro, Mack, and I put everything back in order.
“Your car? But you didn’t drive here,” Juniper questions, and I realize how she must be confused.
“Right. Sorry. The Suburban is mine. Gus likes to drive it when he can to persuade Tenley he needs one. He’s convinced it earns him cool points.”
Her lips twitch. “You drive a Suburban?”
I tilt my head with plans to interrogate. “Yeah. Got a problem with that, Doc?”
She adjusts the glasses on the bridge of her nose, shaking her head in mockery. “None whatsoever. Just didn’t picture you as a mom-mobile kind of guy.”
My fist meets my chest, and I fake a heart attack. “I’m wounded,” I cry. “Bonnie the Burbis my pride and joy. It’s seen Addie and me through many playground falls and slushie dates.”
“That girl does love a good slushie, huh?” Juniper smiles wide before taking my keys.
“Sure does. Now, get out there. We’re rolling out of Joe’s in style, Dr. Wilde. Take notes. You’re in for the ride of your life.”
Her hand finds my shoulder, brushing past me in the direction of the exit. I’m hit with the smell of orange and vanilla. It’s warm yet has a sharp tang to the smell. Kind of like Juniper, I suppose.
“I look forward to rolling with you,” she teases. “Thank you, Crew.”
And just like that, I saved my overprotective ass from further humiliation and secured what I hope to be a pretty decent friendship.
Now, I do everything possible not to break my own rules.
Should be easy enough.
10
JUNIPER
“Just listen to Bonnie purr,”Crew sighs, patting the dashboard in awe. “She’s so faithful.” His voice cracks, and before I can think to be concerned, he fakes a cry of love.
“Am I interrupting something? I didn’t realize how close you and Bonnie were.”
Bonnie the Burb pulls to the end of my driveway, stopping just under the illuminated streetlight. It’s late, and to my surprise, it’s been a fun night. More fun than I’ve had in a long time. Crew turns my way and whispers hoarsely with a straight face, “I think it’s best if you go. We’re in need of some alone time. Bonnie and me.”
His head meets the steering wheel, and I find his sense of humor hilariously comforting. “Please,” I insist. “Bonnie and Crew.” My full laugh hits me as I attempt to reach for the door handle, pretending to give them a moment alone. “Go make bad decisions together.”
Get it? Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie andCrew.
Beats hit the steering wheel repeatedly, and what I didn’t expect to see was Crew almost in tears from laughter. His head lifts, and the pools of wetness in his eyes stir my own laughtereven more. “No. No. Don’t go,” he begs playfully, not realizing his arm reaches to hold my bicep.
Thankfully, he’s too lost in hysterics to notice the goosebumps across my skin. Or the way I freeze in place, unable to help but look where his giant hand covers the circumference of my arm with room to spare.
Holy hot. But also, holy off-limits.
I exhale slowly, resting against the passenger seat. “You’re really funny, Suburban Daddy.”
“Suburban Daddy?” he wheezes, mouth opening in shock. “Jesus Christ. That’s a new one.”
“Yeah, well, if the shoe fits.” I motion around the blacked-out SUV. “There are much worse things you could be called, so I’d take Suburban Daddy and run. Or in your case, drive.” My teasing can’t be stopped. And neither can the laughter I don’t hold back.
