Page 37 of Draft Pick
The table falls silent. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I know words will never be enough. Let me reach out to some physician friends and see what I can find. I don’t know if he’d be up to talking with someone, but it may help.”
Navy grits her teeth. “He’s been a bit angry. Hardly talks to the team as is. I asked his opinion on a custom jersey for the fundraiser auction, and he about bit my head off. I don’t take it personally; it just sucks to see him hurting so much.”
“Well, I don’t want to impose, so the option is there if he wants. I remember when my mom lost her sister…I never thought I’d get her back. I still haven’t, really, but in time, things get better.”
That’s when everything went downhill. The lack of care for herself, her family, thethingsshe was responsible for. Everything was cast to the wayside and resulted in a nasty habit.
I’m not sure I’ll ever truly feel like I have my mom again.
“I hate that for you, Juniper. Seriously. At least you turned out pretty damn awesome,” Tenley says, noticing my mood change, and I appreciate her for it.
“I agree,” Navy quips. “Never thought I’d see the day we invited another fierce baddie into our circle, but you fit right in, girl. Could partially be because you were down to strip dance without knowing anyone. I knew right away you would be around for the long haul. At least, I hope you are. Unless we’ve scared you.” She laughs, Tenley and Kodi joining in.
“I actually think we’ve become more tame with age,” Kodi proclaims, looking around the table for agreement.
“If only we cut the Dirty Bingo shit,” Navy says, taking a sip of her whiskey sour. “We’re wives now. Doesn’t that mean we’re supposed to be classy and well-mannered?”
Kodi’s snorts send us over. “When have any of us ever been well-mannered? Look who we married.”
“True.” Tenley smirks, nodding to the waiter for another round. “August is even more filthy with age. God, the man has the stamina of a horse.”
“He’s like a younger version of Pedro Pascal,” Navy giggles. “Stache game is strong.”
“It’s all those mustache rides he offers up.” Tenley smirks, and the vivid picture is there.
Lucky for her.
“Callaway is literally running out of body space to add more tattoos. I keep telling him he might as well tattoo my name across his dick while he’s at it,” Kodi rambles. “I might suck it more than I already do.”
“Oooo,” Navy hums. “I should have Bodhi get mine between his ladder piercings.”
“Wait! Bodhi has a Jacob’s ladder?” Tenley gasps, stunned by this new revelation.
Navy’s lips turn in a sinful smile, and I’m instantly jealous of all the talk of sexual activity going on. God, I miss sex. “Sure does. Piercings at the top, too. More beneficial for my pleasure.”
“Oh, lucky fucking you,” Kodi rolls her eyes playfully, taking a jab at her boastful best friend.
“Also, don’t go pretending like you didn’t know this, Ten. I’ve only talked about it hundreds of times over the years.”
Tenley flutters her lashes, slamming her drink back in one gulp. “Maybe I tried to forget. Ever think of that, babe?”
“No,” Navy draws out, simply unable to understand. “No. Never once.”
The waiter delivers our round as Kodi shifts the conversation to me. “So, Juniper, what about you? Any boyfriends, husbands, wives, or secret lovers we should know about?”
“Oh, jeez.” I had to know this question would come up. They’ve all been with their husbands for at least four years now, if I’m remembering correctly. They each have a child of their own, aside from Navy, and no plans for more—so they told me strongly. And those big facts seem to be the one thing Idon’thave in common with them. “It’s been a while since I’ve dated.”
“How long exactly?” Tenley asks.
I huff. “A long while. Probably close to two years, and I’m not even sure I’d count him.”
“Two years since you’ve had sex?” Navy coughs, and I think I’ve stunned her.
“I’ve had sex, Navy. Just never with anyone serious in two years. You have to remember, I’m coming out of years and years of med school. I hardly had time to sleep, unless it was dreaming about emergency medicine procedures or biostatistics.”
“The horror,” Kodi mumbles under her breath. “So, what are we gonna do to change that?”
“Oooo, we should set you up!” Navy suggests.
