Page 60 of Draft Pick
He did what?“You paid everyone’s tab?” I deadpan, unable to hide my shock.
He shrugs like it means nothing, but to me it means everything. “It’s nothing.”
Not caring Crew’s grandmother stands a few feet away, I repeat his words right back to him, “I’m gonna say something, and it’s gonna be bold and likely inappropriate. Okay?”
Honest to god, I’ve never seen a more contagious smile. “Okay. I can’t wait to hear it.”
“Only ever being your friend might be the worst thing to ever happen to me.”
His smile drops, and I know Crew is intelligent enough to know I’m not speaking poorly of him. I mean it because it’s true. Not exploring a relationship with Crew Briggs outside of the friend zone will go down as my biggest mistake.
An immense regret that I’ll have no choice but to accept.
With his head held high, his sunburst stare dances across my mouth, then my neck, all before lifting back up to my eyes. An unspoken bond cultivates between us.
“Good. Then we can suffer together.” He beats me to stand and takes off toward the exit. “Pick you up at six and bring your appetite. I wanna take you somewhere after.”
Then he’s out the door and back to his abandoned run, leaving me by myself again. Except this time, I’ve got Crew’s words of hope still lingering across my skin. Floating in the space he once filled.
Somehow, making it harder and harder to hold any interest for a man other than him.
18
CREW
“Just prepareyourself for any offhanded remarks. The best thing to do is ignore him or fire back. Either will do.”
“Put him in his place. Got it.”
I knock on the door to Jack’s brick, Southern-style home, and stand back with Juniper, waiting for him to answer. Right now, my biggest wish is that he has clothes on and at least showered.
He won’t be happy I brought Juniper, but I don’t care. I wanted to spend time with her, and this seemed like the best option. The safest option.
Rattling stirs from behind the hefty double doors before opening, revealing my head coach in all his glory. Well, glory might be a stretch to describe his current condition.
“The fuck you doing here?” he grunts, careless of how unkept he looks.
I glance down at his stained sweatpants and oversized hoodie that looks days past washing. Yep. He definitely didn’t shower.
Jesus Christ, Jack. What are you doing to yourself?I refrain from pointing out his dirty hair and overgrown beard, although those are very unlike him, too.
“It’s Sunday.”
He shakes his head like he’s already fed up with me. “Well, no shit,” he mocks.
I hold up a six-pack of ginger beer—the non-alcoholic kind. “What does it look like? I’m here to visit. Now, let us in.”
He eyes my gifted beverage and smirks. “Us?” His head jerks back in question, eyeing Juniper for a moment shortly after, and reverting back to me. “Never seen her a day in my life.”
“Juniper Wilde.” She holds out her hand in greeting, saving me from the introduction. “I’m a friend of Crew’s.”
He watches her again with uncertainty, likely stirring with questions for me. I’m counting on it. “A friend of Crew’s…why do I have a haunting feeling that’s not the case?”
I get it. It’s not every day I’m seen with a beautiful woman as my chosen company, unless we’re talking about Adeline. But a guy is entitled to a pretty friend if he so chooses.
Truthfully, it would be nice if I weren’t questioned for every decision I make.
“That’s because—” I rush to speak, but Juniper beats me to it.
