Page 170 of Forever Defiant
Savannah sighed, putting down the dishcloth. “Noah’s having doubts,” she said quietly. “It’s understandable, I guess.”
I looked at the door and then back at Savannah. “Is it?”
She gave me a look and then looked away. “I can see it from their side... And I understand why he, or they, would want to step back. It’s scary, Hadley. This is their future. You think the five a.m. starts only begin in college?” She shook her head. “They’ve been doing this for years, and it’s a stronger work ethic than most people have.”
I felt a pang of guilt. “I know, but...”
She nodded. “I know. I agree, but I’m not them. I genuinely don’t have their drive.” She held up a hand to stop me from interrupting. “We don’t, Hadley. How many times have you hit snooze on your alarm? How many times have you thought ‘nah, not today’ when it was rainy or something? Or ‘I can do it tomorrow,’ huh?” She dried a glass. “They don’t think like that. They’re out there every day, no matter what. I envy their drive; I know for sure that I don’t have that same level of commitment.”
I thought about it, understood what she was saying, and recognized she wasn’t making excuses. We both knew players did it because they wanted to. They weren’t seeking sympathy; they simply accepted that this was just how it was.
“I wish I hadn’t had to get to know them,” I admitted softly. “It was easier when they were just players, names on a roster, not... people.”
She smiled. “Yeah. And it’s not only those three that are great, but most of the team are also really great guys.” She leaned against the counter.
I thought about Mike. “Yeah, they were mostly decent to me too. Some were typical jocks, but then everyone has the ability to be a complete asshole at times.” I exchanged a look with Savannah. “I still feel cheated, though... Noah? I definitely thought it would be Dustin that bailed first.”
Savannah laughed. “Ithinkhe has more reason to stick around than Noah.”
I felt my cheeks heat, and I mumbled something I didn’t even understand. Thankfully, Savannah didn’t ask me to repeat it. I pretended to distract myself by picking up my phone.
“What do you think happened to him?” Savvy was looking at Noah’s bedroom door.
“I think he asked us all not to ask.” I pointed at myself. “I, for one, am respecting that.”
“I know but I want toknow.” I don’t think she liked the whine in her voice any more than I did.
“Honestly, I think if you want to keep him as your friend, you let it go until he tells you.”
I went back to looking at my phone.
“You’re right,” she conceded. “What are you thinking?” she asked me when she saw me frown.
“I want to go on another drive,” I admitted.
“Me too,” Savannah agreed. “But I promised Dante we would go together.”
“Why?” I wasn’t particularly proud of the fact that nowIhad a noticeable whine in my voice.
“Because he is part of this, and...” She looked guilty. “I don’t want to find Mason without a six-foot-plus wall of solid muscle behind me.”
I thought about it. “We’re strong, independent women,” I reminded her, and she nodded. I gave a shrug. “But fair.” I looked around their apartment. “Noah would be the perfect backup.”
Savannah sighed. “Yeah. No one’s looking at Noah and not looking twice.”
“For many reasons,” I added with a sly grin.
“Right?” Savannah’s eyes gleamed. “I meanseriouseye candy.”
“Aren’t you in love?” I teased.
“Oh, absolutely, but I can still appreciate natural beauty.”
I snorted. My phone chimed, and I looked at it. “How many classes did you miss?”
“Today?” Savannah had that guilty flush again. “Two, but I do have a tutoring session soon, and I can’t miss that.” She shot me a sidelong glance. “But that means leaving you alone, and I fear that this might be the worst thing that could happen.”
“I’m offended.”
