Page 47 of End Game

He slides his arm around my shoulder, tucking me into his side. “So, what now?”

Miles and Sam are making out. Tucker and Mason are clearly having a moment, staring deep into one another’s eyes. Amir has hung up his phone, having a quiet conversation with Greg and Wes, who grunts occasionally as they chat.

I curl into Barrett and soak up some of his warmth. “You hungry?”

He laughs. “Uh, yeah.”

“So let’s go get you something to eat.”

“Because it’s that simple.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “It is. Either you go out with the group or just the two of us. I’m sure there will be a party tonight we’ll all end up going to. We’ll feed you, we’ll change clothes, and then we’ll get drunk.”

His mouth curves into a panty-melting smirk. “Drunk cheese fries at midnight again?”

My stomach twists. “Okay, so I’ll only have a few. It’s your turn to get drunk tonight. But I’m not carrying you up the stairs if you wimp out on me.”

He laughs. “Yeah, okay. I’ll try to keep it under control.”

Without much deliberation, dinner is at McRory’s pub, the guys’ favorite hangout. Miles, Sam, and Mackenzie have split off to eat dinner with their sister and parents. Mason and I are clustered in with Barrett, Tucker, Amir, Wes, and a group of the younger defensive core, all vying for the guys’ attention by being as outrageous as possible. They seem to think flirting with Mason and I is a good idea. Oh, are they wrong…

Tucker looks to be about ten seconds away from punching out this loudmouth freshman who keeps hitting on his woman. Mason isn’t fazed, ignoring him and not feeding into it in the slightest.

Me? I’m focused on Barrett, who’s quiet and withdrawn. That’s not like him. Yeah, he doesn’t like losing, but he normally doesn’t take it as personally as he seems to be tonight.

I set my hand on his arm. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He stares at me. Cupping his hand around his ear, he leans close. “What was that?”

“Do you want to talk?”

He frowns. “About what?”

Moving closer to him, I set my hand on his shoulder for balance as I speak into his ear. “Whatever has you so down tonight,” I say.

“I’m fine.”

“Bullshit.”

Barrett laughs. “I will be after a few drinks.”

I purse my lips at him. He dips his fingers in my cheeks and pushes my mouth up in a facsimile of a smile.

“Relax, Dee. I just need to burn off tonight. It was…” He sighs. “Everything hurts. I want to curl up in my bed and sleep for a week.”

“Do you not want to go out tonight? We don’t have to party if you—”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m good. I want to.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll drink a few beers and everything will feel better.” He squeezes my upper arm. "You good?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re quiet tonight.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “I talked a bunch during the game. I’m all talked out.”