The locker room was in full swing. Snapping towels, laughter, it felt good.
“We’re celebrating tonight!” Kev yelled over all the hoots and hollering.
“Hell yeah!” I agreed.
We opted for wings and beer instead of the usual nightclub vibe. I wasn’t surprised since Jake was married, Kev was dating the brunette from the other week, and Carlos was Carlos, the dynamics had shifted in the usual celebratory nights out.
“Joshie,” Carlos crooned from across the table. I hated when he called me that. “It’s been a few days. How’s the search going?” Carlos asked after he ordered his wings.
Jake and Kev both leaned forward, as if there was some juicy gossip to hear. I hesitated over saying anything. The truth was, I had struck out. Found no one. I was probably further from winning than when we started. Did I want to admit that to these guys? Fuck no. The only person I’d even had in my bed was April. A light went off.April.
“There’s one chick I'm talking to.”A total lie.
He looked doubtful. “Like talking and not just arranging hookups?”
“Yes. We’ve talked, had dinner, and she stayed over recently.” Everyone eyed me suspiciously.So, I was stretching things.But technically, April and I had done all these things. The pretenses were just semantics. But since they didn’t need exact details, it would buy me some time to figure out whether or not this was a road I could take.
“I can confirm there might be someone,” Jake added,surprising everyone, including me. Although I was sure I was the only one who caught the pointed stare he gave me on the wordmight.
Because Carlos was a suspicious bastard, he asked, “What’s her name?”
“Summer,” I replied without a hint of hesitation.Okay, I’m going down this road.
Carlos watched between us for a beat before saying, “Fine. I’ll give you credit for now. But the clock is ticking.”
Didn’t I freaking know it? I was still trying to think of a way to make this all come together. My thoughts drifted back to April. How she was ideal. Perfect even. The more I thought about what Kev suggested, the more I realized I maybe wanted that. It was an easy out and if I did it right, no one would get hurt. A new sensation of hope spread across me.
Before they could give me the fifth degree, I held up my hands. “Guys, ease up. Let me figure out if it’s something before you come at me.”
Jake grinned. “You must like her.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“’Cause any other time we ask you about a girl, you have no problem telling us about her.”
Hm. I sat back in my chair, letting Jake’s comment sink in. It was true. I wasn’t the kiss andnottell kind of guy. I was the one who told everyone. Bragged even. I thought back to a few of my dates and how much detail I let them in on. The good or the bad.
Even the thought of April sleeping beside me last night needed to be a secret. It was something I would usually be flaunting and yet, I didn’t. Couldn’t. For one, she wasn’t mine. She didn’t even know about the bet, and most of all, I wanted to protect her. These ass wipes didn’t need to know anything about her personal life. Heck, I preferred them not to. I’d seen the way a few of them checked her out. Until theycaught my warning glare. Off limits. She was a professional colleague, not a stripper.
Was it fair to her? Probably not. Was I protecting her from them? Yes. Or so I told myself.
They finally laid off me and turned the conversation back to sports. I was half listening as they boasted about the game, their stats, and whatever else the conversation drifted to. My mind wandered back to April. The last few days. Her breakup. My dilemma. How she was last night, how easy it was to be with her. How great she felt next to me. All of the little moments ofcoulda, shoulda, and wouldajoined the party. Part of me was proud I had kept it together and not taken advantage of the situation, the other part of me thought I was an absolute moron.
“’Sup, peaches,” Kev’s voice came from around the side of the table as he pulled up the chair next to me.
I groaned. He had texted me earlier this morning asking what happened last night with April. Despite me replying nothing, he’d been angling all day for a different answer and now that he was next to me, I’d have nowhere to go to escape him. He was one of the only people who knew there was a spark between April and I, and I was doing my best not to let it turn into a flame.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere?” I asked pointedly, nodding toward the women he just bought a round for. He tilted his head back and laughed, gripping the top of my shoulder and squeezing it tight. As much as it hurt, I took it without flinching and swatted him away.
“Saw you all over the sports re-runs.” I pointed to the large screen behind the bar that had the highlight reels from the games tonight. I was trying to keep the focus off me and last night as long as I could.
He threw his hand in the air. “The ump was choosing favorites.”
“Sure, he was.” I shook my head and drained the last ofthe beer in my glass. “I saw you. You totally edged over the line.”
Kev grinned as if he knew nothing of what I was talking about. The cocky shit. Always pulling little stunts. Probably the reason Johnson was ready for the bunt tonight, but since we won the game, I’d let it slide.
“So, who’s the chick?” He smirked at me.
