Page 23 of What About Us

Cooper: We could do that. Brit’s been working her ass off. It would be good for her.

My best friend is so fucking head over heels in love with his wife that it almost makes my teeth ache from the sweetness. But I get it. Britney’s great. They’ve been married since our rookie season, and she loves to feed me.

Me: Just send me your flight info.

Cooper: She’ll be excited. Thanks, man.

I prop my leg up and drape the ice over my knee. It’s tender, but that’s to be expected after the exercise that Ivy’s putting me through every day.

Speaking of the pretty redhead, I pull up her contact and type out a text.

Me: So, who’s your favorite player again?

The bubbles bounce on the screen, and I sip my water, waiting.

Red: Who is this?

With a grin, I type my response.

Me: Come on. You can tell me.

Red: Will Montgomery.

I bark out a laugh.

Me: 1. That’s football. 2. He’s been retired for a while.

Red: I said what I said.

I like her.

And I hate that she’s busting her ass in that bar at night.

Me: Are you at Lucky’s?

Red: Goodnight, Xander.

CHAPTER SIX

IVY

Iwas up until almost three this morning, making sure my scrubs were washed and in the dryer so I wouldn’t have to scramble to find something to wear today, and I set an alarm, once every minute for fifteen minutes, to make sure I woke up on time.

Am I exhausted?

Yes.

But I’m also not going to make a complete mockery of myself today by showing up late and unprepared. Not only do I have my own water bottle with me, but I washed Xander’s as well. I’m ready to go.

I must have been hallucinating yesterday in my haze of Xander lust when I was leaving and he told me that I’m sexy when I blush. Because there’s no way in this or any other universe that Xander Hendrix thinks that anything I do is sexy.

He’s just a nice guy.

He always was. He’s a flirt, and there’s nothing more to it.

I need to remember that because I got carried away once, years ago, and it ended so horrifically that it’s a good thing that Xander doesn’t seem to remember it.

In fact, Xander doesn’t seem to remember much when it comes to me, and that kind of—and by kind of, I mean hugely—bruises my feelings.