Page 23 of Pressure Point

“I thought maybe it was the start of something the other night when you joined us at Bunz. But I guess I was wrong,” Dash continued, ignoring Gunnar’s grunts about his win comment.

Liam grunted a response, not wanting to play into Dash’s guilt trip. He knew that Dash and a lot of the other guys looked forward to a night out after a game, but that had never been his thing. Even back in Dundalk, where he knew everyone, and his brothers were on the team with him, after a game the only thing he wanted to do was crash.

“Are you going to be this boring during the tournament in Las Vegas in a couple of months? We spend almost a week there, and you know what they say about that city.”

Liam knew exactly the reputation that the city held, and he was sure there were plenty of things that they could get up to that needed to stay in that city. Truth was, though, he was looking forward to that trip and seeing if the famed location was as exciting as it was in movies. The tournament itself was still something he didn’t fully wrap his mind around, but he figured Gunnar and Cowboy would explain more when the time came.

“You’re not going to have as much free time as you think, Dash. I’m still waiting on a schedule so I can fill you lads in on exactly how this tournament works, but from what Cowboy has said, it’s a fairly intense week,” Gunnar told them.

“I’m sure there is time for both work and play, coach,” Dash insisted.

“I'm looking forward to seeing Las Vegas,” Liam said with a laugh. “So I promise we can go see the sights there. But tonight, Avery should be here in a minute, and we’re going to order some food and then head upstairs to watch a movie.”

“Ohhhh,” Dash said, raising his eyebrows in curiosity. “You and the little PT, huh? I did not realize that was a thing.”

“It’s not a thing,” Liam informed him, his eyes flicking over to Gunnar, who was thankfully engrossed in reading the menu. He could hear the borderline resentment in his voice, and while he knew that his mentor would never betray him by saying anything, he also didn’t want Dash to get any idea based on random facial expressions either. Sucking in a breath, he told himself to focus. Dash meant well; Liam knew that. He didn’t know about Avery’s crush on him. It was just hard knowing that nothing was going to come of his friendship with Avery other than…well, friendship. “She’s never seen the Marvel movies so we’re watching them in order.”

“So what the Americans call Netflix and chill?” Dash asked, thrusting his hips slowly to illustrate his point.

Gunnar sputtered out a laugh, and Liam shot a glare in his direction.

“No. We will actually be watching the movie. None of that.” He waved his hand in the general direction of Dash’s hips, wishing he could wipe the image from his brain.

“Eh, why not? She’s cute. You should go for it.”

Liam shuddered slightly at Dash’s comment. She’s cute. Avery was more than cute. She was smart, and fun, and she had a fantastic sense of humor. Sure, she was a tad odd at times, but that was part of what made her a joy to hang out with, because you never knew what was going to come out of her mouth next. As much as he wanted to tell Dash this, he knew it would fall on deaf ears. Dash was only looking to live his best life. Sweet, dorky medical professionals were not on his list of interests.

“We’re just friends.”

“Sí, but friends can still…I do not know the English term…joder…”

“Sleep together?” Liam offered.

“Maybe in Ireland sleeping is involved, but in Argentina—”

“No, I get it. In Ireland actual sleeping isn’t involved either. It’s just the polite way to say you’re having sex with someone.” Now this was a conversation he’d never thought he’d be having with Dash. Figuring out the proper way to discuss fucking in their respective languages.

“Ah. Well, just in case,” he said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a condom and held it up in between his index and middle finger, before tossing it at Liam with a flick of his wrist, as if he were tossing a frisbee. The foil wrapper hit him in the chest and bounced onto the bar, Liam watching it, feeling the confusion take over his face.

“You just keep those in your pocket?”

“Always ready, Padre, always ready.”

“Hey, guys,” Avery’s sweet voice called as she walked toward them.

Liam scrambled to pick up the condom, shoving it in his pocket. He didn’t want Avery to get any kind of idea. He had no intention of putting the moves on her, no matter how much he wanted to. Gunnar let out another laugh, covering it with a cough, then signaling for the bartender to take his order. Liam knew that he’d have to relive this moment at family dinner this week, and he was already embarrassed.

“Hey,” he greeted her.

She looked too good for words in an oversized pair of black sweatpants and an Atlanta Rising T-shirt. Her long, beautiful red hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun that was probably done more out of the convenience of getting it out of the way, rather than trying to look cute. There was just something about seeing Avery in her natural state like this that made everything in him come alive.

“Are you joining us for movie night?” she asked Dash. Liam could see her eyes light up at the hope that it was going to be a group event tonight. His heart sank knowing the disappointment that was about to come.

“No, I was trying to convince Padre to join us for a night of fun. It’s not too late.”

“Oh,” Avery said. Sure enough, the light in her eyes diminished, changing into something a lot more defeated looking. Liam’s stomach clenched, wishing he had a way to change that. A way to make that light appear for him.

“So, which movie is on tap tonight?” Gunnar asked, cutting in.