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Murphy
Friday night at the football house is exactly what we all needed. It’s our first weekend off since preseason started in August, and we’re all enjoying the freedom of knowing we don’t have a game tomorrow. This party isn’t huge. It’s just the team and anyone we wanted to bring. There’s still more people than you would think would fit in this house, but it’s not the usual post-game crowd. The beer is flowing, shots are being dispersed in the kitchen, everyone’s chillin’, and the bass of the music is pumping through the room like a wild pulse thrumming through my veins before a big play.
Something about this night feels electric, like this is one of those days we’ll remember when we’re looking back years from now, reminiscing about college.
We’re all in celebration mode tonight because Jamie walked into the house with his girl riding on his back and a diamond ring on her left hand. She’s exactly what you’d imagine a mid-west farmer’s daughter would look like. Curly blonde hair, big blue eyes, and long legs encased in blue jeans and boots. And she’s only got eyes for Jamie. Neither of them has stopped smiling all night, which is contagious.
A group of us sits around a table playing poker while the girls dance in the center of the room, and I finally get it.
I get why Brady won’t let Nattie out of his sight. I get why once they got together, that was it. I’m not saying I’m ready to wife it up just yet, but damn.
I love my fucking life.
I’ve got my friends, my family, my team, and my girl.
Life is good.
Sabrina has her shit to do, and so do I. But if we haven’t seen each other by the end of the day, I’m the one getting clingy. Not her. Which surprised the hell out of me. And it’s not just the sex, although that’s off the charts.
I like talking to her. I love listening to her, especially when she’s talking politics. My girl is smart, and that is so hot.
I like hearing her laugh...and she does that a lot. Sometimes at something someone else has said, sometimes at something she’s done. This uptight little princess doesn’t let everyone see her goofy side, but she’s opening it up to me, and it’s perfect.
I want to see her smile and know it’s because of me. That’s not something I’ve ever wanted before. Not like this. I want to make her happy. I want to be good enough to deserve this girl. I’m not sure that I do yet, but I’m damn sure gonna try.
A few of the girls come back to the table to grab the drinks they left with their men.
Huh. I’m somebody’s man.
Sabrina sits on the arm of my chair and leans against me.
Jamie pulls Charlotte into his lap. “Come here, baby. Help me kick their asses at poker. You were always better than me anyway.”
“Oh yeah, Jamie? You and the cows play a lot of poker back on the farm?” Our center, Dixon, who also happens to be Jamie’s roommate, loves to bust Jamie’s balls about growing up on a dairy farm. Jamie and his fiancée, Charlotte, grew up on neighboring farms.
Charlotte flicks a poker chip at Dixon and hits him right between the eyes. “One of us at this table has perfect aim from years of shooting shotguns with her daddy, Dix. Choose your next words wisely.” Dixon and Jamie have been roommates for a few years, so I guess he knows Charlotte pretty well too.
When “Pony” by Ginuwine starts to echo through the room, Nattie grabs Brady’s arms and tries to pull him up. “Come dance with me.”
“Come on, Nat. You’re the dancer, not me.” Brady pulls his arm away, shaking his head at her.
Nat drops his hands and starts to back away. She looks around the room with a devious tilt to her lips. “If you won’t dance with me, I’m sure one of your teammates will happily help a girl out, QB.” She extends her hand to the table. “Wanna dance, Dix?”
Dixon starts to push out of his seat, but Brady’s hand goes to the center of his chest and pushes him back down. “Point made. Let’s dance.” Brady grabs his girl’s hand and lets her drag him to the makeshift dance floor.
Dixon stands and grabs his empty bottle, asking, “Anyone want a refill?” A few of us raise our drinks and nod.
Sabrina steals Brady’s now-empty seat and drops down next to me. She sneaks a peek at his folded hand of cards. “Yeah, Brady wasn’t winning this round anyway.” Then she hiccups. It’s cute as hell. Brushing her hair aside with the back of my hand, I watch the tremor slide down her body before I lean in.
“Princess, what’s in that cup of yours?”
Sabrina takes another sip, then licks her lips. “Charlotte, what did Dixon say these were?”
Charlotte laughs like that was the funniest question she’s ever heard, and I shoot Jamie a what the fuck look. “I think he said it was jungle juice.”
Jamie runs his hand down his face before moving the red Solo cup away from Charlotte. “Baby, that’s Everclear. It’s 190 proof. Those are really strong. You might want to slow down so we can keep celebrating later.”
“Jamie, I told you if you don’t send that damn bulldog somewhere else for the night, I’m not sleeping in your bed. My eyes were practically swollen shut this morning.” Charlotte pulls her cup back in front of her. “I wasn’t skidding...kidding.” Not a good sign when she’s starting to slur her words.
