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“Believe it. I was an arrogant SOB back then. And I only got worse in middle and high school.”
“Because you were a good-looking kid who excelled at sportsandacademics, right?” Drew said. “The girls fawned all over you. And the teachers looked the other way when you were a fuck-head to the other kids.”
“Bingo,” Aithan replied. “It was … expected of me.”
“Quarterback?” I asked him.
“Everything but football and basketball. I suck at dribbling and hate getting tackled. But captain of the swim team, captain of the wrestling team, soccer goalie, and I pitched for the high school baseball team. I got scouted by pro soccer and baseball coaches. People were talking about the Olympics and big salaries, and I became an even biggergnojek.”
“But you came up here for college, instead,” I said. “How come? What happened?”
He shook his head. “Klamstwa i bzdura.”
“Something and shit?” Drew asked. “What’s that one?”
Aithan smirked. “Lies and B.S.”
I tugged his hand. “How so?”
“Halfway through my high school junior year, a couple buddies and I stupidly tried parkour. I fell off a roof and broke my tibia and fibula. When all those scouts heard I’d be in therapy for at least a year they stopped calling.”
“Oof,” Drew muttered. “Bullshit is right.”
“Yeah,” Aithan agreed, “but I’m glad. I was way too cocky. If I’d actually gotten recruited, I’d be insufferable and miserable.”
“Why miserable?” I asked.
“Because I hated competing. I did it because I was good at it and it’s what everyone wanted me to do, but I really hated the pressure, especially from my mom. That’s why I was such a jerk. I was depressed and didn’t know how tonotbe a stereotype.”
“Damn,” Drew said, “parkour ended up being not so stupid after all. How’d you get into personal training?”
“It was Dieter’s suggestion. I had to quit all athletics for the rest of my junior year because my leg was so messed up. I could’ve started competing again as a senior, but I couldn’t stand the idea. The thing is, I missed the physical activity and the camaraderie of being on a team. Dieter suggested joining a gym ’cause I could work at my own pace, rebuild strength and flexibility, and find a community without needing to compete.” Aithan grinned. “Best decision ever, trying to jump that alley.”
The timer on Drew’s phone chimed and we turned back toward the restaurant. The waiting crowd had grown enough to spill into the parking lot when we reached the front doors.
“Where’d all these people come from?” Aithan muttered.
We pushed through the crowd to the host stand and let the guy manning it know we’d returned.
“Good timing,” he replied. “Only two parties ahead of you now.”
“We’ll wait in the bar.” Drew grabbed my hand. “C’mon, Brick, I’ll buy you a kiddie drink.”
I laughed. “A Shirley Temple?”
He grinned. “Something better.”
The bar was wall-to-wall people. I was grateful for my height as I watched shorter women huddle together or against their dates, dodging elbows and trying to protect their overpriced drinks. Drew backed me into Aithan’s arms, promised to get him a good Scotch ale, and ducked into the throng.
Aithan shook his head. “Look at him charming his way through this mob. He’s gonna return with our drinks and a line of ladies.”
I laughed and tapped my chest. “All of whom will want to shank this skank for hoarding the two finest fellas in the joint.”
He cupped the nape of my neck and stroked his thumbs along my jaw. “They’ll have to get through me first.”
“Pretty sure that’s their plan.”
He laughed, deep and sexy. “No thanks. I only see one lady I like in this dump.” His lips captured mine in a slow, seductive kiss and I leaned into him.
