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“Didn’t you say you’d take some summer classes?”
“A summer class,” Nate grumbles. “As in one. Doesn’t mean I don’t have time to hang out with the guys.”
Although he can’t see me, I give him a side glance. “As if you stayed there to hang with the guys.”
“The pretty brunette was definitely a plus.” He rubs his chin. “A shame I had to leave her in my bed to help you, dumbass.”
“Hey, nobody forced you to volunteer.”
“True, but I couldn’t leave your sorry ass to your own devices. Poor kids would be depressed by the end of camp.”
“You’re an asshole. You know that?”
He shrugs. “I’ve been called worse. Can you be quiet now? Last night, the brunette wore me out, so I figured I might doze off until we get to the center.” Nate opens one eye and squints at me. “Not like you’d know anything about that, now would you?”
“Shut up and sleep before I throw your ass out of my truck.”
Nate gives me a knowing grin but lowers his ball cap and leans back into his seat.
The smug asshole.
So what if I haven’t hooked up in a while? It’s not like it’s surprising. Between my classes, practice, volunteering, and doing my best to keep my teammates in check, I didn’t have too much free time. But in all honesty, even if I had time, I wasn’t interested in meaningless hookups. They were fun when I was just starting college and thought I was the shit, but they got old fast. An uncertain future didn’t help matters either. I didn’t want to get attached to somebody only to have to move because of a job, although…
I take a turn, our destination in front of us. The grayish industrial building is like another home, considering the number of hours I’ve spent here in the last few years. I pull next to the familiar black truck and kill the engine.
“We’re here.”
Nate groans as I unbuckle my seatbelt and get out of the car, pulling my duffle bag out of the backseat.
“Shit, it’s bright outside.”
I look over my shoulder at my friend. “I seriously hope you’re not hungover.”
“No, dumbass. Just tired.”
I observe him for a moment longer before turning around and facing the front door. Taking a deep breath to brace myself, I push it open, my eyes landing on her.
Vanessa Dawson.
Even now, five years later, seeing her knocks the air out of my lungs just like it did that first time. Back when I was just a skinny seventeen-year-old guy with too much bravado, and she was this stunning woman working at the community center. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and time has only made her more gorgeous than she was before. Despite our age difference, I tried flirting with her, but she’d always brush me off, saying I was too young for her. And maybe at seventeen, I was, but now? Who the hell even cares? Besides, eight years isn’t that much of a difference.
There’s a frown between her brows as she reads something on her phone, but as soon as the bell chimes, she looks up, those stunning golden-brown eyes meeting mine.
“Hey, Ness,” I greet, a wide grin spreading over my lips.
“Quinn, hey…” Her eyes narrow at me. “What did you do to your hair?”
Chuckling, I run my hand over my head. “Apparently, if you want people to take you seriously, you have to look the part. Does it look that bad?”
I wore dreads for years, but now that I’ve graduated, I figured it’s time for a change, so after the guys and I returned from our road trip, I’d decided to cut it all off.
“No…” Her eyes linger on me, taking me in. “No, it looks good on you.”
“Thanks. You know, this all could be yo—”
“Do you plan to flirt all day, or are you coming?” Nate grumbles behind me.
I roll my eyes, which makes Vanessa crack a smile. I tap my fingers against the counter. “Work’s calling.”
