Page 1 of Taming Drew

CHAPTERONE

DREW

Iopen the heavy wood door and hold it for Travis to grab. Travis is my best friend and the best offensive lineman on the Dallas Mustangs football team. We were both drafted six years ago and roomed together for the first two years. He’s still racking up the statistics, but give him a few years, and he’ll be a football god. He’s the key player to protect our quarterback. If the Mustangs keep him, he’ll rival me for the salary amount in my contract.

The dingy, old entry leads into a dark, shabby, barren dive. Peanuts crush under my feet as the smell of stale beer turns my stomach.

“How can a bar smell like old beer at noon?” I’ve got more money than all but one player on my team. I’m the highest paid tight end in professional football, but I drink at dive bars in the middle of the day. Well, during the off-season at least. I could afford to hit up one of the better bars, but nobody bugs me here, and I’d have to put up with autographs and selfies if I went somewhere respectable.I nudge Travis. “God, I hope they’ve got the kitchen going. I’m hungry.”

Travis shakes his head. “I came to drink, but I do love their nachos.” He raises his hand at the bartender. “Beer, bartender! And nachos, and keep ‘em coming.”

I saddle up to the bar next to Travis. “Did you bang the blonde from last night?” Travis is built like a tank with large gorilla-sized hands that contain grown men determined to crush our quarterback. He’s a few inches shorter than me, but outweighs me by seventy pounds. And women love him.I’d never actually known anyone with a dimple until Travis.

He leans back and cracks his neck. “Three times and then left her wanting more.”

“You dawg. Did you give her your number?”

Travis spits out his beer. “Hell, no. You know how it is.”

“Yeah. I get it.”

The bartender sets down the orange gooey sauce covered tortilla chips, topped with seasoned meat and pico de gallo. “Thanks, man.” Travis flicks his head at the bartender. He smirks at me. “Did you stay with Stacy last night?”

“Yeah. I’m certainly not going to have any chick at my place.” I bob my head for emphasis. “She and I were in the middle of our second fuck when her roommate got home.” I smirk, remembering the threesome. “What can I say, she joined in. Stacy’s good and all, but her roommate is hot.”

“I love that kinky shit.” He scoops the cheese that pooled on the side of the plate onto a chip. “You like that, too. Everybody’s seen that video you did in college. The three girls and the spanking bench were cool. I have to admit I was impressed. You banged them all in under thirty minutes. Better than any porn I’d seen, up until that point.” He winks.

I don’t get to respond as an adorable redhead strolls up to the bar, plopping herself onto the stool next to me. “Hi.” She bats her eyes like a movie ingenue trying to get the attention of any red-blooded male.

I nod. “Hello there.”

She leans in. “I’m Sadie.” She looks past me and smiles at Travis.

“I’m Drew and that’s Travis.”

“Well, you’re big boys.” She glances at the bartender. “Can I get a mojito?” She turns back to me, shrugging like she’s trying to convince herself as much as the rest of us. “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”

I lift my glass. “Damn right. So, Sadie? Do you come here often?”

“Every once in a while. My ex used to work here.”

“Nice. Isn’t that weird? You’re not worried about his being here?”

She smirks as she sips the drink the bartender set down. “He’s still in jail, I think.”

“In jail? Sounds like a real winner. Dodged a bullet there.”

“Don’t I know it.” Sadie touches my arm. “He was always a piece of shit. I just didn’t figure it out in time.”

Travis ends a call on his cell phone. The color drains from his face as he speaks. “I need to grab an Uber and head to the airport. My ma’s in the hospital.”

“Do you need me to come?” I turn to stand up from the stool. He’s my best friend, and I’d do anything for him.

“Thanks man, I’m good. I’ll call and let you know what’s going on.” Travis puts his hand on my shoulder and walks out the door.

Two hours later, I finish my second pitcher of beer, and Sadie slurs her order to the bartender, who shakes his head in disgust. “You’re cut off. I can call you a cab.”

Sadie knocks her glass across the counter. “What the fuck? Make me another. I’ve only had a couple.”

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