Page 85 of For Emery

She laughed and shook off my hands. “She’s not saying anything that’s gonna scare me off.”

“Damn straight she’s not,” I said. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Em smiled, and it was lame to admit, but that smile did weird things to me.

I looked away before I did something crazy like make out with her right there in front of everyone. Sabrina stared at me, her eyes narrowing in that who-the-hell-are-you and what-have-you-done-with-Grady way.

“So, how’s your team look?” I asked Crosby, ignoring Sabrina’s unspoken questions.

“I think we’ve got potential,” he said, never being one to say much.

I could tell he was kinda pissed Sabrina dragged him out with us. They barely got to see each other. I’m sure he had other plans in mind for them. But Sabrina had insisted we go out because she wanted to get to know Em.

“You guys are doing well,” he added.

“Yeah. We’ve got a douchebag for a QB, but the rest of the team is okay.”

“Yeah,” Crosby scoffed. “I saw my fair share of douchebags last year.”

I nodded, knowing he had a rough time once he transferred to Alabama. The hockey team made his time on the team hell. But he turned the tables on them, flipping them the proverbial bird by getting drafted to the pros.

“You thinking of going pro next year?” he asked.

I shrugged, knowing better than to talk about the agent with anyone—other than Em and my dad.

“Any team would be lucky to have him,” Em said.

Sabrina laughed. “I’m not sure they’ll think that until they get to know him.”

“Am I that difficult?” I asked.

The girls answered at the same time. “Yes.”

We laughed, and for once in a long time it felt nice to have friends.

“I’ll be right back,” Em said to me.

I leaned over and dropped a peck on her lips. “If any guys try to talk to you, tell them you’re taken. Got it?”

She laughed.

“I’m serious.” I flexed my right arm and eyed my muscle. “Show them the guns.”

“Oh my God.” She rolled her eyes and hurried off to the bathroom.

“Just when I thought you changed,” Sabrina said.

I turned back to her.

Her eyes riveted between mine. “Actually…lame comments aside…you have changed.”

“Em brings out the best in me.”

“And Sabrina brings out the horny side in me,” Crosby said, wrapping his tattoo-sleeved arm around her and pulling her into his side.

She giggled. “Stop. You said you could wait.”

“I lied.” Crosby slid off his stool and said, “Dude, I need to get my girl alone before I head back. You understand, right?”

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