Page 3 of Interception

“What?”

“Come with me. You always make me stronger than I feel. I need you. I know I don’t have the right to ask you for more help. You’ve already done so much for me this week, but what if he slams the door in my face?”

“Of course, I’ll come. If he tries to slam the door in your face, I’m going to slam it on his balls. You’re amazing, and he’s lucky that you want to give him the time of day!” Her smile brightens, and I can’t be annoyed as she pulls me into her arms.

“You’re a legend, Zee. What would I do without you?”

“It doesn’t even bear thinking about! You’d be a mess.”

“You mean more of a mess?”

“Hey, don’t put yourself down. That’s my job.” She tickles my side. She knows I hate being tickled more than anything else in the world.

“You love me.”

“I do. Now, please, for the love of God, get me some coffee.”

* * *

“What do you think?” Faith holds up some super freaky red panties.

“Put the hooker panties back. Red is a rookie mistake. I don’t know when the idea was planted in women’s brains that red is what guys find sexy.”

“They don’t?” Her expression is so bewildered, it’s cute.

“Oh, my sweet, innocent friend. No. Red is tacky. Black is always the better choice. It’s sexy, it looks good against any skin tone, and it flatters any size curves.”

“Then I’m doing something right! Ninety percent of my underwear is black.” She dips the back of her jeans just low enough to show me the tip of her panties and a whole lot of ass-crack.

“I did NOT need to see that.”

“You’ve seen my butt plenty. We live together.”

“Do we? You’ve barely been at the new place. Your shit is still in boxes in your bedroom.” She scrunches her nose before giving me her best puppy dog eyes.

“I’ll get around to it. After the Hall of Fame, I’ll be done working for Hunter and will probably slob around the apartment in my granny panties and sweats, depressed that my epic sex is over and done with.”

“No slobbing! Don’t let a man dictate your mood. Ride him and side him.” I start picking out some bras and panties for her to try. She’s hopeless on her own.

“What does that even mean?”

“It means… fuck ‘em and chuck ‘em. Hunter Vaughn does not get to be the one to walk away with your cherry and make you feel bad about it. You ride him, and then you sideline him.” She rolls her eyes at me as she gravitates toward all manner of strange-colored underwear.

“What about this?” She holds up a super cute teddy, but that’s not the look we’re going for. Faith needs less cute and more siren.

“Step away from the girlfriend lingerie. This stuff is sexy when you’re dating. You need variety. For straight-up, can’t say no, drop to his knees begging to bury his head between your thighs sex, we’re sticking to black.”

“When did you become the Hitler of my underwear?”

“Since you asked me to help you seduce one of the hottest men in NFL history.” I grab her arm and drag her toward the changing rooms, thrusting a whole bunch of items I picked out at her. “Now go try these on.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

While I’m here, I may as well treat myself to some new undies. It’s not until I’m on the other side of the shop that I hear Faith shouting my name.

“Zee! I’m stuck.” For God’s sake. Everyone within earshot is trying not to laugh as I scurry across to my best friend shouting like she’s at a football game. “I’m stuck!”

“Jesus. Keep the hollering down to a roar, Faith.” I reach for the door to her changing room, but it’s still locked. “Open the door, genius.”

---