Page 33 of Bull Rush

“You’re so kind. You always think the best of everyone.” Faith smiles at me, and Bo flashes a look between us. One I answer with a wide-eyedI’m not encouraging herlook in return.

“I heard it’s your birthday.” Holly looks Anson over, and when I tell you the man is practically crawling up the wall to put distance between them, I’m not lying. I can’t tell whether he hates her or if he just doesn’t know what to do with this kind of attention.

“Something like that,” he mumbles.

“Mine was last week….” She keeps chattering on about her life, and he just keeps nodding along with her. He gives short answers when she asks him questions about himself, and I can tell she’s trying her best to keep the conversation going.

“My birthday’s coming up next week too. What a coincidence.” Faith interjects herself into the conversation.

“Yeah?” Bo asks her, his eyes drifting over her neck and following the deep vee of her shirt. He pulls her into his lap a moment later, and she leans back against his chest. “You doing anything fun for it?”

“I have some ideas.” Her lashes drop as she looks back up at him, and I’m starting to feel like the odd man out, hoping Avery comes back soon, and we can discuss her new job at my brothers’ place.

“You should tell me what some of them are.” Bo grins at her, taking a sip of his drink and wrapping his arm around her waist. I don’t begrudge my friend a one-night stand, but I’m having a hard time seeing what’s keeping his interest besides the fact that she’s pretty.

“I don’t know… Some of them are pretty scandalous. It might be too much for you.”

“Haven’t found my limits yet.”

I’m not a stranger to these situations. It’d been the same with my teammates back East, but it was around this time I usually found myself ducking out for the evening. But it feels rude, given it’s Anson’s birthday, to be doing it quite this early.

“Have you heard of an Eiffel Tower?” Her gaze snaps to mine from Bo’s. “Because I’m really into the idea of that tonight.”

I nearly choke on my beer, and I jump up out of the booth as I start to sputter and cough.

“Be right back. I think there’s something wrong with this beer.” I manage to say before I hustle my way across the floor to the bar, where I see Dakota raise an eyebrow at me as I approach.

“Well, if it isn’t the gridiron pimp.” She shakes her head and glances back over my shoulder.

“I’m just playing wingman tonight. Trying to help some friends out.”

“Is that what you’d call it?” A skeptical brow arches.

“Can I get an ice water?”

“Not if you’re taking it back to her.” She levels me with a flat tone.

“It’s for me. I’ll drink it right here if you’d like.”

“I would.” She reaches under the counter and starts preparing it for me as she glances back in the direction of Hazel’s brothers. “She’s trouble. Just so you know.”

“I think Bo’s just trying to give Anson a shot with her friend. She already mentioned you hate her.”

“I don’t hate her.”

“You could’ve fooled me.” I down half the ice water in one gulp when she hands it to me.

“I don’tlikeher, but I don’t hate her. Hate requires a lot of time and effort. Someone has to be worth it for me to devote those kinds of precious resources, and she’s most certainly not.”

“I see.” I swirl the ice around in what’s left and then down it before I put the cup back on the counter and ask for another. She serves it, and I down it again. I’m ready to head home, and I don’t want a headache waiting for me in the morning.

“Thanks for that,” Bo grouches as he comes up alongside me and orders a water for himself. I look back over my shoulder to see that Faith, Holly, and Avery have all moved on to greener pastures.

“I’m sorry… were you wanting to take a trip to Paris tonight?” I can’t suppress my amusement, and he answers it with a heavy frown.

“I’m not excited about going home alone.”

“There’s a bar full of women and more down the road.”

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