Page 24 of Off Season

“Aww, thanks, Justin. That was really sweet of you. They smell amazing.”

He smiles like I just told him I’d have sex with him.

I hear a door in the hallway opening and then closing just before I see Arizona and Ripley approach. Arizona looks at my state of undress and raises an eyebrow before turning to Justin. “Good morning, Justin.”

“Umm…good morning, Arizona. Do you guys have a game today?”

She shakes her head. “Not today. Rip and I are heading over to the stadium for a little training. I just wanted to see if Kam and Bailey wanted to come with us.”

I nod. “I’ll go with you. Bails is headed to Daddy Montgomery’s house.” I look back at Justin and hold up the plate. “Thanks for these. Have a good day.”

He hesitates briefly before turning and walking back into his apartment with his head down. Ripley and Arizona walk into ours before I close the door. Ripley shakes her head. “The poor guy is in there jerking off to images of you dressed like this.”

I scrunch my face in disgust. “Ugh. A ginger penis is unappealing. It’s probably like a raw carrot. Crooked and discolored.”

Ripley scoffs. “Stop being mean to gingers. Once again, I’m one of your best friends and I’m a ginger.”

“You know it’s just the men who give me the willies.” I shiver. “Ugh. Do you know why ginger men all smell so bad?”

She lets out a long breath. “God help me. Why?”

“So blind people know who to avoid as well.”

She pinches her lips together, clearly fighting a smile.

“How does a male ginger high-five his best friend?” I ask.

She raises her eyebrows in question.

I answer, “He claps his hands.”

She spits in laughter. “There is something really wrong with you, Kam.”

“Agreed.” I sigh. “Just messing with you. He really is such a sweetie…in a Ted Bundy, serial killer kind of way. I almost feel like we should give him an SOS.”

Arizona does her trademark snort-laugh. “Holy shit. I totallyforgot we used to do that.” She covers her eyes with her hand. “It’s embarrassing how many times we’ve done that.”

In college, we performed a bit of acommunityservicefor nice, nerdy guys who had no chance of getting any action. We would each kiss him. All four of us, one right after the other. Full kisses; tongue and everything. We called it an SOS, as in us saving the person. Arizona and I were amused by it while Bailey and Ripley did it because they felt like we were genuinely helping the poor guys.

Ripley winces. “It’s kind of disgusting when you think about it, but if there was ever anyone in need of it, it’s poor Justin.”

I nod. “Truth.”

My close friendsare all busy tonight, so I agreed to go out with my teammate, Amber, and her friend, Trisha. Trisha is very introverted and could use a little help in the confidence department, but she’s not my mission this evening. My mission is to find Amber a man. I don’t spend too much time in clubs anymore, mostly because my sister and friends don’t like it, but I wanted to take Amber out and help her move on from her hobosexual ex. She deserves a little fun.

I’m in a short black skirt and backless, midriff-baring sparkly silver halter top. The club has a great vibe and is completely packed. The music is blaring, and people are drinking, dancing, and talking, as is normal at a club like this.

We’re on the dance floor, having a blast. We’ve had a few drinks. Amber has let loose, but this Trisha chick is super uptight, constantly wanting to move off the dance floor and sit down. She’s kind of a drag.

At least seven guys have approached me and asked me to go home with them. They didn’t even ask for my name. It’s not likeI’m into that get-to-know-you chit-chat much, but a fucking exchange of names and a few sentences would be nice.

Why am I so off-put by guys tonight? I’m definitely taking a girl home with me.

I’m swaying my hips to the beat of the music when a familiar, extremely attractive, very muscular, tall man with shaggy blond hair approaches me and places his hands on my hips without invitation. He gives me a bit of a goofy smile. “Wow. You’re stunning. I’m real life swiping right on you.”

I let out a laugh. “That’s funny, but I’m not a Tinder girl. I don’t need an app to get laid.”

He smirks. “No doubt. I’ve watched you swat away man after man all night.”

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