Page 13 of Draft Pick

"Hold up, isn't the point of a one-night stand is to be a one-and-done situation? Neither of us were looking to exchange rings. He was good for the night and then he was gone. Besides, he had practice to go to and I had my own stuff to do. Busy lives, you know?"

Darby whistled with approving surprise. "Who is this ice cold queen? Are we officially entering our villain era? We should have shirts made. I love it and I'm here for it."

I laughed. "Me? A villain? I don't know…maybe? I'm tired of getting attached too soon to someone who is all wrong for me. One night stands aren't supposed to be anything more than a one and done. I'm trying to do this right."

"Well, I mean yeah that's usually the way things are done but he seemed to be really into you. I don't think it was just the tequila talking. Girl, if you saw the way he was looking at you… I think all of our ovaries were jealous — even Sloane and she's got the saintly Bob doting on her hand and foot."

I blushed. Is Cason crushing on me? A secret thrill tickled my insides, but I kept that private and downplayed her observation. "It was probably the tequila. We aren't even remotely compatible." No, that wasn't true, but I didn't want to admit to Darby that Cason had blown away every expectation because I didn't know how I felt about that. Why couldn't he have been average like I expected him to be? I didn't need this kind of complication in my life.

After Derek, I'd lost much of my focus, but that was over. I wasthisclose to getting my degree and starting my actual life. I didn't need a misplaced crush on a man that wasn't my type or even an appropriate candidate for dating. "Can you imagine me having any relationship with a football player? I don't even know how the game is played. It seems like a really dangerous sport. Concussions, lots of injuries…I don't know why people still play it."

"Probably because it's a multi-billion-dollar industry," Darby returned wryly. "I know you're not much into sports, but the Wolverines are in the conversation. Not that I care about that stuff either but it's a money making machine. And I am willing to bet that every girl Cason comes across is ready to become his plus one because if he gets picked up in the draft, he stands to make a lot of money."

I couldn't imagine being attached to someone in that kind of limelight. The very idea gave me hives. I didn't like everyone to be in my business, and if my boyfriend happened to be an NFL star, I couldn't imagine how I would keep anything private. "Good luck to them because that's not a position I'm interested in applying for." Switching subjects, I brightened, asking, "Hey, do you want to go with me to the beach later today?"

Darby knew me too well. "That depends. Are we going to enjoy the beach or are we going to look for other peoples broken shit with that old metal detector?"

"C'mon, Darbs, you never know what you're going to find."

"Trash, Star, you're going to find trash," Darby deadpanned, unmoved and disinterested. "It's like rummaging through the dumpster…with sand."

"Do you realize that a man using a cheap metal detector found an ancient sword that they thinkmightbe the mythical Excalibur, calling into question everything we thought we knew about the era?"

I could practically hear Darby rolling her eyes. "You're in college. You should know by now how to verify a source. There's no way some dip shit with a metal detector found a mythical sword. Camelot never existed. C'mon, get real. I hate to be a buzzkill but the most you're going to find are old, crusty bottle caps and other bits of broken shit."

I refused to be deterred. "That's not true. The very first time I took my detector out. I actually found a ring. And I feel bad for whoever might've lost it. It probably meant something to them."

"Okay, have fun with your little scavenger hunt. I'm going to pass."

"All right, but don't blame me if I find some ultra rare coin that's worth millions and I don't share."

"Girl, if you find a rare coin with some kind of value, I'll eat my shoe."

"Deal —and I get to pick the shoe."

Darby laughed, and we clicked off.

For a brief moment, I considered calling one of the other girls to go with me, but no one seemed to share my enthusiasm for using my metal detector.

Oh well, their loss. Besides, I needed something to switch gears after my night with Cason. I was uncomfortable with the odd yearning in my chest to find a reason to talk to him again. It'd taken a Herculean effort not to invite him to share a shower with me. I knew if I let that happen, we'd still be naked.

And neither of us had the time to lay about like the Roman nobility being hand-fed grapes while lounging in our birthday suits.

A shiver tickled my spine at the memory of Cason's hungry mouth all over my body. I had to admit, the man left an impression. I shifted as a sore muscle agreed.Ouch. Maybe a soak in an Epson salt bath was better than taking the detector to the beach.

I needed a clean break to embrace the one-and-done concept. I might not be entering my villain era, but I was embracing a new version of Starlie. And that girl only madegoodchoices from here on out.

Which meant not calling Cason for a repeat of last night.

Ha! I couldn't call him if I wanted to — we hadn't exchanged numbers.

Thank godbecause my resolve felt weaker than my protesting quads.

Had I detected a tiny bit of jealousy when he asked if I was seeing anyone? A secret smile found my lips. There was nothing wrong with admitting that it felt good to be wanted, and while I was clueless about Cason's popularity on the field, I wasn't blind.

The man was gorgeous.

And being wanted by the hot guy who was wanted by everyone else was a nice boost to my battered ego.

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