Page 24 of Best Man
Having convinced himself, he scooted over and made room on the bench. “You’re not bothering me at all,” he said. “Want to sit with me?”
“Sure, thank you.”
He stole a quick glance at her cute butt as she sat.
Ugh. So nice.
Not for me, though …
As soon as she sat, a sudden roar of laughter came from inside the restaurant, prompting them both to whip around and look at the brick building.
“Itisloud in there, isn’t it?” Paulina said.
Niko chuckled. “Yeah. I feel bad for your family.”
“Ah, don’t worry about them.” She waved her hand. “They’re all hippies. They know how to party. I have to say, though, I am a little surprised. I didn’t think pro athletes would—well—” She trailed off, unsure how to finish her thought.
“Party so hard?” Niko proffered.
She snickered. “Yeah.”
“You must not know many pro athletes, then.”
She shook her head. “Sure don’t. Just Jax.”
“This is nothing. Wait until you see what they do tomorrow.”
“Jeez!” She laughed at the idea that this was only a sneak peek at the debauchery to come. “So you guys are all big party animals, huh?”
“Big time.” He raised his glass to drink, but there wasn’t any soda left. He chomped on an ice cube instead.
“Looks like you could use another yourself,” she said, and jumped to her feet. “What’re you having?”
He politely declined. “No, thank you.”
“Aw, c’mon! Don’t be a party pooper.”
“I don’t need another.” He rattled the ice in his glass. “It’s just club soda.”
Her jaw fell. “You’re not drinking? Nowonderyou’re not having any fun!”
“I am even less fun when I drink, believe it or not,” he said, chuckling softly. “Three years sober.”
“Oh.” The color drained from her face. Slowly, she slunk back onto the bench. She gently touched her hand to his forearm. “I’m so sorry, Niko. I didn’t realize—” She squeezed her eyes shut, wearing her embarrassment plain as day. “Wow, do I ever feel like a giant asshole right now.”
Niko couldn’t help but smile. Normally, girls were dismayed to learn he didn’t drink, as if his sobrietyblunted his stardom and made himlame.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s no big deal.”
“For what it’s worth, I think it’s cool that you’re sober.”
“Really? Cool?” he asked, amused.
“All my friends want to do when we hang out is drink, and y’know, it gets old sometimes,” she said with a shrug. “It’s definitely not as fun as when we were young.”
He snickered. “Trust me, I know.”
She stared at her wine and swished it around in her glass. “I can’t say I’m sober or anything, because this is my second glass of the night.” Suddenly, she tossed the contents of her wine glass into a nearby planter. “But hey, solidarity.”
