Page 20 of Slew Foot
Rafe groaned and sat upright. “Fuck. Um, yeah, let me … uh, shower and get dressed and stuff.”
“I’ll meet you in the café in the lobby when you’re ready.”
With that, Mickey was gone.
Rafe ended the call, then glanced around the room. The room darkening drapes were half-open, allowing in light through the sheer curtains, and he stumbled out of bed and over to the window to pull the heavy ones apart.
There was water and a sports drink on the nightstand, and he gratefully took the red drink and gulped half of it down.
He turned to find his suitcase in one corner, his duffel resting next to it, then frowned when he saw his tie and undershirt, folded neatly on the nearby dresser.
When he stumbled over to the closet, his gameday suit hung there perfectly.
What the fuck? Even sober, Rafe had never been good at hanging up his clothes. Logan had always complained about his mess, the way he’d thrown stuff everywhere.
There was no way in hell Rafe had neatly hung up everything last night, tired and drunk.
He … how exactly had he gotten back here?
Rafe had some blurry memories of the pub, of drinking beer with Mickey and then a sticky sweet shot that had gone down easily. Then another one. And maybe a third.
He remembered laughing at something and then cool air on his face, his arm slung over someone’s shoulder.
Had … hadMickeybrought him back to the hotel? He thought so. Thought maybe he remembered Mickey in the elevator, Mickey guiding him toward the bed and …
Rafe’s face went hot as he remembered stripping off with Mickey standing a few feet away. He’d done the same in the locker room, but it was different here. Different when they were alone in a hotel room like this.
But try as Rafe might, he couldn’t remember anything else after.
With a groan, Rafe finished the last of the sports drink, then tossed the bottle in the trash before he went in search of a shower.
The hot water helped a little and he was somewhat more clear-headed when he stared at himself in the foggy mirror. He looked like shit but he felt slightly better. He was pretty sure he could’veslept for a whole twenty-four hours if Mickey hadn’t woken him, but …
But I need to get to know my new team,he thought with a little sigh.
Teeth brushed, dressed and ready, Rafe found a key card next to his wallet, and pocketed both before leaving the room. He drank the bottled water while he waited for the elevator and then on the ride down.
As promised, Mickey was waiting for him at a small café in the lobby. His wool coat was draped over a nearby chair like he’d been there a while and he looked relaxed, legs crossed and leaning back in his chair as he read something on his phone and sipped his coffee.
He glanced up, smiling as he spotted Rafe approaching. He passed over a takeout cup of coffee. “Good morning. You look like you could use this.”
“Thanks,” Rafe said gratefully.
“I got you a cup of black coffee. I wasn’t sure what you liked. Creamer and sugar are over there.” He pointed to a nearby marble bar.
“Perfect.” Rafe made a beeline for it.
“Dark and sweet, huh?” Mickey said from beside his elbow. “Like you.”
“What?” Rafe asked hoarsely, turning to look at him.
Mickey glanced away, his swallow was audible. “Nothing. Sorry.”
“I—” Rafe frowned but maybe he’d heard Mickey wrong? He remembered telling Mickey he didn’t date teammates. Mickeydidn’t seem like the kind of guy who would flirt without thinking either.
“Shall we go?” Mickey said briskly, neatly tossing his empty cup in the trash nearby. “Brunch is an open house so we don’t have to be there at any particular time, but I would hate to miss any of Mrs. O’s delicious food.”
“Mrs. O?” Rafe asked, sipping his coffee as they crossed the lobby.
