Page 14 of Playbook
“You have any plans later?” I ask him.
“Going home and going to bed,” he says like he isn’t sure why he came in the first place. I’m not sure why he did either. But Georgia practically preens beside me.
“Well, before you run off, Sleeping Beauty, have you met Georgia?”
The girl at my side steps in front of me and extends a hand to him. “Hi. I’m Georgia.”
He stares at her hand a beat before taking it. Georgia takes another step closer. “I’m a big fan. I went to a small community college, but I followed my home state college football. I was at that bowl game where you made that great block against Alabama.”
I smother a laugh. I don’t know if she realizes it or not, but it’s about the only thing she could have said to him to get his attention. He doesn’t care for people that much, but he loves football. In fact, I think the only time I’ve ever heard him utter more than a few words at a time was when he told me about that game.
He stands there, mouth gaping open.
“Let’s dance,” she tells him and takes his arm. He lets her lead him away like he’s in a daze.
“She is going to eat him alive,” Cody says, stepping up to fill thespace Georgia vacated.
“Nah. Well, maybe, but he’ll enjoy it.”
He nods, then motions to the VIP area. A lot of the guys have abandoned it, leaving it to Georgia’s friends. They’ve turned it into their own personal dance floor, even with Georgia down here. “You went to an awful lot of trouble tonight for a chick that you’re never going to see again and who is now going home with another dude. I don’t know if you’re the nicest guy I know or the dumbest.”
I laugh it off. I booked out the VIP area for her goodbye party. I didn’t do it expecting her to go home with me. I just wanted to send her off right as a thank you for all she’s done.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and then frown at the same number that’s been messaging me daily for weeks.
Unknown
Hey, it’s Sabrina again. I don’t know if you’re getting my texts, but?—
I stop reading and press delete. I should block the number, but some twisted part of me wonders how long she’ll keep it up.
The guys around me are busy drinking and chatting up girls. Archer and the girl he’s been seeing, Wren, are hugging one another. Everyone is having a good time. Except Cody. He hangs back like he doesn’t want to be here any more than Merrick does. Or did. He looks pretty cozy now.
“I’m surprised you made it out tonight,” I tell him, sliding my phone back into my pocket.
“Someone had to make sure things didn’t get out of hand.”
“Oh, relax. Have a drink, talk to some girls. We don’t have practice until ten tomorrow.” I get the bartender’s attention. “Can Iget ten shots of Fireball?”
Cody groans next to me. “Promise me you will not show up late and hungover.”
He really needs to chill. “I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t bullshit me. I was just like you my rookie season.”
Well, that makes me pause. Cody is only a few years older than me, but he acts like he’s about a hundred. “What the hell happened to you?”
His jaw hardens. “I grew up. You’ll do the same if you want to keep yourself from getting cut or traded before the first game. You’re young and talented, but eventually all the partying and fucking around will catch up to you. This job is hard and there are a million other guys who’d kill to be in your shoes. Right now, Coach is watching everyone closely, trying to decide who is going to make it and who isn’t.”
“Coach loves me.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I know he cares more about my performance on the field than the rest of it.
“Everybody loves you when you’re on top. But when your slipups start to affect your game, those same people will be asking for your head. If you ask me, Georgia leaving will be good for you. She’s as wild and crazy as you. Her socialite ways have gotten you a lot of attention and I’m sure that’s been fun, but it’s taken your mind off football. If you’re going to date, you need to find someone that understands your schedule and won’t ask you to make sacrifices. Not now. It’s too early in your career to let anything steal your focus.”
Cody St. James is a beast. I look up to him on the field and I hope to have a career like his but come on. It’s not like I’ve been flaking or my performance has been in any way impacted. I killedit at camp, and aside from Billy Boone, everyone from local fans to reporters have been excited about what I bring to the Mavericks.
So I laugh off his words. “It’s Saturday night, St. James. Can we loosen up on the doom and gloom pep talks?”
Damn. Maybe I need to see if Georgia has room in her bed for one more grumpy football player. They both need to lighten up.
