Page 42 of Rematch
“When you get home, take a hot shower and pop some ibuprofen,” she said, giving me a stern look when she was finished. “Doctor’s orders.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Audrey smiled at me for a moment, her eyes glittering in the light.
Despite her finished work, she was still standing so close. The floral scent of her perfume wafted through my nose, beckoning for me.
I leaned in a bit, submitting to the silent command. My fingers itched to cup her face, bring her close, and kiss the lips haunting my dreams. If I tried, would she push me away? Or would she pull me closer?
I searched for the answer in her eyes, but couldn’t find one. Her feelings for me at one point in time had been one she used to keep locked away. I guess she’s shoved them back into whatever locker they used to reside in.
The door opened, and any chances I had of opening the lock on those emotions disappeared.
Audrey took a few steps back as Wesley and Gianna’s laughter filled the room. “Hey,” she greeted them. “How was the tour?”
“Great,” Gianna replied, her grin wider than the Cheshire Cat’s. “Wes is hilarious. I swear my stomach hurts from laughing so much.”
“I’m glad somebody gets my jokes,” Wesley said. “Tysir and Max either ignore me or look at me like I’m crazy.”
“Well, you are crazy.” She pinched her fingers together, leaving a minuscule space between them. “Just a little.”
Chuckling, Wesley finally tore his eyes off of Gianna and looked at me. “The ladies wanna go out to drink in your honor. Are you down or are you heading home?”
“I’m coming,” I replied.
We led the girls out through the stadium’s back entrance. Gianna and Audrey looped arms as we got closer to our cars, a silent statement one wasn’t going anywhere without the other. Which was fine. I didn’t mind chauffeuring the girls over to the spot Wesley wanted to go to.
Throughout the conversations over drinks, their hold on each other slowly started to fade. Gianna leaned in closer for Wesley’s stories, and before long they were practically skin-to-skin in the booth.
Beside me, Audrey kept a safe distance between our bodies. Between sips of her margarita, she smiled and laughed at the banter happening between Wesley and Gianna.
“Alright, that takes the cake,” Gianna said after Wesley told an outrageous story about being chased by a loose, rabid dog in his neighborhood when he was young. “I think I’m done with your bullshit stories.”
“It’s not bullshit!” He insisted. He lifted his leg up and pulled up his pant leg, exposing the long, jagged scar running up his calf. “Over ten stitches because of that damn dog.”
Gianna shook her head. “Your dumbass should’ve left it alone in the first place. That’s what you get.” She turned her gaze to Audrey, her voice lowering to a whisper. “Are you ready to go?”
“I can take you both home,” Wesley offered.
Gianna shot him a sharp look. “Boy, I don’t know you enough to give you my address.”
He met her look with a flirty smile. “Are you trying to?”
She smiled. “Maybe.” She waved her hand. “Now, scoot so we can get out.”
He happily followed her command, and the girls scooted out of the booth.
Audrey lingered a few steps behind Gianna and Wesley as they continued chatting, placing herself next to me as we walked back to the cars.
“Need a ride?” I asked when we reached my car.
“Thanks, but I was gonna catch an Uber with Gianna.”
At the sound of her name, Gianna glanced over her shoulder. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Audrey raised a brow. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Gianna’s smile took a mischievous turn as she looked between the two of us. “You worry about enjoying that ride,” she said. She enveloped Audrey in a hug. “Text me when you get home.”
