Page 6 of Roughing the Princess

I left the two of them to gossip about this alone.

I walked into the showers. I was the only one here. Everyone else on the team was still doing drills outside. But I blasted cold water on myself to calm myself down. It was one thing to picture Tova on her knees in the privacy of my own shower. It was another to do it here when anyone could walk in and see me.

***

“Ugh, someone must have tipped them off,” Mav said as we climbed out of his Mercedes.

Yeah, someone definitely told the paparazzi we’d be here.

“This is perfect,” Jasper said. “You can show off your new stache to the whole world so Tova will see it. And then she’ll text you.”

I laughed. “Youcalled the paparazzi?” My brother was an idiot.

“I’m telling you, I’m the best wingman.”

Mav lightly shoved him. “We both know that title belongs to me.”

Jasper swatted him away. “Smile at the cameras, Talon.”

Instead of smiling, I flipped the bird at the closest cameraman and then walked into the bar.

“That was perfect,” Jasper said and slapped my back. “You’re giving total bad boy vibes. Tova is gonna eat that up. The first round is on me.” He walked off toward the bar with Mav and I found a table to sit down at. I slid onto one of the stools. I was glad the paparazzi hadn’t followed us inside.

“Did you actually lose your virginity while listening to one of Tova’s songs?” Mav asked.

“I knew the two of you had been talking about this.”

Mav laughed. “I’m not judging you. She’s fucking sexy as hell. I’d tap that.”

“Dibs, man.”

He held up his hands. “I’m not stepping on your toes. Although I probably have a better chance than you. You know…since I not only have two rings but I’m also a two-time Super Bowl MVP and all.”

“We both know you wouldn’t have those titles without my help.” Seriously, I’d like to see him win another ring without his star tight end.

“Or mine,” Jasper said and placed our drinks down on the table.

Mav shrugged. “Still. I bet she’d take my call. Maybe I should call her and beg her to talk to you.”

“Not necessary,” Jasper said. “I’ve got this. Because I’m the best wingman.”

“And yet…here the three of us are, all alone. Tova-less.” Mav shook his head like he was so disappointed in Jasper’s horrible wingman skills.

I laughed.

“I’ve set you up with like half the models you’ve dated, Mav,” Jasper said. “I didn’t see you complaining about my wingman skills then.”

Mav shrugged.

Jasper did have a special talent for finding hot, single models. He’d set me up with a dozen or so too. Those had been some fun nights.

“Speaking of models…” Mav rubbed his hands together. “I have someone I want you to meet, Jasper.”

Jasper took a sip of his drink. “Pass.”

I stared at Mav. It had been a while since either of us had tried to breach this subject with Jasper. And the last time hadn’t exactly gone well. I probably remembered it better than Mav did though, because I was the one who’d had to sit with Jasper while he cried on the bathroom floor. He wasn’t ready. It had barely been a year.

“You didn’t even let me tell you who it is,” Mav said.

---