Chapter 28

“A party?” Jane asked skeptically over breakfast. King had made some kind of chicken, egg, and veggie breakfast burrito that was actually really good. He and Sam had about four apiece. She could barely finish one.

King put down his phone after reading them the text he’d just received. “Yeah. You’ll meet the team. It’s all good.” She tried not to panic.

“You mean, the whole team? Like, I’d go with both of you? And they would all know it? That we were together?” She did some yoga breathing.

“If you don’t want to go, that’s okay,” Sam said, turning away to put some dishes in the dishwasher. He sounded disappointed. Jane didn’t want to disappoint him again. She’d slept between the two of them last night, which had been every girl’s dream of heaven, but she’d bolted out of bed when they both woke up with morning wood. She wasn’t ready to let slutty Jane loose again. She glanced at King, feeling guilty for calling herself that even in her head. He was oblivious.

“Come on,” he said. “It’s Tom Kelly, all-American boy. And Danny Smith. What can go wrong? Nobody’s drinking much because it’s the season. It will just be a bunch of players and WAGS standing around talking football.”

“WAGS?” Jane asked, confused. Was that a football position?

“Wives and girlfriends,” Sam told her, turning around and leaning against the kitchen counter. “You would officially be a WAG.”

“And how would the other WAGS feel about that?” she asked. “How many of them are dating two of you?” She was actually curious about that. She knew some of the players had already hooked up together with a woman.

“Well, tonight, probably none,” King admitted. “Coaches don’t come, so that leaves Cass and Beau and Marian out, and also Ty, Brian, and Randi. Plus, Randi is a cop and she makes some of the guys nervous.”

“So, just me? The only sl—” She stopped herself when she saw King’s look, and said instead, “The only polyandrous girlfriend there?”

“What does polyandrous mean?” Sam asked.

“Having more than one guy,” Jane said, slumping in her seat.

“They have a name for it?” he asked in wonder. “So it’s not that unusual?”

“Historically speaking, no,” she admitted. “But today? Yes. Usually it happened in societies with more men than women.”

“That fits a football team perfectly,” King said. “So there you go.”

“Nice try,” Jane said drily. “But we all know professional athletes are surrounded by willing women.” She looked back and forth between them, curious about their arrangement. “So why this?” she asked, pointing at the three of them. “You guys could have five women each practically every night. Why just me?”

“It’s not just you,” King said. “It’s us, too.” He shrugged. “A lot of women want more than one of us, like trophies. But they aren’t cool about guys who also want guys. They feel cheated.”

“Seriously?” Jane asked in disbelief. “Have they ever watched you guys together? Because, holy crap, hot.”

“And that’s why only you,” Sam said, grinning. “Like I said last night, with you I don’t feel like I have to apologize for what I want.” He came over and sat down next to her. “I’m sick of feeling sorry about everything. About living when my buddies died, about healing when Carmina didn’t, about playing football when other veterans are struggling, about wanting King when I’m supposed to be this macho athlete who only wants pussy.” He sighed. “Right now, or whenever it’s just us three, I don’t feel like I have to apologize for who I am.”

“Okay,” Jane said. “I’ll go to the party.” How could she say no after Sam told her something like that? She liked being there for him, liked being part of his support system and making him feel good about himself.

“Great,” King said, typing into his phone. He frowned and looked up. “It starts late. Is that okay? Do you have to work tomorrow?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m off today and tomorrow.” She pushed back from the table. “I have to use the bathroom. Do you have any coffee?” She really needed caffeine.

Sam looked chagrined. “No,” he said. “I’m sorry. I don’t do coffee. I try to steer clear of caffeine.”

“You’re a freak,” she said over her shoulder. “I’m going to have to go out and get some soon or I’ll have a killer headache.”

When she walked back into the kitchen a few minutes later she stopped cold. Another woman was standing there with Sam, both of them fussing with a coffeepot. The other woman turned, and her eyes got big when she saw Jane standing there. Jane, who wasn’t wearing anything except Sam’s dress shirt, barely buttoned.

“Hey,” Sam said happily. “I got Carmina to bring up her coffeepot and some coffee. Jane, Carmina. Carmina, Jane.”

King came up behind Jane and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck. “Caffeine,” he said, sounding satisfied. “Now you don’t have to leave.” He let go of Jane and walked over to kiss Carmina on the cheek. “Hey,” he said. “Thanks.”

Carmina just stood there staring at Jane. Jane was mortified. Carmina knew. Sam had told her Jane was doing both guys. “Hey,” she said lamely, her face burning with humiliation.

Carmina continued to stare. She was blushing, too. She was gorgeous. Sam had forgotten to mention that. Curvy body, big, brown eyes with long, dark lashes, cute, dark hair curling all around her face. Jane wasn’t sure she wanted her boyfriend’s best friend to look like that. Finally Carmina gave her a little wave. Jane belatedly remembered that Carmina had speech issues. That was probably why she was embarrassed.

“I’m going to go get dressed,” Jane said, pointing vaguely down the hallway. “Because I feel like an idiot standing here in Sam’s shirt. Also, slightly trampy.” She waved off King’s protest. “Be quiet,” she said with a smile. “You know it’s true.” She pointed at Carmina. “Don’t leave. I get a do-over. I’ll be right back.” She dashed back to the bedroom and threw on her clothes. Thank God King had picked them up off the floor last night and hung them up in Sam’s closet. They weren’t fresh as a daisy, but they were better than the alternative. She searched her purse for a brush and said a silent thanks when she found one buried in the bottom. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and surveyed the damage. No visible hickeys. She looked like an average woman who might be on a trip to the mall, or planning to go grocery shopping. It would have to suffice. She dashed back to the kitchen.

When she entered she saw Carmina adamantly shaking her head while both Sam and King tried to cajole her. “Come on,” Sam said. “Please. You’ll have fun. I swear.”

“He’s right,” King told her. “You need to get out more and you will have fun. They’re just regular guys. You can play Call of Duty and eat chips and drink beer.”

“I hope that’s all we’ll be doing. Tom and Danny have gone a little crazy on the club scene lately. But this party should be pretty tame. No chips and no beer,” Sam said. “I mean, they probably won’t have chips. Not during the season. Or beer. But cheese and crackers, maybe? And soda? You shouldn’t have beer on your meds, anyway.”

“Are you guys trying to bully her into going to this party?” Jane said from the doorway, hands on her hips.

“Yes,” Sam said, putting his hands on his hips, too. “She stays holed up in that apartment every day and night. She needs to get out and meet people. And this way, I’ll be there, too, so she won’t feel so awkward.” Carmina made a face that required no words. “You know what I mean,” Sam said. “Besides, it’s right here in the apartment building, so if you really hate it you can leave, no problem. Tell her, Jane.” He pointed at her. “Jane’s going. Aren’t you?”

“I am,” Jane said with a resigned sigh. “If I have to go, you have to go. After all, I’m pretty sure most of the WAGS—you know what that means, right?” At Carmina’s nod, she continued. “I don’t think any of them will talk to me, despite what these two think. I’m dating two players. That makes me a slut in most people’s eyes.” She barreled ahead despite King’s glare. “But not to me, or you two, King, so you don’t have to yell at me,” she said without taking a breath. “But to most women, it does. Trust me. Back me up, here, Carmina.”

Carmina shook her head. “Not me,” she said firmly.

Jane smiled. “Thanks. But other than the four exceptionally enlightened people in this kitchen?” Carmina reluctantly nodded. “See?” Jane said to King. He frowned, looking very ferocious.

“I dare any of them to say anything to you,” he growled.

“I don’t think that will be a problem,” Jane said. Suddenly the idea of Carmina going with them sounded really, really good. “Please?” she begged, her hands in praying position as she made puppy-dog eyes at Carmina. “I need a girlfriend there.”

Carmina looked between the three of them, biting her lip. “Okay,” she said at last, looking like a martyr. “But…you…stay…close.” She took a deep breath after she said it, and Sam looked so proud that Jane guessed it was a lot of talking for her.

“That’s exactly what I was going to tell you,” Jane said. “I promise I will, if you do.”

“Great,” King said with gusto, rubbing his hands together. “Party tonight. Today, we hang out.” He opened the refrigerator. “We’ve got to order some food, brah. I’m starving.”

“We just ate,” Jane exclaimed. Sam and Carmina laughed.

“Welcome to life with football players,” Sam told her. “Thank goodness the grocery store delivers.”