ERIC

“Just keep moving,” I tell Wren, “I’ll handle this.”

An unsure glance locks onto me. Instantly I’m inspired to protect her. I know what people are thinking. Only an idiot couldn’t see it. Grinning and loud, I announce to anyone listening, “Nothing happened in there. I’m topless because my shirt’s a wreck, it’s hot as fuck out today.”

Wren smiles with relief, disappearing into the mass.

To remove the remaining doubt from the faces of my buddies I tell Tony, “You’re right. Those legs are locked, key long gone.”

The group laughs, mostly at me. Mott resembles a cave man, all grunts and jerking shoulders. “Looks like Cocker’s gonna have to work harder to win that bet.”

Tony snickers, “Yeah, right?”

Chuckling I notice our diminished numbers. “I didn’t take the stupid bet, you fucks. And where’d everybody go? Party over so early?”

“Fuck you didn’t!” Tony barks.

Shooting him an amused negative I grab my forgotten mug and down my beer. “Guess we don’t get those shots after all, huh? Mike make more of ‘em?”

But Tony won’t drop it. “A bet’s a bet!”

My face goes bland, “Are you crazy? You think I’d bet on something like that? I thought you were joking.”

Mott confirms, “Can’t take it back now, Cocker.”

“Ever hear of sarcasm? I don’t bet on having sex with women. Jeezus, if my sister heard about that, my whole family would descend upon me, an uprising of Biblical proportion, with me in ashes at the end of it.” I give a nod to a half-full pitcher. “Hand me that. Everybody left, huh? More for us, right?”

Under his breath Tony grumbles, “A bets a bet.”

“I didn’t take the bet!”

“Sounded like you did.”

“That’s because you don’t get my subtle sense of humor, or you’re not too bright. Now drop it. I’m out. Never was in. Clear your head and let it go.”

Both he and Mott sulk while Bethany, the girl hanging on his arm, cuddles with him. “Let’s go,” she smiles, trying to lighten Tony’s mood.

It works. He stands straighter, squeezes her close and kisses her like no one is watching, before he mutters to us, eyeing me like I jilted him, “See you at practice.”

Mott and I dip our heads and raise our mugs in salute as Tony leads his lady-of-the-hour out. I think this is the first time they’ve gone home together. I know for a fact she left with Rhami a few times last season, but it never stuck. Glancing to her friends I see a very pretty blonde eyeing us, hoping she’ll be chosen. Uninterested I turn to Mott. He spotted her, too.

Under his breath so she can’t hear, he asks, “You want her?”

I whisper back, “Not feeling it.”

“I’ll catch you later.” We knock shoulders and he heads over.

Cocking an eyebrow with my lukewarm mug hovering in front of my lips, I watch his primal seduction go down. The chest puffed up like a peacock. Massive arms flexed a little so she can see the goods. The confident smirk on his bull-like face.

She’s doing the dance, too. Toying with her hair. Giving her full lips a little nibble. Tilting her head to make her eyes big and vulnerable.

“Hey,” he says, voice deep as it will go.

Hers is soft and high as a saucy smile curves her mouth. “Hi there.”

“I’m Mott.”

“Kimberly.”

“You a fan of the Falcons, Kimberly?”

Biting her lip on an excited grin she hums, “Mmhmm.”

“You a fan of this guy?” He jabs his chest with his thumb.

Again she nods, blue eyes shining even brighter, “Mmhmm.”

“Mind if I pick you up and carry you out of here?”

Her eyelashes flash wide in surprise. Then she raises both arms, purse in one hand. He grunts his approval, hooks an arm around her, and plants a kiss just like that. Kimberly wraps girlish arms around his beefy neck and they make out as he barrels through the crowd, people jumping like popcorn as they see the beast coming.

Dion and I are the only ones left, and we are laughing our balls off, quietly so Mott doesn’t take it personally. You don’t want to make him mad, and sometimes he takes himself, and life, far too seriously.

I turn my head and see Wren watching the scene. Like she felt my eyes land on her, she glances over, copper eyes filled with humor. I motion her over.

She flickers, shakes her head and returns to the bar.

Dion noticed all of it. “Pretty girl, huh? Not like these ones, more solid you know?”

“Yeah, she’s interesting.”

“Something happen in that bathroom? You’re just protecting her, aren’t you?”

Eyeing him I confess, “I’m protecting her because nothing happened. But people won’t believe it and you and I both know that can fuck with a girl.”

Pursing his full lips he nods, dark eyes narrowing in darker skin. “Damn shame.”

“But it’s the truth.”

“Yep.” We both take a sip, knowing we can’t change the world even if there are parts of it we hate. Dion changes the subject, somewhat. “I took her friend home last week.”

“Who’s that?”

“The waitress who’s normally here.”

“Oh right, what’s her name?”

“Eleanor.” He sucks in air through his teeth in appreciation. “That girl better keep my number. Man, she is somethin’ else. Like your girl there, real salt-of-the-Earth type. Latina, but she got that fire under control, you know what I’m saying? Real easy-goin’ type. Like a man could get comfortable.” He downs the beer, clamps a hand on my shoulder and says, “Anyway, thought she’d be here but since she ain’t, I’m goin’ home, watch some TV.”

“I’ll catch you at practice.”

We bump fists and he heads into the crowd, girls smiling at him, one after the other ignored and disappointed.

Coming up behind Wren at her computer I’m a lot like Mott was, puffing up, voice deeper. “You have some opinions you’d like to share?”

“If I was going to share them I would have come when you called me.”

I lean against the wall so I can see her face, so she can see mine. “You saying I treated you like a dog?”

She shrugs, typing away and looking at her notes. “Maybe.”

“I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Then walk over and talk. Don’t crook your finger like you own me.”

“What if I wanted to own you…for a little while?”

Her chin juts out, eyes hardening to cut me in two. “Remember I said I have a boyfriend?”

“Been with a few girls who’ve had them.”

Her top lip curls and she flips around, waiting for Mike to come over and fill those drink orders. Highly entertained I rest my elbows on the bar. “Now don’t get all judgmental.”

“That’s cheating.”

“Did I say I cheated?”

“They cheated and you knew about it!”

“It was their relationships, not mine. I don’t cheat.”

“It’s the same thing.”

Getting a little irritated I counter, “Not the same thing at all, it’s not my relationship.”

“If you knew that someone could get hurt…”

“Someone can always get hurt. That’s part of life.”

Wren mutters, eyes dead, “Wow. Okay, good to know. You’re just like I thought you were.”

I don’t know why this cuts me but it does. I rise up off my elbows and defend myself. “I’m just playing around here.”

She turns to face me, copper eyes glinting as she lays down the law, “It doesn’t matter that you’re handsome or famous or one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, I am a faithful person and I have a boyfriend. Even laughing with you as much as I did in the bathroom, is questionable. If Peter were here he’d be jealous and I would never do that to him. And if other girls don’t care about their boyfriends and want to fuck you just to say they did, that’s on them. And if you want to play that game, great. You’re a wonderful person. Not selfish at all. Now if you’ll excuse me, I really have to work.”

Shocked and angry, I throw up my hands and back off. “Fine. I’ll leave you alone.”

“Thank you!”

I storm off, irritation under my skin so bad that I have to flip around and stroll back.

Wren glances up from stacking the fresh drinks Mike is making for her. He pauses at my return. But I ignore him and lean in a little so the conversation stays between us. Well, the three of us, because he’s too close not to hear.

“Your boyfriend better know how lucky he is.”

Her lips part and I hold her gaze, knock on the bar and leave her with that.