might end up a top draft pick, and you’re like, ‘it’s not my favorite.’” He says the last part in a high-pitched voice.
“I do not sound like that.” I’m vaguely offended.
“You kind of do.” He’s smiling. His eyes are sparkling. He’s enjoying this.
“So what time are you picking me up?” I ask, changing the subject.
“How is this working exactly?”
“Well, my parents have to take Beck to his football game in a few hours. Autumn will probably end up going with them, since she won’t be able to see Ash until after the game. I assume Jake will go get Hannah and meet us down there. We can meet everyone down there too. They’ll want to tailgate before the game starts. Dad always brings his mini barbecue and makes beer butt chicken.” I make a face.
Eli bursts out laughing. “Sounds delicious.”
“I’m sure you’ll love it,” I drawl. “You want me to text you when they leave?”
“What, they’re going to allow their precious baby girl to be picked up by me when you’re all alone in the house?” He raises his brows.
“I haven’t given them a reason not to trust me.” I lift my nose in the air, going for innocent.
But if Eli wants to mess around a little bit, I’d be down.
“Lately you have. But I guess they can easily forgive you.” He’s got this look on his face, and I’m guessing it might be related to the fact that his parents—his mother, specifically—doesn’t seem to trust him at all. Not that he necessarily earns her trust. “I’ll hop in the shower and you text me when you’re ready for me to come get you,” he says.
“Okay. Sounds good.”
“See you later, baby.”
“Eli,” I say, just before he ends the call. “I’m glad you’re coming with us.”
“I’m fuckin’ glad you invited me,” he says with a little laugh.
Making me laugh too.
Twelve
Eli
I still can’t believe Ava actually asked me to join her for a family fun night at a Bulldogs game. This ought to be interesting. Me and Jake sharing the same air, hanging out together? Fucking insane. That guy will probably shoot daggers at me with his eyes the entire night. If I’m lucky, I’ll chat up Drew Callahan and get him on my good side. Maybe I’ll even get a chance to talk to Asher Davis. That guy is an amazing quarterback. I think his chances to go pro are huge. I’d love to hear what he has to say.
But the best part of this? Being with Ava. Just—sitting next to her and not having to hide the fact that we’re together. Like I told her, I don’t want to be her dirty little secret any longer. I pretty much announced to all my friends last night that we’re together. Hell, I’d strut around everywhere I could with that fine ass girl on my arm. That fine ass girl who just so happens to be mine.
I take a quick shower and jerk off to ease the tension. With what happened last night, I know I won’t be able to do much with her this weekend, especially since we’ll be with the fam bam. Gotta be on my best behavior. I might be picking her up at her house when no one else is there, but I don’t think we’re gonna get down and dirty. She’s playing shy right now, and that’s fine. I’ll chase her.
Eventually, I’ll catch her.
I dig through my closet looking for a Bulldogs T-shirt, but I don’t have one anywhere. When you live close to a university, you tend to pick up one of their shirts eventually, but I guess I lost the one I know I had a long time ago.
I end up in my brother Ryan’s room and go through his closet. He took pretty much everything he wanted with him when he went away to college, and none of this stuff left behind means much to him. Lucky for me, I find a Bulldogs T-shirt. It’s navy blue versus the typical red, but it has a giant bulldog on the front of it, so that’ll work. I tug the shirt on over my head and check myself out in his dresser mirror. I look good. Pretty sure this T-shirt is practically brand new.
I’m about to leave the bedroom when my eyes snag on a picture frame sitting on top of the dresser. Picking it up, I check out the photo. It’s of me and Ryan and my parents. We’re in Maui. One of the last