Page 18 of Deal Takers

He drains the rest of the bottle. “I’m still not convinced you mean that.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re an idiot.”

“So, I’ve heard.” He laughs.

“Rainey, heads up!” Junior shouts, right before a football nails me in the chest.

“Holy shit!” I yelp as I grab my aching breast. “I think you broke my boob, dumbass!” I aim for Junior’s nut sack and whip the ball. Sadly, he sees it coming from a mile away and catches it before I can make contact.

“Are you okay?” Brody asks, choking back laughter.

“Your concern would be a lot more convincing if you weren’t laughing it up right now.”

“Trust me, sweetheart, I’malwaysconcerned about your tits.” He punctuates his statement by staring at said tits.

“Oh my god, do you ever quit?” I throw my hands up, wincing when I feel the pain.

Junior interrupts before Brody can reply. “You okay, kiddo? Joey was supposed to catch that.”

“I’ll be fine,” I mutter. “Give me some more alcohol, and things will be just peachy.”

“That, I can do,” Brody offers as he stands.

Junior sizes him up. “Who’s your friend, Rain?”

“He’s Drew’s friend, not mine,” I clarify.

“Ouch, that hurt, princess,” Brody complains.

“Martin,” Junior says by way of introduction.

Brody shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you, man. I’m Brody. Rainey just told me you play for Indy. That’s pretty fucking awesome. Linebackers are totally underappreciated, if you ask me.”

Junior grins. “I like you, Brody. You want to help me haul some more beer outside?”

I roll my eyes at Brody’s obvious ass-kissing. “Get me another while you’re at it.”

“Sure thing, darlin’.” Brody winks. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

A few minutes later, Devyn returns, beers in hand.

“Thanks,” I say as she hands me a bottle.

“Brody was about to bring this over, but I figured you wouldn’t mind the interception.”

“Good call.” I laugh. “Good luck keeping him away though.”

“I think we have a little while,” she proclaims. “I told him I needed to ask you nurse questions about irregular periods.”

That deserves a fist bump, so I give her one. “This is why you’re my best bitch.”

She really is, too. We’ve known each other less than two years, but it feels like a lifetime. As strange as it sounds, she’s my first real female friend. The other women in my life are more like acquaintances or coworkers. Growing up surrounded by so much testosterone, I didn’t get to do many girly things, which was fine by me. Hell, I dressed in my brother’s hand-me-downs for most of my childhood, much to my mother’s dismay. As a woman, I definitely prefer a more feminine look, but growing up as “one of the guys” is still a big part of who I am. Devyn’s the first woman I’ve met that has a similar personality. Once we figured that out, we pretty much insinuated ourselves into every aspect of each other’s lives and never looked back.

She chuckles. “Seriously though, Brody’s not being too much of a nuisance, is he?”

“Nothing I can’t handle. Besides, bickering with him distracts me from missing Adam.”

“Where’s his conference this weekend anyway?”

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