Page 76 of Play It Off

“Thank God.” He lurches out of my hold and staggers over to the car, bending down to peek through the open passenger-side window. “Hey, dude.”

The guy is watching Gavin with shock and awe written all over his face. “Gavin Maddox?”

“That’s me.” He slaps the edge of the open window with both hands and shifts toward the rear passenger door, opening it for me. “My lady.”

I almost laugh at the way Gavin gestures gallantly toward the open door, and I send an apologetic glance to the Uber driver.

“Hey, uh. This car is for Sienna, not Gavin,” he says, sounding confused.

“I’m Sienna,” I tell him as I get into the car, Gavin sliding in after me. He’s nestled close, his side pressed into mine, and he slips his arm around my shoulders, hauling me even closer.

“You smell fucking delicious,” he tells me as loud as possible.

I meet the driver’s gaze in the overhead mirror, and he looks away guiltily.

“Gavin. You need to stop,” I whisper.

“He doesn’t care.” Gavin’s voice remains just as loud as he waves his hand at the driver. “Do you care that I’m in love with Sienna Cooper?”

“Not at all,” the driver says, shifting so he sits lower in his seat, like that might help him disappear. “You can love whoever you want.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Gavin exhales loudly, that smile still on his face. “It shouldn’t matter. I don’t know why we’re keeping this a secret, baby. Everyone deserves to know how we feel about each other.”

I want to die of mortification, and I also want to sing from the rooftops because is Gavin declaring his love for me to our Uber driver? Apparently so.

“I told my parents that I’m in love. Want me to tell you what my dad said?” He pauses but doesn’t give me a chance to speak. “Nah. You don’t want to know. It was mean. He’s a mean son of a bitch, and I’m sick of his shit.”

“Gavin ...”

“Don’t. The tone of your voice—you sound like my mom.” He leans his head against the back of the seat, closing his eyes, his expression agonized. This poor man. He must’ve gone through it with his parents during dinner. “Always making excuses for my dad. Always trying to get me to go along with the plan. Whatever that is.”

I remain quiet, glancing out the window to see how much longer we have in this car. Thankfully his apartment complex is close by, but we’re stuck at a red light that seems to go on forever, and Gavin can’t stop talking.

“I have my own plan. To take this season all the way and win it all. Graduate. Get drafted by the NFL. Take you with me wherever I end up. I know you have a year left, Freckles, but you don’t need to finish if you don’t want to. You can travel the country with me.” He’s still got his head slung back against the seat, and he turns it in my direction, his expression oh-so serious. “I’ll buy you a ring, and we’ll get married. What do you say?”

Is he nowproposingto me in the Uber? He cannot be serious. The man has clearly drunk way too much alcohol tonight. “I should probably finish school first.”

He frowns. “That’s a little disappointing, baby. You mean you’ll stay here and finish while I leave?”

“Um ...” My voice drifts, and I’m beyond grateful when the car pulls into the parking lot of his complex. I immediately change the subject. “I think we’ve arrived.”

“Oh shit.” Gavin lifts his head, staring straight ahead. “I live here.”

I almost laugh at his surprise.

“Straight ahead, dude. My building’s all the way in the back.” He leans forward, thrusting his head between the seats. “Yeah, drop us off right there.”

The car jerks to a stop, and I’m reaching for the door handle, escaping the car quickly. Gavin stumbles out of it right after me, and I grab his hand, holding on to it as tight as I can, though I know he’ll take me down with him if he falls.

Gavin waves at the driver as he leaves before turning to me, that silly smile still on his handsome face. “I’m glad you came home with me, baby. I can’t wait to get you naked in my bed.”

His brutal honesty is ... shocking to say the least. He’s been sweet toward me the last couple of months, and I haven’t felt uneasy with him the entire time we’ve been together, but in this moment?

I’m thrown by his behavior. It’s not normal for Gavin to speak so freely, and I’m blaming the alcohol.

“How much did you drink tonight, anyway?”

“Not enough,” he says as he starts for his building. Somehow, he makes it to his front door, though he’s not walking in a straight line. I follow him, apprehensive until the moment he walks inside his apartment, and only then can I breathe again. If he would’ve fallen outside, there’s no way I would’ve been able to get him off the ground. He’s way too heavy. I would’ve had to call my brother for help, and that would’ve brought a lot of questions that I don’t know how to answer.

---