Page 58 of Make the Play

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Corie, we’re dating. This is what we do. Maybe that jackass you were with before didn’t, but we’re there for each other. Let me do this.”

“But you’ll end your night early.”

“Yeah, to pick up my girl and her best friend to make sure they get home safely. Oh, and my girl gets to spend the night in my bed. Does that sound like an issue to you?” I ask her.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m more than sure,” I tell her before kissing her how I wanted to when I first walked into the room. The knock at the door has us pulling apart.

“It’s me,” Sloane whispers.

I walk to the door and pull it open. “Thanks,” I tell her.

“Anytime.” She grins.

“Corie girl, before I forget.” Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out my wallet, grab several hundreds, and hand them to her.

“What’s this?”

“Your drinks tonight are on me.”

“Knox. No, you don’t have to do that.” She tries to hand the money back to me, but I won’t take it.

“Listen, I know you’re working, but the thought of another man buying you a drink pisses me off. So, please, take this, and know that every drink is a substitute for me being there with you. And you can refuse all the others.”

“What makes you think men will want to buy me drinks?” she asks, tilting her head to the side.

This beautiful, amazing woman has no idea how alluring she is. “Because I have eyes, Corie girl. I see you. They’ll see you. Only the man in your life gets to spoil you with drinks. That’s me.”

“Aww,” Sloane gushes.

“Really—” Corie starts, but I close her hand around the money.

“Take it. Text me when you get there and when you’re ready to come home. I’ll be there to get you.” I look over at Sloane. “You ladies are staying at my place tonight.”

“Fine by me.” Sloane nods.

I kiss Corie one last time before turning and walking out of the room. There is a little more pep in my step as I make my way back downstairs.

Moving toward the front door, I open and close it. “Yo!” I call out.

“In the kitchen!” Landry calls back.

I walk into the room as if I just got here. “It’s about time you got here. I thought you were going to call and tell me you changed your mind.”

“I told you I’d be here. Are any of the others coming?” A sliver of that guilt from earlier pushes its way inside my chest, but it’s not nearly as big as the satisfaction of my five minutes with my Corie girl.

“Reid, Baker, and Foster are on their way. I just ordered pizza.”

“Sweet,” I say, pulling out a chair at the island and sitting down. We talk about the season because football is who we are. We’re in the middle of discussing a new play coach tossed at us this week when the girls enter the room.

“We’re heading out,” Corie tells us. I turn to look at them and about swallow my damn tongue. She’s in tight blue jeans, a black tank top, and black sandals. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, exposing her slender neck. It’s not an overly sexy outfit. Sloane is dressed in a similar fashion. Just two ladies going out for drinks, but it’s different because one of them is mine, and she could be wearing a stained T-shirt and jeans three sizes too big, her hair a rat’s nest of tangles, and she’d still take my breath away.

“How are you getting home?” Landry asks. “Do you need a ride?”

I cover my mouth with my hand to keep from smiling because I know she’s coming home with me.

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