Page 48 of Text Me Baby One More Time

“I’m going to head out. Party’s winding down and I’ve done my duty.” He turns back to Denny. “If you need any rescuing, you just let me know. I’ll take care of you.” He winks at her, knowing he’s getting under my skin, then pulls me into a bro hug, clapping me on the back just a little too hard. “Don’t fuck it up, dick.”

I push him away, glaring. “Get bent, Braxton.”

He just laughs then says, “Great meeting you, Denver. Have a good night.”

He disappears into the crowd and my jaw relaxes for the first time in several minutes.

We’re left alone, and I know Denny is dying to shoot many questions at me, questions I’m not ready to answer just yet.

I’m spared when a few other players stop by to bid us good night, and then it’s finally our turn to leave.

It’s a rule with the players. We have a roster, rotating who gets to leave charity events first and last, spacing out our departures by at least fifteen minutes.

Tonight, Denny and I are second to last, and for the first time in…well, ever, I want to stick around the stuffy gala just to avoid a car ride with a beautiful woman.

“It’s our turn,” I tell her, having explained the roster on the way here. “I’ll go grab our coats.”

She says good night to a few people she’s met this evening—because of course Denny, social butterfly that she is, would make friends at the gala—and I head to the coat check.

We’re quiet the entire time, even standing there in the cool night air not saying a word as the valet pulls my truck around.

He hands over the keys and I give him a well-deserved tip for not messing my baby up.

I’m surprised when I turn around to find Denny sitting in the driver’s seat.

I wrench open the door. “Fuck no. Move it, Bucky.”

“Not happening. You drank tonight. I’m driving.”

“I had a few sips of nasty champagne.”

She holds her fingers up. “You had three. That’s enough for me to not want you to drive. Get in and shut up.”

“It’s not even real alcohol!” I argue.

“A drink is a damn drink.”

I did knock down three glasses, but I’m not drunk. If I were to drive right now, I’d be fine.

Which is probably exactly what someone who shouldn’t be driving would say.

“Fine,” I grumble, climbing inside. “But I swear, if anything happens to my truck, I’ll kiss you.”

Her lips twitch at what we both know is a non-threat.

“Just for that, I promise to drive extra careful.”

She adjusts the seat, pushes in the brake, and hits the button to start the truck.

“I’ve never driven a truck before.”

“I can tell. You look stiff.”

She darts her eyes down to my lap. “You’ve looked stiff all night.”

“I’m sorry—did you just admit to looking at my dick all night?” I smirk at her. “My, my, Denny. I didn’t expect this from you.”

“You know what, on second thought, maybe Iwillwreck this truck, put us both out of our misery.”

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