Page 22 of Hard Count
"You say that now but once I point out everything you need to fix you might start hating me. The baked goods are here to sweeten you up first.”
“Who says I don’t hate you already?” I tease her and place the bags on the kitchen island. Lucas snags it immediately and brings it over to the table. “Save some for Drew.” I nudge his arm.
“I guess you didn’t. We should get started.” She snaps into action and heads toward the living room. I grab her arm and pull her into the hallway.
“The only thing I hate right now is the fact I have to share you with all of them this morning. Okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” she agrees, but I’m not convinced she believes me. Her trust is something I’m going to have to earn. My dad taught me that words are meaningless unless they’re followed up by action. I'll show her that I mean every word I say.
“Now we can get started. Let me introduce you to everyone.” I escort her into the living room. I love the way she leans into my hand when I place it on her back. She can get the guys to like her all she wants but she’s my girl. Coach’s daughter be damned. I’ll ask for forgiveness later.
“Adrian, Chris, Trey, and Lucas,” Drew says, pointing to each guy stuffing their faces on my couch. “I’m pretty familiar with everyone.”
“Hi, Drew. Thanks for the sweets.” Adrian holds up some flaky thing covered in red jam and winks.
“No problem. Good to see you again.”
“Again?” I ask, getting more irritated by the second. “When did you see him the first time?”
Adrian smirks at me knowing he’s getting me riled up. I told all of them in my text to be on their best behavior. I did it under the guise of her being Coach’s daughter and we needed to be respectful. I wasn’t asking for Coach. I was asking for me. I wanted them to respect her because she deserves it. Bet or not, she doesn't have to do this.
“We have a class together.” Drew retrieves a laptop from her bag and turns on the television. “WiFi password?” she asks. Eli answers her before I get the chance. He’s doing this on purpose. He knows exactly which buttons to push.
Similar to Eli, I've never made a fuss over the girls I dated in the past, not that Drew and I are dating. I haven’t even asked her out yet. She doesn’t even know I’m interested in her like that. The fact that I spent most of last night cleaning the living room, kitchen, and bathroom for this meeting showed Eli my full hand.
I need to get it together. She’s here to help all of us, not for my personal enjoyment. Reluctantly I leave Drew in the living room with the guys while she sets up her computer.
Selecting a few donuts, several little pie things, and a cinnamon roll I make myself a plate and a second for Drew. It annoys me that I don’t know what she likes. “Not anymore,” I grumble to myself and make sure to put one of everything on her plate.
“Here. This is for you.” I set her plate on the coffee table by her laptop. I sound like a damn caveman.
“Uh,thanks.” Her eyes bulge at all the pastries I've piled on top of each other. “I can’t eat all of this.”
“I’ll help you.” Lucas leans over to steal a donut off the top. I slap his hand away.
“Those aren’t for you,” I say, making her giggle. I glance over at her and smile. Damn, I like that sound.
I slide in behind her where she’s sitting cross-legged on the floor and drop in my usual spot on the couch. My sock covered feet slip under her thighs. Her fingers pause over the keyboard before she settles against me and continues typing again.
“Alright,” Drew starts. “I have everything ready.” She digs into her bag and pulls out a stack of papers. “We’ll start with the defense. Because—”
“Defense is your best offense,” we all say in unison.
“Right. I guess that one has been drilled into your heads by my dad too.” Lifting herself off the ground, she hands out a stapled packet to each of my friends. Adrian stares at her ass a little too long and I smack him on the back of the head with the papers Drew placed in my lap.
“Coach’s daughter,” I remind him. Something I should be reminding myself but for some reason I have it in my mind that this rule doesn’t apply to me.
“I want everyone to watch this clip. Tell me what you see.” Drew has somehow set up her computer to cast onto the television. I didn’t know we could do that. She presses play on her laptop and we all watch a twenty second clip of the Alabama game last week.
She pauses the video and leans back against my calves. “Well?” she asks as her hair tickles my leg.
Eli squirms in his seat and shrugs. Everyone else is silent as well, making her sigh. “Watch again,” she says, leaning forward to press play. When she doesn’t lean against my legs again, I tap her shoulder and gently pull her back. Clearing her throat, she says, “Watch his feet.”
“You mean when he lifts his left leg?” Adrian asks.
“And what’s their play?” She looks back at him over her shoulder. Her cheek grazes my knee shooting a bolt of lightning up my thigh.
“He throws deep,” he replies.
