Page 70 of Hard Count
“No problem. I'm glad I was here."
"Why were you here? You hate this place." He never comes to The Armory to drink, choosing a friend's house or somewhere in his old neighborhood instead.
"I needed to deliver a message to someone." He glances over at the same table. "I’m going to get out of here.” He tosses me her keys. “Stole them after she threw back her third shot of Jack. Good luck.” He grins up at Drew and Frankie belting out the final note of their song. Then leaves for the door, walking by the table of girls he was staring at moments ago. One of them looks like she wants to be anywhere but here. I laugh when she ducks her head to avoid eye contact with Gage.
I walk back over to Eli who’s somehow managed to get the girls off the stage. Walking behind Drew, I wrap my arms around her waist. “Happy birthday, baby.” I pull her hair to the side and kiss her skin that’s exposed.
She twirls in my arms and throws her arms around my neck. “You’re here! You came to my party,” she says in surprise. “Everyone usually forgets about me but you made it.” She bops me on my nose.
“Of course I came.” I kiss her whiskey flavored lips.
“Do you like my dress?” She pushes off my chest. Then runs a hand over the mesh fabric of my old jersey with wobbly, unstable legs. I place a hand on her hip to steady her.
“I do, very much. Are you ready to go home so we can take it off you?” I lay on the charm hoping it will entice her. My only plans for her are pain meds and some water. Maybe a bite to eat to soak up some of the alcohol. I have a feeling once we get back to my house she’s going to be asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.
She glances over at Frankie. “She’s going to come too. We’ll all head back to my house for an after party.” I shrug at Eli. He nods in agreement. I escort a very talkative Drew out of the bar and to her car. She gives me the play by play of the whole evening on our drive home. Including an encore performance of her favorite song of the night.
“I didn’t know the words but Frankie said I can just read them on the monitor,” she says, as we walk into my room. “But it wasn’t working right. It was all blurry. They should really get that fixed.” She flops down on the bed.
Laughing I say, “We’ll have to tell them the next time we go. Let’s get you ready for bed, baby.”
“I know that song.” She pops upright. “Baby, baby, baby,” she sings a poor man’s rendition of Alicia Keys, making me laugh again. At least she’s a fun drunk. “I think I missed my calling.” She slumps her shoulders as I get on one knee to help her with her tennis shoes. “Maybe if I could sing my mom would actually care about me. She never gave a shit.”
Her mom?What did she read in those papers? Sighing, I lean forward until my forehead touches hers. “You won’t remember this tomorrow but I think you’re pretty incredible just the way you are,” I whisper so quietly I’m not even sure she can hear me.
“You really like me?” she asks.
“I do, baby. I like you a lot.”
“No more kind of?”
“No. I’m all in.” I stand and search my dresser for something for her to sleep in. As much as I love her wearing my jersey, it’s not very comfortable.
“I think my dad likes me too.” She spins her bracelet around her wrist as water pools in her eyes.
“I know he does. He loves you. Hey, it’s going to be okay.” I kneel in front of her and hold her until her shoulders stop shaking. “Listen to me, baby.” I cup her face in my hands and swipe at her tear stained cheeks. “You and your dad are going to be just fine.”
“How do you know? I’ve been a terrible daughter.”
“No, you haven't. Don’t think that. Lift your arms for me.” I help her out of the jersey and swap it out for a cotton shirt that’s worn and soft. She stands and fumbles like a baby deer figuring out how to use their legs for the first time. I cough into a closed fist to hide my laugh.
I help her to the bathroom. While she does what she needs to in there, I run upstairs and grab her some water. I also send Coach a text and let him know she’s safe and we can talk to him in the morning.
The bathroom is empty when I get back downstairs. I grab some aspirin before going back to my room. Drew’s laying face first on top of my bed. “Alright, let’s get you tucked in.”
“I don’t want to move,” she groans.
“I know, but you need to drink some water and take some medicine before you can sleep. You’ll be thanking me in the morning.” I roll her over and sit her up enough so she can easily swallow down the meds and water. “Good girl.” I kiss the top of her head before she sags back down to the pillow. “Lift your ass.” I tap her thigh. She thrusts her hips into the air with a smirk. She thinks she’s fucking cute tempting me. “Nice try.”
“You’re no fun,” she says.
I flip the light off, strip my clothes, and get under the covers with her. “I think you had enough fun for the night. We’ll celebrate your birthday together tomorrow.” I have something planned. Hopefully I can still pull it off considering all that’s happened tonight. It might need to wait until she figures this thing out with her dad.
“You’re too good for me.” She curls her body into mine. “I don’t deserve you, Nash Pierce,” she says with a yawn.
“Baby, you deserve the world. I’m just the lucky guy who gets to give it to you.”
Ilet myself into Gavin’s house. The morning sun streams into the kitchen as I walk in and find a very tired and broken man staring at a coffee cup. I woke up early, leaving Drew snoring in my bed. She’s hurting and I’m not sure what I can do to help but I want to try.
