Page 108 of Crew
Even Ava seemed to be waiting.
Then Z coughed, a look in his eyes mirroring what I'd felt. He ducked his head a bit, sneaking a look at me from under his eyelashes. "I'll write you as 'pfs girl'." His grin was sly. "Pretty fucking sexy."
I frowned. I'd expected a different response, but shrugged. It was what it was.
"Thanks, Z."
Seeing the girl's embarrassment, Zellman took pity and offered the pad back. "I'm just giving you a hard time. I don't mean anything by it. Really."
She reached out cautiously. When he didn't snatch the pad away, she took it, and her smile seemed less mortified. "Thank you."
We weren't all just tough, just about sex, just about fighting, just about being loyal to each other. There was more. We didn't show it often, but we could be kind too. Zellman had just proven that.
Pride bloomed in me, and as the girl started taking our orders, a lot less nervous now, Zellman caught my eye. He motioned towards his phone and I pulled mine out, seeing a text from him.
Pretty fucking smart.
I got choked up. Legit.
He gave me his half-grin, and I typed back, thanx.
For some reason, it didn't seem such a hardship to be here right now.
Channing asked as we were leaving dinner, "Going home? Want a ride?"
Cross spoke up, "I got her."
They shared a look before Channing nodded slowly. "Yeah. Okay."
He and Moose headed to his truck, while the rest of us hung back.
Jordan rubbed a hand over his jaw. "Uh. Yeah." He and Z glanced at each other. "We're, uh... We're going to head back in. Is that okay?"
Most of the Normals had still been there when we left--especially the girls. As the families headed home, their table had just gotten louder. I'd stopped by once after returning from the bathroom, and Taz had told me the girls were hanging around as long we did.
"They want the guys to come over," she'd explained.
So I wasn't surprised.
Cross nodded. "That's cool. We'll see you guys tomorrow."
"What are you two going to do?"
I had no plans, so I waited for Cross to say.
He shrugged. "We'll figure something out."
Jordan grinned. "It's just nine thirty. You guys could do homework. Study for tomorrow. Be good students."
Zellman laughed.
Cross smirked. "We're already good students."
"Speak for yourself." I shook my head.
Smart students, maybe. Good students, no. Well, for me. I was in agreement with Jordan on that one.
As soon as they went back inside, I went with Cross to his truck. I'd left my Jeep at the house.
