Page 62 of Claiming Her Cougar
“Give me Mallory’s cell, and I’ll let her know, see if I can bring anything.”
“You don’t need to bring anything, Teagan, and you don’t need her number,” I say.
“What are you afraid of, Liam?”Jake asks.Asshole.
“I’m not afraid of anything.I don’t want to be rude and give out her number without her permission.”
“Oh, never mind.I have it from the Flyers’ game,” Teagan says.
Shit.
“Teag, please don’t make it awkward.”
Jake snorts.“Pretty sure that ship has sailed, dude.”
“Well, I’m going for sure.Liam has a crush.No way am I missing this,” Teagan teases.
Groaning, I close my eyes.Why do I bother?Why can’t I have normal best friends?
“I’m going too,” Jake says.“Text us the address.”
Pounding and muffled yelling carries across the call.
“Tell Ma I’ll be right there!”Jake yells back.“I gotta go.Send the address.”
It’s only me and Teagan left on the line.
“Are you okay, Liam?”she asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You know you can talk to me, right?I may tease you, but I’ll always listen.”
I know that.It’s why we’ve been best friends all these years.
I sigh, then say, “I know.Thank you.Nothing really to talk about now.”
“Okay.But when there is, I’m here for you.”
“Yeah.Same.”
“Thanks, but I’m good the way I am.No attachments.My casino and our team are all that I need,” she says.
I know she thinks that’s the case, but I hope one day she finds a man to make her consider being in a relationship again.
“I’m going down to see what’s happening on the casino floor.Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?”she asks.
“Nah, I’m good.I’ll send you guys the address and details for New Year’s Eve.Thanks for coming.”
“You got it.Bye.”
“Bye.”I disconnect the call.
Drumming my fingers on the arm of my couch, I wonder if I should give in and make another call.I don’t want to be clingy, but it’s been over a week since I saw Mallory.It would be one thing if one of us was traveling, but we’re in the same freaking place.Kinda hard to be friends with benefits if we never see each other.Not that I only want the benefits.Of course, I’m dying to sleep with Mallory again, but it’s more than that.I like her.I want to talk to her.I want to hang out with her.And then sleep with her.I guess she doesn’t feel the same way about me.
The phone rings in my hand, and I jolt.A Cheshire Cat grin spreads across my face when I see it’s a FaceTime call from Mallory.I take a deep breath and accept.
“Howdy, stranger.”I can’t believe I just answered my phone like that.Can I be any more of a dork?
