Page 80 of The Late Hit
“I knew y’all were fuckin’!” he yells, rubbing his hands together like he just solved a mystery.
“And with that, I’m heading to class,” Brynn says, pressing up on her toes to give me one more, quick kiss.
“See you tomorrow,” I shout at her retreating form, watching as she turns one last time and gives me a wave with a wide grin.
Pushing the door open, I walk in the front door of Grant’s town house. He lives alone in a two-bedroom. The guest bedroom is set up for his dad in case he ever needs to crash on campus instead of making the half-hour drive home. A half-hour drive isn’t bad on a normal day, but when we get back from a game at midnight, who wants to drive when you can crash three minutes away from the stadium?
Grant and Riggsby are sitting on the couch, controllers in their hands, both in a heated game ofCall of Duty. Shutting the door behind me, I walk over to the sectional. Collapsing on the opposite end, my body is exhausted. Wednesdays just kick my ass. I just wanted to go home and crash, but Grant said he was ordering food and playing CoD. I’m not passing up a night of killing zombies.
A knock sounds from the door at the same time JP comes into the room from the hall bathroom.
“I’ve got it,” he says, strolling past the couch to the door.
“Good, because I think I’m dead,” I respond just as Grant shouts, “Cash is beside the door.”
A few minutes later, the four of us are eating the best chicken wraps around campus.
“Alright, start talkin’,” JP says around a mouth full of food.
Chewing my bite, I wait to speak. Unlike JP, I’ve got some manners, not a lot, but some.
Swallowing, I answer, “about what?”
Six eyes stare at me, eyes narrowing like‘c’mon, you know about what.’And I do. I’m just dragging this out. I swear, my teammates are worse than girls with their damn gossip.
Letting out a small chuckle, I answer their question. “We’re together. I’m taking her out tomorrow night.”
JP whoops and Riggsby gives me an “atta boy.”
“Only two years in the making,” Grant says, turning back to his game with Riggsby.
But JP doesn’t turn back to the TV, he’s still watching me. “What’s he mean?”
Grant’s focus stays on his game, but that doesn’t stop him from answering. “It means our boy here has been in love with Brynn since freshman year. Someone got a little too drunk at a party and spilled all his secrets.”
“Shut up, asshole,” I say, tossing the pillow on the couch at Grant.
He just laughs as the pillow bounces off his face.
“You’re good for her,” JP says, turning his attention to the game in front of us.
JP has taken Brynn under his wing. He’s protective over his siblings, and he’s always viewed Brynn as one of them too. It’s nice to have the guys on board with the girl I love. And I love that girl fiercely.
Speaking of her, my phone lights up with her name and a picture I snapped one morning while she was lying in my bed.
“Hey babe,” I answer, as the guys mock me in a high-pitched voice, repeating “hey, babe.”
Her laughter fills my ear.
“Hey,” she greets, as she yells louder into the phone for the guys to hear, “Hey boys!”
“Make it home from the library?”
“I did. I’m just walking in now, and thought I’d call to tell you good night.”
I can hear her unlocking her front door and shutting it behind her. A click sounds and I know that she’s locking the door behind her.
Red fills the TV screen as Riggsby’s man is killed by a zombie. Grunting in frustration, Riggsby tosses me the controller.
