Page 21 of The Tip-Off
Me: Everyone is more fun than me.
Gabby: You say that like you don’t have a choice in the matter. Come hang out.
Me: With the rookies? No thanks.
Gabby: Fun hater. We could get another picture for your adoring Insta fans.
A few minutes later, another text comes in.
Gabby: Are you on your way know?
Gabby: Shit. Nowe
Gabby: Uggggghhhh
Gabby: NOW
Me: You’re not driving, right?
Gabby: Nope.
Me: How are you getting home?
Gabby: I’ll catch a ride back with one of the guys.
She doesn’t text again, and I lay back on my bed listening to music and tossing a ball into the air, wondering if she’s gonna be okay with my rookie teammates. I can almost see Blair’s pleading eyes to watch out for her friend.
I put the ball down, stand, and take the six steps necessary to get to Nathan’s room. He’s still passed out on the bed in the same position I put him in. I don’t get it.
Partying with friends, letting loose, I get. But this? This doesn’t look like fun; it looks like something else entirely.
“Back later, buddy,” I say to the silence.
Prickly Pear is as dead as the rest of the town, though Gabby and the guys would be easy to spot even if it were packed. Somehow, she’s got all four of them on their feet and dancing on the small makeshift dance floor. Dancing badly. Real badly. Gabby doesn’t seem to mind, the girl is all smiles.
With a nod to the bartender, I take off in their direction. When Gabby sees me, her lips pull apart and her smile grows wider. She launches herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing our bodies together in the process. She’s like a mini-tornado, but she feels like a welcome disturbance to my steady routine.
“You actually came!” she says when she pulls back.
“Look at you,” Shaw says. “Want a beer?”
When I accept, Shaw and Datson lead me to their table and a glass is thrust in front of me and filled. I don’t drink much, even in the offseason, so the guys are grinning like I’m about to do something really crazy by having one beer.
“I think Cannon is in love.” I follow Datson’s line of vision to the dance floor where Gabby and Cannon have spread out using the entire space for some big dance moves that are earning laughs and strange looks from everyone in the bar.
“I think he’s not the only one,” Shaw says. “I finally figured out what it takes to get you out of the house.” Shaw raises his eyebrows and nods toward Gabby. “Not that I can blame you. She’s the hottest girl here. Hottest girl at Valley, probably, at least from the right side.”
I say nothing, though his remark about her scars pisses me off. I take another drink and do my best to keep my eyes anywhere but on Gabby. She’s doing some sort of moonwalk spin move combo so not watching isn’t an easy feat.
“You gonna deny it?” Shaw presses.
Damn, I wish I had my headphones so I could drown him out.
“Of course not. Gabby’s beautiful. I’m not blind.”
“Just celibate,” Datson pipes in.
“Is it a voluntary celibacy or have you just been spending too much time around Wes and Joel?”
