Page 71 of Comeback
“You weren’t even into the guy,” Brogan says.
Sabrina looks to London with her mouth agape.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tell him but look at this face.” She grabs Brogan’s jaw and purses her lips at him.
“Fine. Good riddance Billy, but what if I had been with some great guy and you waltzed in and scared him off?” Sabrina demands, but she’s smiling so big it’s easy to see she isn’t that upset.
Brogan shakes his head adamantly. “The right guy isn’t going to run like that.”
“Uh…I would.” Tripp raises his hand. “If her brother’s crazy, then she probably is too.”
Sabrina scowls playfully across the table. “Great. I’m doomed.”
Everyone falls into quiet laughter. Sabrina sits back in her chair and glances over at me.
I take a drink of my beer and force my gaze away from her. I shouldn’t be so glad that we scared off her date or to find out that she wasn’t into him. Even thinking about her bringing some other dude home has me irrationally jealous and possessive. I’d help Brogan scare off every guy in a hundred-mile radius if I thought she wouldn’t turn around and kick our asses in return.
Brogan wants to feel like he’s looking out for her, doing what any big brother would, and I get that. It’s why I rolled into the restaurant with him and detailed out for Billy all the bones I’d break if he treated Sabrina like anything but the queen she is. However, she’s not a damsel in distress.
She doesn’t really need us to look out for her, but there’s something about her independence and self-sufficiency that makes me want to take care of her even more. Because she’s my best friend’s sister. And because I can’t stop thinking about her.
I spent all week at the stadium, working out, getting in extra skill sessions, watching game film, and avoiding the apartment where I might run into her. And still, she occupied most of my thoughts.
I get up quietly from the table and head to the bar.
The bartender tips his head to me as I approach. I lift my empty bottle and set it down on the bar. He returns a moment later with a fresh beer.
“Thanks,” I say, then turn to stare back at the table I just left.
Sabrina sits with her profile to me. She’s leaning forward with one elbow propped up on the table, smiling at something someone’s said. Her red hair is down tonight and falls over her shoulders. She’s in jean shorts and a black tank top. She isn’t dressed to draw attention but somehow my stare is drawn to her anyway.
A woman steps up to my peripheral.
“Nice game today,” she says.
I tear my gaze away from the woman I most definitely should not be staring at and angle my body toward the one at my side. “Thank you.”
I’m always a little uneasy when women approach me these days. Every once in a while, there’s someone who is only interested in me because of what they think it’ll do for them: party invites, tickets, pictures for social media, introductions to other players. It’s a trip.
“I’m not a stalker or anything. I just happened to be at the game for a work thing and I recognized you guys when you came in.”
I nod my understanding. “A work thing?”
“I’m in sales and my boss was entertaining clients in one of the sky boxes. I think I was supposed to be there to convince them to sign with us, but I got a little distracted by the game.”
I feel my mouth pulling up at one corner. It was a good game today. Not that I had much of a part in it. After my last two less than stellar performances, Graham has continued to be Coach’s go-to guy. I really hate him, but he’s putting up better numbers than I am so I can’t really blame Coach.
“I’m Sharee by the way.” She extends one hand to me.
“Archer,” I say as I take it and give it a small squeeze.
Sharee is a pretty woman. Dark skin and hair and curvy in all the right places. There probably isn’t a guy in this bar who wouldn’t be flattered she approached them. But I can’t help butcompare her to Sabrina. Stupid things that don’t even matter. She’s not as tall. I’d have to bend down uncomfortably to kiss her. Her perfume is different. Not unpleasant but she doesn’t smell like Sabrina. I’ve officially lost my damn mind.
“Hey. There you are. I was looking for you.” The woman I seem to be obsessed with comes out of nowhere. She wraps an arm around my shoulders and that fruity scent has me instantly leaning closer to her. Somewhere in the back of my mind I’m aware that she’s being friendlier and touchier than normal, but I’m enjoying it too much to think about it too hard.
“I’m so sorry,” Sharee says. “I didn’t know you were with someone.”
“Oh, he’s not.” Sabrina shakes her head and smiles at the other woman. “I’m his brother’s sister.”
