The Friend Zone
Page 18

“You going to be all right?” I ask Fiona before I go.
She waves a lazy hand. “I’m almost better. Now go and have fun with the entire freaking football team of hotness, you hussy.”
“It’s not the entire team,” I say with a smile. “Maybe like half. Three-quarters at the most.”
Fi tosses a pillow at me, but if falls with a sad little thump far short of me. “So jealous. Go then, get your sexy on. And you’d better send me snaps of their arms!” Fi is an admitted lover of big biceps.
“Will do.” I wave and head out.
The bar where I meet Gray is filled with people, and apparently doing a retro night. Eighties hip-hop pounds from the speakers as I weave through the crush. My height has an advantage here, as does Gray’s; I easily spot him above the crowd, his dark gold hair shining like a beacon as he strides forward to meet me. I love that I can wear heels and he still has inches on me.
“Hey,” he says when we get to each other. “We’ve got a booth in the…” He trails off as he truly looks at me, and his lips part as if he’s taking a quick breath.
“What?” My voice is too loud, the music making it hard to hear anything, and I lean closer. Enough that I feel the heat of his body and catch his clean scent. Soap and man has never smelled better.
For a moment, we kind of just sway around each other. Like magnets in too-close proximity deciding whether to slam together or split apart. A strange little dance that has us both flustered.
Gray clears his throat and edges back as if my nearness is too much for him. Well, okay then, I don’t smell, do I? I scowl, but his mouth quirks on a smile. “You look…nice, Mac.”
“High praise there, Cupcake.” My scowl grows, and he laughs.
“Okay, you look really nice. Hot, even.” Again, he looks me over, this time lingering on my top. “Totally, smokin’ hot.”
A flush of heat rushes over my body, settling between my legs, and I’m the one doing the throat clearing. It doesn’t stop the slow tide of unexpected lust that makes my steps unsteady. What the hell? It’s just Gray. “I like to dress up now and then. Don’t look so shocked.”
“I’m not shocked.” Gray takes hold of my elbow, a light touch, and guides me toward the back of the club. “I’m grateful.”
“Grateful?” I ask blankly. He’s still giving me sidelong glances as if he’s convinced the scenery will change and doesn’t want it to.
Gray just shakes his head and leans in until his lips brush my ear. His warm breath and deep voice caress my skin. “Mac, I’m a healthy heterosexual male. Anytime a girl looks hot, I’m fucking grateful.”
Lips pursed, I make no further comment. It’s ridiculous how much his admiration pleases me. And disconcerting, as if I’ve taken a shot of hard liquor that’s gone straight to my head. I am still a bit dizzy when we reach the large circular booth that holds Gray’s friends.
They all smile at me with varying degrees of interest, as if they’ve been waiting to get a good look.
“Ivy,” Gray says, giving a nod in my direction by way of introduction. “Diaz, Rolondo, Dex, Marshall, Johnson, Cal, Drew, and Anna.”
Anna, the curvy redhead and the lone girl at the table, has the widest smile. She gives me a little wave. “Hey, Ivy. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
Clearly. I’m like the new exhibit at the zoo. “Hey. I’ve heard a lot about you guys too.” I slide into the space left open next to Anna as the guys say hello.
They’re all huge and probably intimidating to anyone not used to being around football players. To me, though, it’s a bit like coming home. My whole life I’ve been around male athletes, strong guys who use their bodies as a musician would an instrument. Oftentimes they behave like overgrown boys, no matter what age they are.
Gray takes the seat opposite me, his muscular forearms resting against the table. For a second we just smile at each other, and happiness floods my veins like pink champagne.
Then Drew leans in. “I’ve been meaning to thank you, Ivy, for letting Gray borrow your car.” His tone is sincere, but there’s a gleam in his light brown eyes.
“I didn’t let Gray drive my car,” I clarify, even though I know I don’t have to. But I’m willing to mess with Gray just a bit. “In truth, it pissed me off. I kind of wanted to kick his ass.”
“She talks a good talk but she loves me,” Gray assures everyone.
“You didn’t hurt the car,” I say, “so I’m feeling more charitable toward you, yes.”
Gray winks at me, and I laugh.
The gleam in Drew’s eyes grows. “Gray would never damage that car. I mean, he looks so good driving it.”
The guys all chuckle. And Gray coughs out, “Asshole.”
Drew ignores this and leans back with a laugh. The guy is ridiculously good-looking in a chiseled, clean-cut way with light brown hair and eyes. Gray and Drew sitting side by side, with their muscled physiques taking up a good portion of the booth, look like a comic book come to life.
They catch me staring and both say, “What?” at the same time.
Smiling, I shake my head. “Nothing. I just had this image of Thor and Captain America having a beer.”
They both color at the same time. Which is kind of cute.
“Ha!” cries Anna at my side. Her cheeks plump with a wide grin. “I had that Captain America thought about Drew too.”