“Yeah, family comes first, bro,” another said.
“Love to have you back.”
It went like this around the team. All of them welcoming me and forgiving me for letting them down.
The coach left and my brother came over to me. “So your woman is crafty. Even after you warned me I still got suckered in. She’s pure evil.”
I laughed because the serious look on Derick’s face as he gazed behind us at the seats was so convincing I didn’t think he was joking.
“Oh laugh it up. She’s probably up there with the giggling hyenas thinking up some diabolical plan to drive you crazy and bring all men to their knees.”
Rolling my eyes, I wrapped my arm around my brother’s shoulder. “She better not bring any other man besides me to my knees. How about I go stop her diabolical plan? You game to come with me?”
Derick shook me off. “Fuck you. Don’t come bitching to me when you have blue balls because she still won’t come near you.”
“I’ll have you know I don’t sleep alone anymore.” We walked toward the girls.
“Yeah, when did that happen?”
“The night of the shooting.”
Derick shrugged. “Don’t get too comfortable. Knowing you you’ll fuck it up somehow.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.”
“Really, guys, there is a lot of fucking going on. What happened?” Cassie said and Jade snorted before she giggled.
“Oh my, Cassie, that was so not right.” The girls broke down into a fit of giggles.
Picking Jade off the seat, I kissed her, mashing her lips to mine. She pushed at me. “Stephan, let me go, you’re covered in sweat.”
“Didn’t you want me wet?”
“Argh, that wasn’t me and wet with water not sweat.” I smiled because she turned to face her friends and leaned back on me. Jade wasn’t bothered by my sweat.
“Are you guys doing anything tonight while we have a girls’ night?” Patricia asked.
Jade stiffened in my arms. This was the first I’d heard of a girls’ night. I may not have known about it but I knew Jade needed it. She’d have the guards with her and I had to let her have a life. “I’m sure we can find something to do without you girls.” Jade relaxed back against me.
“I say we have a game night. I haven’t kicked your brother’s arse in a while, Cassie.”
Derick wiggled his eyebrows and Cassie groaned.
“Hey, if I remember, it’s me who does the arse kicking,” Scott bantered back.
“Fine. I say games night for the boys so I can show you all who the king is.” Derick was on a roll. “My brother needs his masculinity back. Jade holds his balls in jar. Do you have permission to play tonight, bro?”
“Whoa burn,” Brad chuckled.
“Derick’s just pissed because Jade played him. She’s smarter than him and he’s sulking.”
The girls laughed and Derick turned red. Tightening my hold on Jade I breathed in her calming scent and listened as our friends talked.
*****
My phone rang at lunchtime and I jumped to answer it. I was trying to give Jade a tiny bit of space so I was waiting for her to call. “Hello.”
“Hi, I’m at West Creek beach? Do you want to come join us? Cassie said she’d drop me home, but I said I wanted you to pick me up so Cassie can join the fun.”
“Yep. I’ll be there in half an hour.”
“Thanks. Can you bring some extra towels when you come?”
“Sure.” I hung up, changed into board shorts, went and banged on Derick’s door before I typed the code in and entered. “I’m going to the beach. You coming?”
“When you leaving?”
“Now.” I left his room and went to the main closet grabbing clean towels and a bag, shoving in everything I could think of, including sunscreen and a small cooler. Going down to the kitchen I grabbed four bottles of water and put them in the cooler.
“Thanks for waiting for me.” Derick whacked me on the back. “What’s the rush?”
“No rush. I’m picking up Jade.”
“Ah, I’m surprised you lasted this long.”
“Ha, ha very funny. Come on. Move your arse.”
We took my car to the beach. I’d had fun last night, all the guys had come around and we’d played card games, video games, and pool until the early hours of the morning. I wasn’t too keen to go to bed anyway. I’d gotten used to having Jade plastered over me.
“Have you slept?”
“What?” I glanced over at Derick before gazing back at the road.
“You’re blinking lots and really focusing on the road. You’re full of energy like you’ve drank a bunch of Red Bull.”