His finger started to play with my hair, brushing it behind my ear, and his touch paralyzed me. I watched as he slowly licked his lips and his gaze narrowed then before I knew what was happening, our lips connected ever so briefly. A low growl came from deep within Crosby as he slid off his seat and grabbed me to throw me against the wall that was right behind us. His fingers weaved into my short hair as he pressed me against the bricks and we finally let our hungry passionspillout.
The years of pent-up stupid flirting between friends was finally coming to a head, bubbling up and exploding into sheer intensity. Everything else melted away—the other players, the screaming loudness of the bar, the music emanating from the jukebox—it all disappeared. All I could do was close my eyes and feel him—every movement of his hands gripping me, the way his muscles were flexing, the quickness of his breathing, the thirst behind his kiss. Goddamn it, he was such a good kisser. Crosby’s lips moved with mine in the sweet dance of desireandlust.
Crosby
Icouldn’t believe it—Iwas actually lip-locked with Jordan.About damn time.I could hear everyone clapping and cheering behind us, but I didn’t give a shit. They all needed to mind their own business when it came to mylovelife.
Panting, I pulled away from her. “Wow.” I searched her eyes as she let her head fall back and rest on the bricksbehindus.
“You can say that again.” She had the cutest closed-lipped smile perking up her cheeks as blush dustedoverthem.
“A good wow.” I kissed the tip of her nose, tightening my grip around herwaist.
“An incredible wow.” She breathed out a sigh, resting her head on myshoulder.
I didn’t want to let the moment end, but being in a packed bar with our entire group of friends, I knew it was going to have to end sooner rather thanlater.
“Drink?” I asked before kissing the top ofherhead.
She nodded into me. “Something with tequilainit.”
“Oh trust me, I know.” Grabbing her hand, I walked back over to the bar to order us around.
Myla popped up next to us. “Just so you know, I am extremely happy right now.” She kissed both of us on the cheek and then scampered away to be engulfed by the hoard ofpeople.
“This is going to turn into a big thing, isn’t it?” I asked Jordan as she sipped her PalomaBrava.
“Everyone is drunk, so I’ll be surprised if half of them remember they were here tonight, let alone what friends drunkenly made out in the back corner. People are self-absorbed for themostpart.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I didn’t know how to take her comment.Friends drunkenly made out.Does that mean I was right this whole time—she didn’t feel the same as I did? I became even more self-conscious when she hopped off her stool and left me to go talk to Mylasomemore.
Jordan
“Holy fuck!”I yelled into Myla’s ear as shesqueezedme.
“I am so happy for you girl!” She shrilled almost spilling her water from herexcitement.
I wrapped my arm around her waist, walking with her toward the bathroom. “I just don’t know if it was a drunken make out between friends or if it’s the start of an actualthing.”
“Kiss him,” Myla whispered as we got close to where Crosby was talking to Harding andGriffin.
“What?” I stopped usshort.
“Kiss him on the cheek as we walk by. If he seems happy about the affection, then it isn’t just a drunkenhookup.”
I did as she told me to, just swiftly pecking his scruffy cheek as I hurried by. I was still holding Myla’s hand as Will’s eyes locked with mine and he gave me a quick wink. Flutters consumed my body as I giggled the rest of the way to therestroom.
“See! I told you!” Myla said excitedly as she jumped up and down in thebathroom.
I put my hand on her shoulder. “You, little momma, need to calm your tits—if not for my sake, for little baby Hayes, who is getting a rollercoaster ride in that tummy ofyours.”
“I just can’t help being excited for you guys. I mean, how long hasitbeen?”
I splashed water on my face while Myla peed in the stall behind me. “About tenyears.”
She exited her stall with her mouth hanging open. “You’ve had a thing for Will Crosby since he and Gavin were rookies?” I couldn’t believe that it has been that long since Gavin introduced Crosby to me when they first became Otters. It felt like a lifetime and a blink of an eye all at once.Where have theyearsgone?
“Jordan! You came!”Gavin wrapped me in a bear hug as I made my way into the dimlylitbar.