The Tight End (Red's Tavern 6)

I snorted. “People have drunk sex all the time,” I said. “I can’t even get a drunk kiss.”

He lifted one eyebrow, his gaze suddenly a little more fierce. “Oh, believe me, you could get a lot more than just a drunk kiss,” he said, and by his tone I knew that he meant every word of it. “I want to do so many things with you, too. But I’m not going to do it when you’re all fucked up. Okay?”

I let out a slow breath. “You’re a really good person,” I said quietly.

The bathroom door swung open and the sounds of the bar suddenly rushed in, breaking the cocoon of privacy Brody and I had been in. Perry, the silver-haired cook, walked in and took one look at us, smiled, and shook his head. “I’ll come back in five.” He disappeared out the door again.

I was still shirtless. There was no doubt in my mind that Perry assumed he’d walked in on some kind of weird hookup situation, and suddenly my logical brain caught up with my drunk brain and a wave of embarrassment cascaded over me. I reached for the Red’s Tavern shirt that Sam had given to me.

“Christ, I am so sloppy tonight,” I said, pulling the shirt over my head. It was a long-sleeved simple black shirt that said I’m Red’s Hot on the front. “I’m sorry, Brody.”

I’d just admitted so much to him. Way, way too much.

And the most miraculous thing? He hadn’t even laughed at me.

“You’re doing fine,” Brody said. “I’m willing to bet half of my team is sloppier than you, after our win tonight. I think there’s a party going on at a wide receiver’s house right now.”

“You didn’t want to go party?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I knew we were going to be studying tomorrow. I want to be ready for it.”

“Our date,” I said softly, echoing his words from earlier.

He smiled. “Our date.”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I told him. “You could have partied tonight.”

He shook his head. “I want to actually try this time. I only have one year left to try to improve my GPA. I’m tired of fucking around. College has been better than high school, and I want to finish strong.”

I felt proud of him. I hadn’t known him that long, but I definitely got the sense that he was determined to do better in school.

And I really was going to need to chug a lot of water tonight if I wanted to be ready to help him tomorrow.

“This looks good on you,” Brody said, eyeing the shirt.

I glanced in the mirror. “Not my usual fashion choice, but… thank you,” I said. “Your shirt looks good on you, too. But everything looks good on you, to be honest.”

“Well, shucks, Professor Logan,” he said in a deep, velvety tone.

I felt my face heating up again. I hadn’t meant to hit on him with that compliment, but I wasn’t sure if that was how it had come across.

“I didn’t mean—all I’m saying is, it’s obvious you have a perfect body—”

The smile on his face was only getting bigger, and my blush only getting hotter.

“Go on,” Brody said, cocking his head to one side.

“I’m just going to quit while I’m ahead,” I said, waving a hand through the air. “Let’s get back out there so I can mainline a bunch of water, immediately.”

He let out a low chuckle. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You are so fucking cute,” he said.

I felt warm all over, and not just from the alcohol. My heart jumped in my chest as I walked out of the bathroom, back out into the sounds of the tavern, back into reality.

To Brody, it might not have meant much at all. Hell, he was a playboy, after all. For all I knew, he called guys cute every time he went out to the bars. But that didn’t stop me from getting even harder under my pants.

Brody placed a palm at the small of my back as we made our way to the booth, and for that brief moment, I let myself fantasize. I imagined a world where he could touch me like that any time, any place.

A world where I was his.

I woke up late the next morning, stretching in bed under the golden glow of sunlight filtering in through my window. Last night at the tavern, Sam and Perry had brought out a bunch of water and a nice bacon sandwich for me from the kitchen. Brody had gotten me home and into bed safely, and I’d passed out as soon as I hit the mattress. Thanks to everybody’s help, I didn’t even have much of a hangover this morning.

I felt like I was walking in a cloudy haze, though. Memories of last night permeated my mind, and my chest felt molten as I remembered some of the things I’d said.