“Well, you sure sampled enough of the female population to make sure.” Alex’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “Were blowjobs your way of coping?” She snorted.
“A man’s got needs, Al.” I shrugged, rising to my feet, which were starting to cramp from sitting on my heels so long. “I didn’t know that you’d ever leave Dean. But, yeah, I guess you’re kinda right. Girls get less emotionally attached from sucking dick than they do from fucking.”
“Hmm,” she said, twisting her lips to the side. “Guess I never thought about it like that.”
“See, so every time I let a girl put her lips around my cock, it was for you.”
“You’re too kind.”
It was Christmas Eve, and we were getting all decked out to go celebrate with my coaches and teammates. I felt awful for not being able to take Alex back to spend the holiday with our families, but we were in the middle of a big tournament, and I couldn’t leave. Allie refused to go without me, so here we were.
“Your girl about ready, Fowls?” Finn griped, pacing the living room in his three-piece suit. “I’m starving.”
It was after 5:00 p.m. and Alexis had been getting ready since early that morning. When I’d told her this dinner would be a formal affair, she’d worked herself into a mini panic attack. Unlike myself, who’d grown accustomed to the lavish productions the program put on, Alex hadn’t worn a formal dress since our senior prom. So, as an early Christmas gift, I’d set her up with an appointment at a designer boutique a few days ago and then surprised her this morning with a day at the salon—hair, nails, makeup, waxing, the whole shebang. All she had to do when she got back two hours ago, was put on the dress, which she had yet to allow me to see, mind you. I was dying to get a look at her.
“She’s coming,” Blex announced, rushing down the stairs. “Just needed a little help.” That asshole smirked, waggling his brows.
“What kind of help?”
“Zipper...titty tape...”
My eyes narrowed across the room at my best friend. “You touched my girl’s tits?”
Blex burst out laughing. “No, I just helped her figure out how it worked and zipped her up when she was through.”
Our conversation ended when the sound of Allie’s heels echoed off the stairs. Time stood still as I watched her step into view. Her dress was floor length with a slit that came up to mid-thigh. The skirt was red and trailed behind her, even in her sexy as hell, four-inch silver stilettos. The top was sheer silver with rhinestones that clustered in the shape of a bra to cover her breasts and were dusted lightly over the rest of the see-through top. She looked like she belonged on a runway.
“Well?” she asked nervously when I stood there gawking, unable to formulate words.
“Jesus, Alex,” I rasped, loosening the knot on my tie. “You look...wow.” I closed the few steps between us and lifted my hands to her shoulders, lightly trailing my knuckles down her arms. “So fucking beautiful, Allie.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, placing her dainty hands on my chest. “This suit is—” she closed her eyes, growling low in the back of her throat “—so hot,” she added, her eyes fluttering open.
“You two lovebirds ready?” Blex called from the door. “Car’s here.”
ALEXIS
I FELT LIKE A movie star walking into the ballroom on Colton’s arm. So in awe of my surroundings, I practically floated in on a cloud. The ceiling had been draped in white netting with twinkling lights that set a romantic ambiance. It gave the feeling of being under a blanket of stars. Four-chair tables with white cloths and chair covers to match filled one half of the space. Each chair was adorned with a huge gold bow tied around its back. The place settings were white with gold trim. It was all so fancy, no expense spared. On the other end of the ballroom sat a stage where a four-man band filled our ears with classic Christmas music. Beside the stage was an enormous tree, decorated elaborately in red and gold. A dance floor was set up just in front of the stage and to the right of it, an open bar.
“Colton and Alexis, don’t you two clean up nice?” Coach Grady boomed, coming up behind us as we navigated the room in search of our seats. “I’m sorry you’re missing the holiday with your family,” he said, his concerned eyes locked on mine. Colt must’ve mentioned how difficult our first Christmas away from home was for me. It’s not that I didn’t want to be there because I did. It was just hard. “Well, just know I appreciate the sacrifice you’re making to be with our Colt here.” His hand clamped down on Colton’s shoulder. It was obvious he cared for him a whole lot, and it warmed me to him.
My lips stretched into a slow smile. “Being with Colt is never a sacrifice, Mr. Grady.” Colt’s hand squeezed mine gently. “I’ll be fine.”
Coach beamed. “He is one of a kind, isn’t he?”
“He sure is.” I turned toward Colton as I answered, and our eyes locked. My heart did a little dance. I couldn’t stop staring at my man in his Armani suit. I never understood why a person would pay such an enormous price for a name, but I was certainly glad for Colt’s expensive taste tonight. And for Grandpa Fowler, who seemed to have no limits when it came to spoiling his only grandson.
“Well, you two kids enjoy the party.” He walked off in the direction of his table, but before we had even taken two steps, he turned around and was headed right back.
“Forget something, Coach?” Colt asked, smiling.
“Yeah, I did, actually.” His attention turned to me. “Alexis, I wanted to see if you’d do me a huge favor and take part in the halftime show on New Year’s Eve?”
My eyes turned to the side, meeting Colt’s. He shrugged like he had no idea what this was about. “Me?” My hand came to my chest, pulse racing with nerves.
“We thought it would be fun to have a couple of the players’ girlfriends come out and shoot blindfolded.” Ugh. Why me? My first instinct was to tell him no, but he was such a nice man, and he looked so excited about the whole thing. He’d also just referred to me as Colt’s girlfriend, so I was really liking him just then.
“You should do it, babe.” Colt nudged my arm with his elbow. “You’ve got a hell of a shot for a girl,” he teased.
“For a girl?” I countered. “I seem to remember beating a certain someone at horse a time or two.”
Colt chuckled, his green eyes glistening. “It was one time, and we were like twelve.”
I dismissed him with the wave of a hand. “Semantics.”
Coach Grady watched our interaction with an amused smile. “So, how ’bout it, Alex? Can we count you in?”
“Sure,” I said, already regretting my answer. “Why not?” Why not? Was I serious?
“Great. I’m gonna get back to Mrs. Grady. She hates when I leave her alone at these things.”