Savannah stands outside, dressed in her usual comfortable outfit of black leggings and a dark gray sweater. She wearstall Nike socks just like Silas, but on her, they do something completely different to me.
“Hey.” I press my back to the door, giving her space to come in. My fingers grip the doorknob behind me, threatening to rip it right off. God, I’m desperate to touch her. I want to take her face in my hands and kiss her feverishly. I want to pick things up right where we left off yesterday morning in my bed. I want to scoop her up in my arms, with her legs wrapped around my waist and my face buried in her neck as I parade her in the living room, announcing to the world—or at least to my team—that she’s my girl.
Instead, I follow behind her to the living room with my hands in my pockets, trying to keep my feelings hidden.
“Hey boys. Congrats on your win.”
“Sav.” Silas nods his hello. “Thanks.”
“Sup.” Gabe doesn’t take his eyes off the TV, likely scared he’s going to lose to Milly while he’s playing for me.
Maverick hops off the barstool, lazily draping an arm over Savannah’s shoulder, and pulls her in close. “Savannah, sweetie, where’s your hot roommate?”
She pulls her head back just enough to look him in the eyes. “Hate to break it to you, Hall, but it’s never going to happen.”
“Come on Sassafras,” he coaxes. “Put in a good word for me.”
“Do you even know her name?”
I watch his brows furrow and his lips pucker. I love Maverick. He’s like a brother to me, and I would do anything he asks of me without judgment or question, but he has no interest in women outside of the bedroom. Or a bathroom. I’m pretty sure the driver’s seat of his 4Runner and the back row of a movie theater are also places he’s been interested in them, but other than that…
“Leave her alone.” I finally give in, pulling Savannah out from under his arm by her elbow.
“Hey, King! You going to take this controller back any time soon? I’m sweating bullets over here.”
“You’ve got it, Gabe.”
His mouth hangs open, eyes glued to the screen.
I turn around, laughing as I guide Savannah into the kitchen.
“Can I get you a drink?” When she doesn’t respond, I look over and find her eyes scanning the room with confusion etched between her brows. “What’s wrong?”
“Umm where—where is everyone?” she asks in a hushed tone.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you were having a party?”
I hand her a water bottle from the fridge, noticing that she didn’t bring hers with her tonight. “We don’t do parties at the house during the season.”
She takes it, slowly uncapping it, but her eyes stay honed in on me. “Didn’t you ask me to come over because you were celebrating?”
“I said some of us are hanging out.” I look over at Silas and Gabe on the couch. Maverick is now texting on the lazy boy. “Parker went out to pick up the Chinese food, but we’re here. Celebrating.”
“Oh my god, Noah.” She drops her head to her hand with a sigh.
“What?”
“You don’t think they’re going to think it’s weird that I’m the only other person here?” she whisper-shouts at me.
Honestly, I didn’t think about anything besides getting her here. We just won a huge game, I didn’t have to have dinner with my parents, and the first person I wanted to see tonight was her.
“You want to go out?”
“What?”
“If you don’t want to be here with them, we could go out.”
