Dinner at Antonio’s had been amazing, topped off with tiramisu and coffee. Rocky stifled a yawn as they walked toward the door.
“No, you can’t be tired. We’re going to Cosmo for a celebratory drink. Just one, I promise,” Kylie said as she pushed Rocky toward the car. “You made it, you’re the first female professional football player about to kick in your first pro game. That deserves a party but a drink will have to do for now.”
Normally, Rocky would be ready for a night of partying but it would have to wait for the end of the season. No way was she going to jeopardize her spot on the Legends by partying all night and then showing up still half-drunk for travel day.
The parking gods were looking down on them when they got to Cosmo, someone left just as they turned into the miniscule parking lot.
“Score! See, it’s meant to be. Let’s go get that drink,” Kylie crowed as she pulled into the coveted parking spot.
Dance music wafted around them as they walked up to the club, the bass rumbled through Rocky as they opened the door and stepped into Indy’s hottest dance club. Lights swung and whirled over the dance floor where couples danced to the beat. The air smelled of booze and sweat and popcorn.
Rocky followed Kylie as she skipped toward the front bar and wished for an open table so she could sit down. Her legs were tired and she wanted nothing more than to soak in a hot bath.
Two seats opened up at the bar, seemed like that good karma was still blessing them. Rocky hiked herself up onto a barstool as Kylie ordered their drinks – pink cosmos for them both instead of beer as it was a celebration.
Rocky sipped at her drink as she sat with her back to the bar, watching the dance floor. She leaned toward Kylie to thank herfor the drink when she saw her friend talking to a guy. His back was to her so she couldn’t tell if it was someone she knew. The drink had tasted amazing so she motioned to the bartender for another one. Surely one more wouldn’t hurt.
She felt Kylie’s hand on her arm.
“Hey, this is Butch and he asked…”
“You!” he hissed with a sneer.
“You know each other?” Kylie asked looking from Butch to Rocky.
“You could say that,” Rocky snapped. “This is the asshole who thought I was a cheerleader.”
Butch glared at her. “How was I supposed to know you think you’re a kicker?”
The bartender sat her drink in front of her. How dare he still say she wasn’t a kicker. Her vision narrowed to only his face.
He reached out and put his hand on her bare knee. “How about I buy you a drink and then we can go back to my place and talk about it.”
She usually had no problem keeping her temper under control but this guy irritated the fuck out of her. Before she could talk herself out of it, she picked up her drink and threw the contents in his fac. “Waste my career on a used-up has-been like you? I don’t think so.” She grabbed her purse off the bar and slipped off the barstool. “I’m done. I’ll get a rideshare home,” she said to Kylie as she turned toward the door.
Someone stepped in front of her. “I’ll make sure you get home.” She looked up to find Trey Conners holding his hand out to her.
“Thanks, Trey. I didn’t see you there. Are you really friends with this asshole? You seem like a nice guy.”
“Yeah. But to be fair, you seem to bring out the worst in him. Usually, he’s not so bad.’
“I doubt that,” she said as she grabbed her purse off the bar. “The one being a mama bear is Kylie.”
Kylie stood between Butch and Rocky just to be sure Butch wouldn’t retaliate in some way. “I’ll make sure my friend gets home safe,” she said as she pulled her keys out of her purse.
Trey smiled at her. “At least let me walk you to your car. You’re safe with me, I promise.”
Rocky watched as Kylie twirled her hair around her finger, a sure sign she was interested in Trey. He was a great receiver and he seemed nice enough but he was friends with the asshole so she’d reserve final judgement until she got to know him better.
“Thank you,” Rocky said and grabbed Kylie’s hand as they walked past her. “Come on, Ky, let’s go home.”
True to his word, Trey followed them out to Kylie’s car, even taking the keys and unlocking the car and opening the doors for them.
“You drive safe. It was nice to meet you, Kylie.” Trey smiled and stepped back. It looked like he wanted to say something else but Kylie grabbed the door and pulled it closed.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Kylie said as she pulled out of the parking space and turned onto the road.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, it wasn’t your fault that Butch had to be an asshole.”
