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“I’ll go with you.”
“No way. Not when you’re in Mother Hen mode. Go to bed. It’s all good.”
Over his shoulder, I meet Dex’s eyes, and he gives me a nod. He’s got this.
“Fine.” I’m not happy about it, but pushing would only piss Gray off. Not something I want to do any more of tonight. As long as I know he’ll get home, and stay there, then I’ve got to respect his wishes.
I squeeze Gray’s shoulder. “Happy Birthday, man.”
He glares at me for a moment, pissed, but then the clouds break and he’s suddenly pulling me into a bear hug. We give each other a punch on the back, and I find myself relieved.
Alone in my room, however, I can’t sleep. The bedside clock says 1:00 a.m. Part of me is now sorry I kicked the guys out so early. I lie back against a pile of pillows, my bent leg slowly rocking side to side as I stare in the darkness. My phone rests heavy in my hand. Anna has confessed to being a night owl, mostly due to staying up reading. I could be reading as well. My playbook rests on the far side of the bed, and there’s a Jack Reacher novel collecting dust on the nightstand. Instead, I run my thumb along the edge of my phone, and my leg swings with greater agitation.
“Fuck it.”
My thumb is swiping the screen and tapping Call before I can talk myself out of it.
She answers with a husky, “Hello?”
The sound courses along my skin in little licks of pleasure.
“Hey.” I settled down further into my bed. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No. I was just—”
“Reading?” I offer with a smile.
“Yeah.” She sounds vaguely pissed off that I guessed correctly, and my smile grows. She makes a small noise like a stifled sigh. “It’s too late for a booty call, Baylor.”
“Is sex the only thing you think about, Jones?” I rest my head on my bent arm and stare up at the ceiling. “I mean, what if I just want to hear about your night?”
“If anyone has had a memorable night, it’d be you. Speaking of which, why are you calling me now? Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, getting smashed?”
“I don’t drink during the season.”
“Seriously?”
“As a history lecture.” I run a hand over the bare skin of my abdomen and wish it was Anna touching me. “It messes with my performance, and I don’t need the hassle that comes with partying that way. Tonight, I was the designated driver and all-around wet blanket.”
“The guys must have loved you.” There’s a dry smile in her voice.
The darkness surrounding me is warm and close now. “There may have been some grumbles.”
“Poor baby,” she croons without any sympathy whatsoever. “Not getting to have any fun.”
“Depends on your concept of ‘fun.’” I like her ribbing and want more.
She laughs, a soft, rolling chuckle that makes my gut tighten. “So, what did you do tonight? Or shouldn’t I ask?”
“I’d tell you, but maybe you don’t want to hear.”
“Pfft. That just makes me more curious. And you know it, Baylor.”
I grin before turning on my side. “All right. Some of the guys bought Gray a group of strippers.”
“They any good?”
It’s then I admit to myself that I want her jealousy. Which is petty of me. And petty to be disappointed when she isn’t. I shrug, but then realize she can’t see me. “Gray seemed to think so.”
