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She gives me a little wave. “Hey, Ivy. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
Clearly. I’m like the new exhibit at the zoo.
“Hey. I’ve heard a lot about you guys too.” I slide into the space left open next to Anna as the guys say hello.
They’re all huge and probably intimidating to anyone not used to being around football players. To me, though, it’s a bit like coming home. My whole life I’ve been around male athletes, strong guys who use their bodies as a musician would an instrument. Oftentimes they behave like overgrown boys, no matter what age they are.
Gray takes the seat opposite me, his muscular forearms resting against the table.
For a second we just smile at each other, and happiness floods my veins like pink champagne.
Then Drew leans in. “I’ve been meaning to thank you, Ivy, for letting Gray borrow your car.” His tone is sincere, but there’s a gleam in his light brown eyes.
“I didn’t let Gray drive my car,” I clarify, even though I know I don’t have to. But I’m willing to mess with Gray just a bit. “In truth, it pissed me off. I kind of wanted to kick his ass.”
“She talks a good talk but she loves me,” Gray assures everyone.
“You didn’t hurt the car,” I say. “So I’m feeling more charitable toward you, yes.”
Gray winks at me, and I laugh.
The gleam in Drew’s eyes grows. “Gray would never damage that car. I mean, he looks so good driving it.”
The guys all chuckle. And Gray coughs out, “Asshole.”
Drew ignores this and leans back with a laugh. The guy is ridiculously good-looking in a chiseled, clean-cut way, with light brown hair and eyes. Gray and Drew sitting side by side, with their muscled physiques taking up a good portion of the booth, look like a comic book come to life.
They catch me staring and both say, “What?” at the same time.
Smiling, I shake my head. “Nothing. I just had this image of Thor and Captain America having a beer.”
They both color at the same time. Which is kind of cute.
“Ha!” cries Anna at my side. Her cheeks plump with a wide grin. “I had that Captain America thought about Drew too.”
Drew perks up. “You did, huh?”
Gray snorts. “Dude, I’ve just been compared to Thor. I totally win.”
“What the hell does Thor have? A little hammer?” Drew waves a hand as if to say, Please.
But Gray smirks. “At least he isn’t hiding behind a wussy shield. Thor is a god. Enough said.”
“A boring god with the personality of a post,” Drew volleys.
“And you’re saying Captain America isn’t boring? Bruh. He doesn’t even understand modern culture. He’s like a 1940s Boy Scout.”
Drew and Gray eyeball each other for a second. Then Drew relents with a laugh. “Touché.”
“And Thor reigns victorious in battle!” Gray throws up his arms in a touchdown gesture.
All the guys groan. Someone lobs a balled-up bar napkin at Gray, who neatly bats it away.
“Are they always like this?” I ask the table.
“Always,” Anna mutters, but she’s laughing.
Dex, who is massive and wears a full beard, shrugs. “Sometimes they slap each other’s heads around too.”
