Page 13 of Penalty Kick

“Let me handle that,” Liam said. Slapping Tanner on the back, he stood, Tanner following his lead. “Tan, race you to car?”

Tanner took off, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone. Liam shook his head, laughing and jogging after him.

“Well, I see where I rank…” Talia muttered. “Anyway, I can rest tomorrow, but I have to work trivia night on Wednesday. I can’t miss that. I’ll be fine by then, right?”

“I don't recommend it. You shouldn’t put any weight on it, and crutches are not a good idea behind that bar.”

“I have to work. It’s the trivia night fundraiser. I can’t miss that.”

Avery opened her mouth to object, but Dash cut her off.

“I will do it.”

The words were out of his mouth before he’d even thought it through. He had no idea how to be a bartender, but it couldn’t be that hard, right? He could figure it out. Talia would be able to walk him through it. He owed her this. It was his fault she was hurt.

“Excuse you?” Talia whipped her head around to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise. There was no question in the look on her face—it was obvious she was sure she had not heard him properly.

“I will do it,” he repeated. “I will cover your shift. You can sit there, leg propped up, telling me what to do.”

“Dash, you know where I work. If you do this…if Heather even lets you…you know that you will have to follow the dress code, right?”

The dress code. That hadn’t occurred to him. Bunz had a very specific dress code for its male employees. While Talia and Saxony simply wore jeans and a black T-shirt that had the Bunz logo on it—a denim-clad peach—the men wore something entirely different. And wore was an overstatement.

But it was too late now. He was committed.

“That is fine. I will follow dress code.”

“You’re going to tend bar, shirtless? In just a pair of jeans?” she asked, her voice incredulous. Had he not just said this? Multiple times?

“Sí, Bonita. You will have to tell me what to do, but I feel this will be no problem for you.”

Avery giggled, her hand flying to her face, trying to hide her smile. At least he could make one of them laugh. Now, if only Talia would do the same. He longed to hear her beautiful laugh. Even more, he wanted to be the reason for the laughter.

“Dash, I dunno…”

“You can have all my tips. Or, I could donate them to Unified team. Your choice.”

Talia scrunched her face, seemingly trying to find a reason to argue with him. But he knew she wouldn’t be able to find one. Not with an offer like that.

“Okay. One condition.”

“Name it.”

“If Heather is okay with you doing this—and that’s a big if, Dash—but if she’s cool, then we get to advertise that you’re the guest bartender. That will be huge for turnout.”

The light had returned to her eyes, making Dash’s heart squeeze. How could he say no to that?

“Deal.”

* * *

"I’m running downstairs to see Liam for a sec. Do you need me to start a timer for twenty minutes so you know when to take the ice off?” Avery asked, walking out of her bedroom.

Talia looked up from the game she was playing on her phone, eyeing what her roommate had on. There wasn’t anything particularly sexy about her sweatpants and faded Georgia Tech T-shirt, but Talia was still suspicious.

“For a sec? Or for sex?” she quipped.

Avery blushed. “A second. Just until the pizza gets here. I conned him into paying, so…”