I blink for a second, and then grin wide. Gray does too.
“So,” Gray finishes, “Mackenzie says I can drive his daughter’s Fiat for few weeks because she’s studying abroad. And there you go.” He extends a hand toward the pink nightmare. “One hideous bubblegum clown car at your service. Oh, and if I wreck it, I bought it.” Gray rolls his eyes. “It’d be so worth it to drive the thing off a cliff, but there aren’t any around.”
“The guys must be giving you hell.” I try not to smile as I say this.
Gray’s brows draw tight. “They’re calling me Glamour Gray.”
“Ahh…” I glance at the car, which is far from glamorous, “is that supposed to be ironic?” Whatever their inspiration is, I know it will be evil.
His cheeks go ruddy. “No. Marshall, that fuckstain, said that his kid sister plays with these tiny dolls called Glamour Gals, and that they drive a car like mine. Hence…” He rolls his hand in the air in an irritated fashion.
I won’t laugh… I crack up.
“You’re a fuckstain too,” Gray mutters.
“Whatever, Glamour.”
Reluctantly, Gray grins, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Seriously, though,” I say, “good on you for not selling out.”
“You should consider Mackenzie too. I know he’s interested.”
My laugh dies on a breath. Mackenzie had been my top choice, mainly because he seemed a straightforward guy, and Gray’s story certainly nails that down. But I can’t stop the uncertainty within me from rearing its ugly head. I force myself to nod. “Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Yeah, he sounds like a good fit.”
We go quiet, the faint sounds of activity from within the stadium filling the space between us.
“About last night. I’m sorry.” I can’t look at him. Not yet. A hot pressure builds behind my nose and lids. “I was a dick.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Gray turn his head my way. “Yeah, well, you’re a pretty good dick as far as dicks go… Fuck.” He grimaces. “That did not sound right.”
We both laugh, strained. And then I face him. “I mean it, Gray.”
He colors, his mouth going into a straight line. “I know.”
“I never thought you’d make a play for Anna. Never.”
Absently, he nods. “I know, man. And I know you’re freaking. I’d be doing the same.”
“I…” Words get stuck in my throat, and the prickling pressure grows. “You’re… Hell.” I grab onto him, likely shocking the shit out of him, and haul him close. My hug is hard. “I love you, all right?”
He hugs me back, just as hard, a fist pounding into my shoulder. And then we both shove each other away with a laugh.
“Shit,” he says, surreptitiously wiping at the corner of his eye, “you’re going to have me bawling like some stupid man-baby.”
“Cuz you are a man-baby,” I answer, rubbing my forearm over my own eyes.
The wind blows again. It’s too cold to be standing around.
“Well come on, then.” Gray goes to his Barbie car and grabs something from within. My insides dip but my heart speeds up when I see the football.
Gray gives me a challenging look and throws me the ball. I either have to look like an idiot and let it fall or catch it.
I catch it.
“We’re tossing around the ball.” Gray’s tone brooks no argument.
The ball feels so good in my hand that I want to clutch it to my chest like it’s a baby. “You going long?” I ask.
“You gonna throw down?”
My arm tightens with the need to let the ball fly. “Like a hammer.” Some of my cockiness leaves as I glance back at the stadium. “But not here.”
“We’ll go to the park.” Gray moves to the passenger side of the pickup.
“Not in the glamour mobile?” I say as we both get in the truck.
He looks disgruntled as hell, but he’s smiling. “You owe me big for that car, you know.”
I do. I owe him for more than he’ll ever know.