19. Chapter 19

The Eagles' Nest is quiet like a typical Monday night. Grant texted earlier, saying some of the guys were heading over here for wings and the football game. The guys and I are sitting at our usual table in the side room. Grant, Harris, Riggsby, and Will are already here when JP and I walk in.

Making our way over to the table, we no sooner sit down, than the waitress is at our side. She's wearing tight, short shorts, and a tank top with the bar's eagle logo across her chest, her cleavage on full display. It's even more pronounced with the added slit she cut in the top of her tank top. Raven-black hair hangs long and shiny down her back. Her bright-green eyes find mine immediately. Pulling out her notepad, she brings it to her front, ready to take down our order, but not before pushing her boobs together. Someone is working hard for her tip.

"Hey, Q," she purrs. "What can I get you tonight?"

"I'll take a draft of Coors Light," I answer her, not sparing her any extra attention.

Instead, I reach into my pocket, pulling out my phone. She doesn't take the hint, but I don't look up from my phone. Pulling up Brynn's name, I shoot her a text.

She doesn't reply immediately, so I set my phone on the table.

"Dude, this game is going to be crazy. Kansas City is lookin' hella good this season," I say to Grant, my attention on the pregame interviews on the TV.

"Hell yeah they are," he replies as the waitress sets down my beer.

She leans closer to me than needed. "What else can I do…I mean, get you?"

It's hard to keep the eye roll from showing. Closing my menu, I turn to her, keeping my eyes on her face, and not on her tits that she's pressing closer to my face.

"I'll do twenty bone-in buffalo ranch wings with a side of celery and carrots and an order of fries."

She jots down my order, turning to the rest of the table for theirs.

"Dude, I think she wants your bone somewhere beside wings," Riggsby says, watching the waitress saunter toward the counter where she types our order on the computer.

I follow his gaze, and that's when I spot bright blonde hair thrown haphazardly on top of her head. She's sitting at the bar, eyes on the TV as she holds her beer. Brynn is the picture of relaxed, with her body leaned back against her chair, arm draped across her chest, and knee propped against the edge of the bar, not a care in the world. I love how carefree she always is.

The guys are all discussing how the Chiefs' defense is going to stop the run game, but I can't take my eyes off Brynn. Especially now that Will has spotted her too. Scraping his chair against the floor, he gets up and saunters over toward her.

"Alright dude, spill it," JP says, bringing my attention back from what's happening at the bar.

"Spill about what?"

"You and Brynn," Riggsby says. "Two of you claim you're just friends, and then you come back from Chicago changed."

"Seriously, bro, I was the one that took y'all to the airport, and the vibe was weird. You two bang?" JP adds, picking up his beer and taking a long gulp.

Bringing my hand to the back of my head, I run it back and forth across my neck.

"Uhh, we didn't fuck, and that'd be none of your damn business." Glancing up, I see Grant eyeing me. He's waiting for me to divulge more information. "We might've hooked up, and then things got a little intense."

"Intense, as in?" Riggsby digs.

"As in, not quite sex."

"Who went down on who?" JP asks.

Grant and Riggsby laugh at his question.

I just glare, not adding anything.

"It's about damn time," Grant says under his breath behind his glass.

My eyes search out Brynn again, and that's when I see her laughing with Will. I wouldn't think anything of it, except I know those two have a past. Will stands next to her, arm grazing hers, both of them smiling. Grabbing my phone, I pull up her messages again. That green-eyed monster takes over, and I want her to know I'm here.

Hitting send, I watch her, waiting for her to pick up her phone. Setting her glass down, she reaches over and pulls her phone up. Her body tenses, and I watch as she squeezes her legs together. Before I can think about it, I'm thumbing out another message.

The message immediately goes to read. Her body turns, eyes searching the bar. She looks past the entrance to the room, before bouncing those bright ocean-blue eyes that I just want to swim in, back my way. A wide grin breaks across her face before she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. Reaching back toward the bar, she grabs her glass, hopping down between the stool and Will. I see him appreciate the proximity of her body. My hand grips my glass tight enough that I think I could break it. But I don't. Instead, I watch my girl walk her fine ass over my way.

"Brynn!" JP yells as she enters the room.

"What's up, boys," she greets back, looking at all of us.

She's standing on the opposite side of the table from me, next to Grant.

I'm itching to touch her, but I can't when she won't come any closer.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

I can't seem to break eye contact with her. It feels surreal to have experienced what we did on Saturday and not know where we stand today.

She thumbs her finger over her shoulder before replying.

"I was trying to watch the game with some wings and beer, but someone won't quit blowing up my phone." Her tone is light, joking.

She doesn't care. In fact, if that blush on her cheek is any indication, she appreciated that text a lot more than she's letting on.

Will comes back into the room, two fresh beers in his hand. Handing one off to Brynn, she turns to him and thanks him.

"Want to join us?" he asks her, gesturing to the empty seat next to him.

I don't say anything. I'm waiting to see how she handles this situation. For the longest time, I thought Will was going to be the one to break her series of hook-ups. The two of them have had multiple nights together. He might be a douche, but he's always made Brynn laugh and have fun.

She keeps her eyes on him.

"No thanks, I'm good over at the bar. I was just finishing up. I need to head home and work on a paper." She turns her attention back to the other guys in the room. "You guys have fun, though!"

With a smile and a wave, she turns to walk out of the room.

Wait, that was it?

She seriously just came in here, said hi, and left. What the fuck?

Our chipper waitress brings our orders. She can't take a hint that I'm not interested because she keeps dipping her chest toward me, trying to get me to react. I don't. My attention is solely focused on the girl who is standing at the bar, grabbing her purse, and nibbling on her bottom lip.

Laying her hand on my shoulder, the waitress whispers in my ear, "I get off at ten. Stick around, and I'll get you off too."

That's the moment that Brynn chooses to look over her shoulder. Her back stands taller, tensing at what she sees. Turning back toward the bar, she takes a long gulp of her beer before rushing out the door.

"I'm good, thanks," I grumble to the waitress, shrugging her hand off my shoulder. "I have a…a girl—argh—a someone."

I hate that I can't define what Brynn and I are.

Our relationship is friends, but also, possibly more than friends. Or was what happened in Chicago a distraction?

Leaning down against me, the waitress whispers, "It's okay. We've all got someone. Your secret is safe with me."

And with that, she walks away.

"Fuck man, that was awkward as hell," JP says, placing a wing in his mouth and sucking all the meat off in one bite.

"Which part?" Riggsby adds.

Shaking my head, I ignore both of them.

My mind is spiraling, but I don't focus on that right now. Instead, I focus on watching that crazy tight end for the Chiefs do one of the victory dances he's known for.

Tomorrow I'll deal with Brynn. Hopefully, it's not too late.

Hopefully that waitress didn't fuck everything up. I've spent too much time getting Brynn to trust me.

I refuse to give up until she's mine.