Perfect for You(14)

“Thanks, Mr. Flannigan.” Grayson beams. “We have a lot to celebrate.”

“Yes, you do. Congratulations again, Grayson.” Dad’s already congratulated Grayson about fifteen times, but she never gets tired of hearing it.

She squeals as he leaves the room. “This is going to be awesome. Is Ash friends with Tucker, that really cute tight end with the…well, tight end?” She wags her eyebrows at me. “I wouldn’t mind curling up in his sleeping bag tonight.”

Now that she’s made the team, she’s found this confidence I’ve never seen in her before. “I’ll have Ash introduce you.”

Ash beeps as he pulls into the driveway.

“That’s our cue.” I grab my overnight bag and we head out, only to run directly into Dad at the bottom of the stairs.

“Tell me again why Asher is driving you girls to this sleepover.”

I kiss his cheek. “You’re giving yourself worry lines, Dad.”

“Night, Mr. Flannigan.” Grayson waves and walks out the front door, and I’m right behind her.

Mom smiles at me as I shut the door. She’s more than relieved that Grayson is tagging along.

I hop in the car and lean over to kiss Ash.

Grayson groans. “Please, tell me you two aren’t going to be doing that all night.”

“Not all night,” I say, giving her a devilish smile. “Besides, you’ll be cozying up with Tucker.”

Grayson smacks me. “Meg!”

Ash laughs. “So, you have a thing for Tucker, huh? I might be able to help you out with that.”

Grayson’s anger quickly fades.

The party is already in full swing when we pull up. Cars line the driveway and street. Several are even parked on the front lawn. The music is so loud I swear I can see the house shaking. Football players must know how to party.

“Wow,” Grayson says as we get out of the car. “Are all the team parties like this?”

“Nah. Jackson goes all out for this one. But if we win a big game, that party will probably top this one.” That was a big “if”. Last year they didn’t win a single game.

Ash slips his hand into mine and we walk inside, no knocking or announcing ourselves at all—not that anyone would hear us over the music and all the yelling. No way are Jackson’s parents home. Looks like I lied to Mom. Ash leads us to the kitchen where drinks of all sorts are lined up on the counter. I grab a bottle of water. Grayson goes for a beer, but I take it out of her hand. It’s not like I haven’t had a drink before, but she just made varsity. Alcohol is the quickest way to get booted off the team, and she knows it. I hand her a bottle of peach tea instead.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, yeah, just as good.”

“You’ll thank me when you’re still on the team on Monday.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Gray says in her little girl voice.

Ash laughs at us. “Anyone up for darts?” He’s a darts fanatic, mostly because he’s really good. I haven’t seen anyone beat him, ever.

“Lead the way.” I wrap my arm around his bicep. It’s his throwing arm, and he gives a small flex, wagging his eyebrows at me. Yes, he knows he’s in good shape. I reach up and kiss him, stopping him dead in his tracks. His arms wrap around me, and I can feel the coldness of his soda against my back.

“Is this what I’m going to be subjected to all night?” Grayson pretends to gag. “Because if so, I’m going to need a trashcan handy for spewing up my dinner.”

I wave a hand at her and keep kissing Ash. I don’t care that we have an audience or that we’re being rude to Grayson. This party is about the football team, and since Ash is the only player I care about, I’m giving him my attention. Breathless, I pull back a little and stare into his eyes.

“Remind me to take you to football parties more often.” He smiles at me and leans in for another kiss.

“Come on, really?” Grayson scoffs. “I’m out of here. I think I saw Tucker in the other room.”

Ash takes that as his cue to wrap his arms around me and lift me off the ground. I giggle in between kisses, and he gently sets me back down. A bunch of guys start cheering, and I can’t help wondering if it’s because Ash and I are making a scene in the middle of the living room. We pull away only enough to see what’s going on.

The new cheerleader I saw at the Football Challenge is at the pool table, bending over it in shorts that probably don’t even cover her ass when she’s standing up straight. Apparently she has a thing for letting her ass hang out. A crowd of guys huddles around her, and they’re all cheering her on. How ironic. Football players cheering for the cheerleader.

“What’s she doing here?” I ask.

“Who Liz?”

“You know her?” My insides form a knot.

“Not really. She’s a cheerleader though. I’ve seen her a few times with the rest of the squad.”

“I’m kind of surprised she’s already at parties and hanging out with the football players. She’s only a freshman.” “Freshman” comes off my tongue more like another F-word.

“Tryouts ended yesterday. She made the squad. Why wouldn’t she be here?”

I shrug. Liz makes another shot and looks up at Ash. “Hey, Ash.” She smiles and gives a flirtatious wave, completely ignoring me in Ash’s arms. This is so not good.