Drew: Book One of the Perfectly Independent Series

by Amanda Shelley

  As we walk to our table, Abby pulls my head down so she can whisper into my ear. The action alone has me burning with desire. “Are you ever going to tell me what all the fuss is about?”

  What the hell is she talking about? “Fuss?”

  “You know. Why people fawn over you and you can’t go out in public without causing a scene?” She rolls her eyes as if I should already know this.

  “I play basketball.” I shrug.

  She cocks her head, not buying it. “Are you any good?”

  “You could say that.”

  “You seem to be something special,” she whispers. Then she grazes my cheek with a kiss. I’m not usually a touchy-feely guy, but I crave contact with her.

  What is it about this girl that has me wanting to spend more time with her?

  After a few more dances and a couple more drinks, the girls decide to call it quits, and I take everyone home. I make a point to walk Abby to her door. Chloe and Sydney make themselves scarce as soon as we get to their apartment.

  As much as I’m dying to kiss her, I won’t take advantage of her. From the look in her eyes, she wants more, too. Instead of making a move, I whisper the first thing to pop into my mind, “I hope you’ve had a happy birthday.”

  “Thanks for everything.” She looks up into my eyes and rocks from her heels to her toes. I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or nerves, but that bit of wobble reminds me I need to tread carefully. There’s been an undercurrent of chemistry zinging between us all night.

  “If you give me your keys, I’ll bring your car over in the morning,” I offer, to stay just a moment longer with Abby.

  She digs out her keys from her pocket and hands them over. “Thanks. It’s a blue Honda Accord. I parked right in front of your place.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you in the morning.” It takes everything in my power to only kiss her cheek and say goodbye.

  6

  Drew

  The next morning, a little after seven, I knock on Abby’s door. Hoping I’m not waking her too early, I rock on my heels as I wait for what seems like forever for her to answer. Eventually, I hear a bit of a commotion from the other side, so I wait patiently, instead of knocking again. When the door opens, Abby sounds as if she’s out of breath as she greets me with a mischievous smile, “Hello.”

  “Hey, Abby.” I grin down at her and ask, “How are ya feeling?”

  “Oddly enough, just fine,” she admits. “Syd and Chloe insisted I drink a full glass of water and eat again when we got home. They also had me take some ibuprofen, just to be safe. I kept a good buzz going last night, but I never tipped over the edge of being drunk… ya know?”

  She looks adorable as she meets my gaze. Her hair’s in one of those messy buns girls do to keep it up and out of their face. She’s wearing an oversized CRU sweatshirt that falls off one of her shoulders and a pair of black yoga pants. She may have just rolled out of bed, but she couldn’t look more gorgeous if she tried. My body instantly tightens, and the electric sparks that flowed between us last night quickly return.

  When my brain catches up to my body’s reaction to Abby, I scold myself. Christ. Get it together, Jacobs. You don’t have time for distractions like this. Even if you did, you’ve kept a strict no-dating during the season policy since freshman year. It’s kept you on a winning streak, and you’re not about to change it up now. Calm the fuck down.

  When I don’t respond to Abby’s comment, her cheeks darken, and she averts her eyes. Shit. Now I’ve embarrassed her. Hell. I can’t win for losing with this situation. I quickly rush to assure her I understand. “I get it…” I swallow, trying to remember what I should be saying, but her golden-brown eyes turn my brain to liquid mush.

  “You do?” she asks in disbelief. “I thought you didn’t drink?” She sucks her bottom lip and chews on it, making my dick go hard and my pants go tight. Why’d she have to go and do a thing like that? Geez, I can’t catch a break here.

  I quickly clear my throat and mentally kick myself for letting my brain drift into the gutter. “I may not drink during the season. But I’ve had my share of booze. Trust me. There’s a fine line between a good buzz and being drunk. I don’t particularly like to lose control of my functions, but I can’t say it’s never happened.” I shrug in defense. I’ve been an athlete for as long as I can remember. Alcohol was always at the ready, to celebrate our wins or commiserate our losses. Sure, most of my partying days were in high school, but it’s a feeling you don’t soon forget.

  After losing Summer, I went a little wild in the off season. But once I realized I’m all my parents have left, I knew I couldn’t do that to them. So, before it ever got out of hand, I straightened up my act and became the disciplined athlete I am today.

  Before I let myself go down the rabbit hole of my past, I quickly change the subject. “Have you had breakfast?”

  Abby’s eyes widen in my sudden change of subject. “Um… No. I just got out of bed. All I’ve managed to do is get dressed.”

  “I typically eat after practice, and I’m starving. Wanna grab a bite to eat before our first class?” As if on cue, my stomach snarls, causing Abby to erupt with laughter.

  “Sure,” she says through an adorable giggle. “Let me get my things, and we can head out.” Abby pivots and leaves the door open for me to enter their apartment. It’s quiet, and I’m not sure if Syd and Chloe are already at class or still sleeping.

  Abby strides over to her couch and picks up her backpack. She grabs her wallet from the coffee table and stuffs it into her bag. Then she walks to where I’m standing and slides her feet into a pair of sneakers by the door.

  “I could’ve waited for you, if you needed to do more to get ready,” I offer, not wanting her to feel rushed.

  “I was ready. Besides, after last night, I’m starving. The thought of not having to cook breakfast is a treat I’m willing to give myself. Besides… if you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m more of a what you see is what you get kind of girl. I don’t spend a lot of time primping, as I have no one to impress.”

  Oh, you impress people, Abby. Trust me. How is it merely days ago, I thought the beautiful woman before me was plain? Thankfully, I’m able to keep my thoughts to myself as we walk to her car.

  As she unlocks the door, I head to the passenger side. When I get inside, she simply sits there and stares at her outstretched hands and feet. She moves them around as if she’s doing stretching exercises and starts laughing.

  Confused, I ask, “Mind filling me in on the joke? Or do you need me to drive?” Maybe she’s had more to drink last night than she realizes.

  “How tall are you?” she asks in wonder. She looks me over from head to toe, as I’ve jammed my body into the passenger seat. To give my knees some relief from the dashboard, I release the seat and sigh with relief as I glide it back to its furthest position.

  “Six-five. Why?”

  Abby smirks, and another chortle escapes. “Well, I’m not.” And it’s then I really look at her. She can’t reach the wheel or the pedals beneath her feet and her arms and legs are stretched to prove it. Christ, she’s adorable.

  “Sorry,” I say through the laughter I hold in. She doesn’t seem that small next to me, but when I look at her flailing about, it’s downright comical. “I couldn’t fit otherwise,” I try to explain.

  “No worries. I just wasn’t expecting to feel like a toddler taking the wheel for the first time.” She quickly adjusts her seat and the rearview mirror, and turns on the ignition. As she puts the car in gear and pulls onto the road, she asks, “Where do you want to eat?”

  “Let’s hit that diner down off Franklin Street. There’s a full menu, so you can pick anything you’d like.” The thought alone makes my stomach rumble… again, earning me a smirk from Abby.

  “You sure you can make it?” Abby teases.

  “You’d better step on it, to make sure,” I quickly respond, earning a beautiful laugh. “I’m wasting away over here. I was running
late this morning and only had time for a protein shake before my workout.”

  “Oh.” Abby visibly cringes as she sneaks a peek in my direction. Concern fills her features. “I didn’t make you late by staying out celebrating, did I?”

  I shake my head, but since her eyes are on the road, I follow it with, “Nope. I just let myself sleep in a bit longer than usual. I was there on time, no worries.”

  Within a few minutes, we pull into the diner. Thankfully, there’s not a line, and we’re told to take an open booth of our choice. I lead Abby to the closest booth and hand her a menu that’s permanently held on a stand at the back of the table.

  Vanessa, one of the regular waitresses, walks up and introduces herself to Abby. “Hi! I’m Vanessa. Can I get you some coffee, tea, or anything to drink while you decide? Drew, would you like your regular coffee?”

  I nod in appreciation as Abby eyes me suspiciously, then shakes her head and says, “I’ll have an orange juice.”

  “Coming right up.” Vanessa smiles and leaves to get our drinks.

  Abby cocks her head to the side and juts out her chin. “So… you come here often?”

  I shrug. There’s no point in denying it. “Yeah. College kids usually hang out closer to campus, and this is a great place to study, so no one pays me any attention. The food’s amazing and can’t be beat with the prices. I… uh… usually come once or twice a week.”

  “Does Vanessa attend CRU?” Abby’s eyes follow Vanessa around the restaurant as she asks.

  “Yeah. She’s a senior, I think. She’s been working here since I found the place, freshman year. I needed a break from the dorms and ventured out one morning after practice. It’s a hidden gem, as far as I’m concerned. This place keeps pretty steady with customers but over the years, we’ve made small talk, but I can’t say I’ve seen her much outside these walls, aside from randomly bumping into her on campus now and again.” I’m not sure why I add that last bit into my explanation. I guess I don’t want Abby to think there’s anything going on with Vanessa. She’s pretty, don’t get me wrong, but neither of us have shown an interest beyond casual friendship. Very casual at that.

  “Oh,” Abby states quietly as she focuses intently on the menu before her. I wish she’d look up, so I could read her hidden expression. I’m not sure why, but for some reason, I don’t want her to get the wrong impression about me.

  When she sets her menu down, I attempt to break her silence. “Decide what you want?”

  “Yep.” Abby grins with delight. “The bacon and Tillamook cheese omelet has my name written all over it.”

  “I’m going with the grilled chicken, mushroom, and asparagus egg-white omelet.”

  Abby’s mouth drops wide. “That’s a mouth full.” Then her eyes narrow. “Wait, are you a health nut?”

  What the hell does that mean? “I… uh… eat healthy. But I’m not a nut by any means. You saw me drink soda last night.” I can’t help but roll my eyes and shake my head at her assumption, before adding, “Obviously, I eat a variety of foods.”

  “I guess I’m just feeling a bit self-conscious,” Abby shyly admits. “You’ve already risen before the crack of dawn, worked out, showered, and are choosing the egg-white option for breakfast. Whereas, I’ve barely hauled my butt out of bed. Sure, I showered last night, but I’ve done nothing but drive to the restaurant to eat. I’m such a slacker in comparison.”

  The way she scrunches up her nose at the end has me shaking my head in laughter. “You’re not a slacker. Trust me. If it wasn’t basketball season, I probably would’ve done the same thing and waited to work out this afternoon. But I don’t exactly get to choose my schedule most days, so I’m stuck with what I’ve got. Those are the breaks for being a Division-One athlete and trying to graduate on time. It’s all about time management.” When Abby cocks an eyebrow and opens her mouth to say something, I cut her off, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining about my circumstances. I’m just sayin’ that in the off season, my schedule’s a bit different.”

  Before Abby can respond, Vanessa comes to take our order. By the time she’s gone, Abby changes the subject. “I work tonight at the library until eight. Will you be able to work on our project after that? I can come to your place or reserve a private study room for us to avoid distractions. Doesn’t matter either way.”

  Since she’s already on campus that late, I offer, “Let’s meet on campus. Text me. If you can’t get a study room, I’ll just meet you at your place. Since I hijacked your plans last night, no need to put you out any further.”

  Abby’s face fills with humor. “You definitely made my birthday memorable, but I wouldn’t say it was hijacked.”

  “Well…” I take in a deep breath and try to make light of things. “I was an ass in assuming your plans weren’t important. I’ll try not to do that again. But next time, just be straight with me, okay?”

  “I think I can handle that,” she says with a hint of sarcasm, which makes me smile. “Do you have practice again later?”

  I typically get asked a lot of questions, but the way Abby seems genuinely interested in my schedule is endearing. Instead of being guarded, I easily explain how we usually condition on our own in the morning, then have full practices in the early afternoons and evenings.

  “When do you find time to study?” she asks in disbelief when I tell her we play multiple games a week during the season. She had no idea how crazy my schedule is when it comes to travelling.

  “I study a lot on the bus,” I admit. “I’m shit for being a regular study partner with set times and dates, but I promise… I’ll pull my weight in this class. I can’t afford anything less than an A, so you shouldn’t worry. We can even video conference if need be,” I offer as a solution to any potential problems we may encounter.

  “Okay…” I hear the doubt loud and clear.

  “Abby.” I wait until I have her full attention. “I have to ace this class, or I can’t get into med school. It isn’t an option for me. So… trust me when I say, I’ll make the time.”

  A strange expression morphs onto her face. A cross somewhere between shock and admiration. I’m not sure which wins out as she simply stares at me in disbelief. Her jaw drops as if this tidbit of news apparently has rendered her speechless.

  Ten seconds pass. Twenty. When things move past the point of her silence turning awkward, I end the torture with, “Abby? Everything okay?”

  “But… you’re… here on an athletic scholarship.”

  Great. She thinks I’m just a dumb jock. Perfect. “Uh… last I checked, doctors can play sports, too,” flies out of my mouth acidly.

  She pulls back and blinks as if my words have slapped her across the face. “No… that’s not what I meant,” she responds, and her eyes fill with regret. Fuck. I probably should listen to her explanation before jumping to anymore conclusions. No sense in making a complete ass out of myself.

  Abby takes in a deep breath and continues, “I’m trying to process how you’re doing it all?” It comes out as both a statement and question. I can’t help the smirk that comes out.

  “Trust me. It hasn’t been easy.”

  Before I can say anything, she continues, “I’m busting my ass to get into med school, and I’m not playing basketball… at a Division-One school for that matter… How the heck are you keeping your scholarship and acing your classes? Do you have a magical Time-Turner I have yet to discover?”

  I feel my lips quirk, and I know without a doubt, Abby didn’t have any malice in her words from before. “Uh… No, as far as I know, only Hermione’s been able to have one of those. I just keep my nose to the ground and do it the old-fashioned way… lots of hard work and studying.”

  “That would be pretty awesome though, wouldn’t it?” Abby looks to the sky in awe. “Not having to worry about time management as strictly as I’m sure you do.”

  “No kidding. J.K. Rowling’s mind sure is diabolical. The things she comes up with are beyond brilliant. I devoured the
Harry Potter series once I was old enough to read them on my own.” I chuckle at the memory. “It was the first fiction series I’d ever been interested in reading. My mom wouldn’t let me watch any of the movies until I’d read the books. It was a huge motivator.”

  “Mine were the same way,” Abby commiserates. “But as soon as I started book one, I was glad I didn’t have to wait for the next. Can you believe when they were originally released, people had to wait a year for the next one? I can’t imagine that kind of dedication and agony. I read the entire series in weeks.”

  “Me, too,” I admit.

  Vanessa stops to check if we need anything else. When both of us claim we’re full, she lays the check on the table. Abby’s reflexes are as quick as a snake. I can’t even process it’s hit the table before she whisks it away in her hand. “My treat. You bought dinner last night. It’s the least I can do.”

  “Abby.” I attempt to sound firm. “No one should pay on their birthday. Besides, I asked you.” I reach out for the check, but Abby isn’t having it.

  “Too bad.” She juts out her chin in a ‘don’t mess with me’ way.

  Realizing she won’t concede, I shake my head and give in. “Okay. You can pay… but I’ll leave the tip. Deal?” I suggest as a compromise.

  “Deal.” Abby’s face lights up like she’s just won the world championship, and all I can do is smile in return. She sure is competitive.

  As I walk into the locker room to change into my practice gear, I’m greeted by DeShawn Miller. His sly smile tells me he’s up to something. Since his locker’s next to mine, I set into changing, knowing he’ll say what’s on his mind soon enough.

  Just as I’m tying my shoes, DeShawn doesn’t disappoint. “So… Are the rumors true? Did Mr. ‘I Don’t Date During the Season’ shake his tail on the dance floor last night and stay out past curfew?”

  Instead of dignifying his assumption, I just stare blankly in his direction. No sense in getting caught up in gossip, even if it’s true.