Drew: Book One of the Perfectly Independent Series

by Amanda Shelley

  “Thanks, we’re glad to be here.” Dad smiles then shakes his head. “It could’ve been a hell of a lot worse.”

  “No kidding.” Coach nods in agreement. “I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery. It was sure nice of Drew’s friend to take charge and get him home safely. If she hadn’t done it, I would’ve driven him over myself. There’s no way I’d let him travel all this way alone.”

  “Abby sure is something,” Kathy agrees. “She’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

  “Well…” Coach looks around at the three of us, “I have yet to meet her in person, but when I do, I’ll pass along my gratitude.”

  Mom looks pointedly at me, as a smile forms on her face. “I hope Drew plans to bring her around soon.”

  “Mom…” I start to protest. This isn’t the time nor the place to talk about my personal life. I look around the crowd, realizing no one heard. “I’m sure Abby has more important things to do than hang around with us.”

  Mom shakes her head, and her eyes roll. “Drew, I love you, honey. But you’re clueless when it comes to girls.”

  This causes laughter to erupt from everyone, including Coach. Great. Now he thinks I’m an idiot off the court.

  Not liking to be the butt end of a joke, I scowl at my mom. But she just pats me on the arm and dismisses it. “You may think you’re ‘just friends…’” Yes. She friggin’ uses air quotes in front of my coach and the whole world to see. “But trust me, I doubt you’ll just stay that way for long. I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s the same look your dad gave me when we met.”

  “Now I can’t wait to meet Abby.” Coach grins widely at me, then notices something off in the distance. “Look, I have an interview. I’ll catch up with you later.” He looks to my parents. “I’m really glad you’re on the mend.”

  “Us, too.” Dad smiles, and I get the false sense of being let off the hook from my family.

  I should’ve known better.

  Dad turns to me and claps me on the shoulder. “Your mom’s right, Drew. Life is precious, so choose who you spend it with wisely.” Then he chuckles. “Hell… I was ass over end in love with your mom before I even knew what hit me.” He looks lovingly to her, then continues. “Your mom was a little quicker on the uptake, so I’d take her advice.”

  Wow. Just wow.

  What the hell do I say after that?

  “Drew, honey…” She waits until she has my attention. “You’re gonna catch flies with your mouth hanging open like that. Give us some love and get back with your team. Call to let us know you’re home safe.” She steps up and wraps her arm tight around me for another hug. Then she whispers in my ear, “I love you so much. You do what’s right for you. Don’t forget to tell Abby hello for us.”

  I nod in agreement then say goodbye to the rest of my family.

  Our conversation runs on a loop through my mind my entire ride home. Sure, I manage to get some work done. But one thing is certain—I need to see Abby.

  As soon as I get back to my apartment, I take a quick shower to wash the day of travel off. I rush through getting dressed in a button down and a pair of jeans. Then I pull out my phone, hoping she’s around.

  Me: Just got back, are you busy?

  I wait anxiously for a reply. I know I’m being presumptuous, I really want to see her tonight. Though I was never prepared for her text.

  Abby: Hey, sexy, I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m out at Jack’s getting my groove on.

  Sexy?

  Is Abby drunk?

  This is so unlike her, but a part of me hopes this isn’t a joke. I quickly rush out another text.

  Me: Have you been drinking?

  Abby: Maybe? You’ll have to come join me if you wanna know for sure.

  Yeah. This might not be Abby on the other end. But there’s no fucking way I’m passing up the opportunity to see her. I just hope she’s not so drunk she regrets this text in the morning.

  Within seconds, I grab the keys and slip on my shoes. DeShawn stops me at the door. “Dude, what’s the rush?”

  I smile and shrug. “Gotta meet up with Abby!”

  DeShawn groans. “You’re studying on Saturday night?”

  I’m sure my grin is wolfish as I quickly reply, “Not if I can help it.”

  Without waiting for a reply, I bolt out the door and head to my SUV. Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but I sure as hell hope I’m not. Abby clearly invited me, and drunk or not, I’m going to be there for her.

  It doesn’t take long to drive across town to Jack’s. I snag one of the last spots in the lot and rush to get inside. The place is packed, and it takes me a few minutes to find Abby. She’s with Chloe and Sydney out on the dance floor. Her body moves freely to the beat of the music. Her long hair flows down her back as her arms flow above her head as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. With her back to me, I take a few moments and watch.

  Damn. She’s beautiful.

  When I notice a guy dancing with Sydney, instinctively my body closes the distance between us. I may enjoy the view, but there’s no way I’m going to sit back and watch another man ask Abby to dance.

  Now standing behind her, I reach out to grab her hip, as I bend down to whisper, “Mind if I dance with you?” To let her know it’s me.

  I feel her body tremble then melt into mine. Her back presses against me. Of course, this also brings my dick straight to attention. I adjust Abby so she won’t feel the effect she has on me, and I let my body flow with hers to the music. I get lost in the rhythm as I feel Abby’s voluptuous curves move with me. Damn. She’s sexy as hell as she dips and sways.

  When a slow song starts, I spin her around to face me. Sure, I’m able to tell what she’s feeling by the way her body moves, but I’m dying to see her facial expression to see if they match what I’m conjuring in my mind.

  When she turns around, her eyes roam over my body. When her beautiful brown eyes meet mine, they widen in appreciation as the sexiest smile forms. “Hi,” she says, breathless, and my heart stutters.

  “Hi yourself, Angel,” I say deep and huskier than I anticipate. I take her hand in mine, leading her around the dance floor effortlessly.

  Having an excuse to hold her, I pull her body close to mine. My blood races, and my heart soars, as I see my feelings mirrored in her face. I could get drunk on her expression alone without having to touch a drop of alcohol. Abby’s something special, and I hope before the night is through, I’ll be able to tell her just exactly what I’m thinking.

  When the song comes to an end, Abby asks, “Mind if we get another drink? I’m dying of thirst.”

  “Sure.” I take her hand in mine as I lead her off the dance floor. We spot Chloe taking a break at a table and decide to join her.

  “What can I get you ladies to drink?” I offer to the two of them once Abby settles at the table.

  Abby’s wide eyes as she looks to Chloe remind me she’s inexperienced with ordering at the bar. Just when I’m about to suggest something, Chloe shouts out above the music, “Anything with Kahlua.” They both break out into giggles.

  Have I missed some inside joke?

  “Okay,” I draw out. “I’ll be right back.” They each reach into their pockets and offer some cash, but I shake my head, and turn to head to the bar, contemplating what exactly to get them. Shit. There’s a ton of drinks with that in it. What would they like? Hopefully, the bartender can help because as someone who sticks to soda or beer, I’m clearly out of my element.

  I must wait in line before the bartender asks for my order. “What would you recommend with Kahlua?”

  “Do you want shots or mixed drinks?”

  I look to the table where the girls are before giving my answer. Shots go down fast and if they’re thirsty, they might want something that will last. “Let’s stick with mixed drinks.”

  “Mudslide?” the bartender suggests.

  Hell. I have no idea what’s in it, but I’ve heard girls love them. “Sure. Sounds g
reat. Give me two and a glass of water, while you’re at it.”

  “Coming right up.” The guy behind the bar turns and gets to work on my order. While I wait, my eyes naturally wander to Abby. Her discussion with Chloe appears quite serious, and I’d love to know what they’re talking about. When Abby glances nervously to me, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess I have something to do with it.

  After paying for the drinks, I make my way back to the table to join the girls. When they go quiet as I approach, I can’t help but feel self-conscious.

  “The bartender suggested mudslides, is that okay?” I offer to break the uncomfortable silence.

  “This is great. Thank you.” Abby reaches out to take her drink from my hand, while Chloe does the same.

  “Thank you so much, Drew. Are you sure we can’t repay you?” Abby pulls her lip into her teeth as she fiddles with her straw.

  “Nope. This one’s on me,” I offer, then address the elephant in the room. “So, did I interrupt something?” I look from Abby to Chloe to see which one will break first.

  They each look anywhere but at me. Eventually, Abby breaks the silence. “I’m just trying to get my phone back from Chloe. I’m not sure what she texted you, but I’m sorry if you feel you’re here under false pretenses.”

  Well, that explains the texts.

  Wait… does that mean Abby doesn’t want me here? I look to her and remember our interactions—and I quickly have my answer.

  No. I don’t think so. The way her body responded to mine on the dance floor alone tells me she is happy I arrived.

  I turn to Chloe and go with the truth. “Thanks for the invite, Chloe. I’m having a great time.”

  Then I reach for Abby’s hand that lays on the table and give it a squeeze to let her know in no uncertain terms, I mean every word I just said. “It’s nice to see Abby let her hair down and enjoy herself. I’m glad I crashed your party.”

  “You didn’t crash anything,” Chloe assures me, then turns to Abby with a knowing grin. “I’m glad I could help.”

  Chloe takes a long sip of her drink, then reaches into her shirt. Somehow, she had an entire phone stuffed in there. She quickly hands it to Abby.

  “Remember, I was doing you a favor. You can thank me later.” After that, she takes another long pull on her drink, nearly finishing it. She hops out of her chair and points to the dance floor. “If you need me, I’ll be out there. I need to see a man about a dance.”

  Both Abby and I watch Chloe strut onto the dance floor and dance with a guy who’s eager to welcome her into his arms. I’m not sure if they know one another, but then again—you don’t need words to enjoy the music.

  When Abby starts to unlock her phone, I reach out and place a hand over it, and she looks at me expectantly. I shake my head and once again, go for the truth. “It doesn’t matter what she said. I’m here. Let’s just enjoy our time together. Can we do that—just for tonight?”

  19

  Abby

  When Drew reaches for my hand, I could care less what Chloe said to get him here. The point is this sexy man is sitting across the table from me and more importantly, wants to spend time with me—Abby Angelos. And I’m certain it has nothing to do with being friends at this moment.

  “Yeah, I think I can do that.” I grin as shivers run up my spine from the pulsing currents between us.

  For the next few minutes, we sit in silence and watch the crowd as he sips his water, and I enjoy my mudslide. This drink is stronger than the others I’ve had tonight, and I’m not sure if I’m reacting to the fact that Drew’s holding my hand, or the effects of the alcohol. But either way—I hope this feeling doesn’t end.

  When I’m close to finishing my drink, Drew suggests returning to the dance floor. Any excuse to feel his muscular body against mine is an emphatic—YES—in my book. There must be a God, because when we get to the center of the dance floor next to Chloe and Sydney, the song changes to a slow one, and he pulls me into him.

  As I wrap my arms around his neck, I can’t help but inhale slowly. His sensual masculine scent seriously makes my mouth water. I feel like I’m drifting on a cloud, as I lay my head against what feels like a perfectly sculpted chest. One hand drifts to his chest, as if it has a mind of its own. It instinctually outlines the defined muscles hidden under his dark-blue button down. Damn. This man has muscles on top of muscles hidden under here. I can only imagine what he looks like without any clothes on.

  Fuck. The thought alone has my temperature rising. If we weren’t in public, I might be bold enough to make an actual move. Right here in this moment, I don’t care that we’re supposed to be just friends. I don’t care that neither of us know where we’ll be living in a year from now. Right now, the only thing that matters is being here in his arms.

  I’m not sure how long we dance. It could be minutes or hours. Being wrapped in Drew’s arms feels like heaven. When the song changes from slow to fast, he keeps me close and moves to the beat of the music with me. The man knows just how to spin, dip, and sway to the music, so that I’m unable to think about anything but enjoying him.

  It’s the most freeing feeling to turn off your mind and just react. All I focus on is the pulsing of the beats and the flow of the currents between us as he guides me around the floor.

  I’m brought to reality when Sydney interrupts my blissful cocoon. “Hey, Chloe and I are about to take off. I have an Uber on the way. Do you want a ride?” She looks between Drew and me, then back at him. “Or can you get her home safely?”

  I look to Drew before I respond, and the smile that forms on his perfect lips makes my heart skip a beat. I’m not ready to leave yet, but I don’t want to put him out.

  As if Drew can read my mind, he jumps in before I have a chance to respond. “I’ve been drinking water all night. I’ll get her home, Syd.” Then he turns to me. “Are you okay with that?”

  I grin widely and wrap my arms around his neck once again. “I’m more than okay with that.” I glance to Sydney. “Text me to let me know you’ve made it home. I’ll see you later.”

  “Okay, Mom,” she teases. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And with that, she leans in and whispers, “I want details tomorrow,” causing me to laugh.

  She leaves just as another slow song comes on. Drew steps closer and wraps his arms around me. I know, without a doubt, there’s no place I’d rather be.

  Eventually, all good things must come to an end. When the DJ calls for the last song, Drew and I take it as our cue to leave. We’re still in our blissful bubble as we walk hand in hand to his car. He opens the door for me like a gentleman and gets me settled. I can’t help but check out his fine ass when he walks around the car. Damn, the man can fill out a pair of jeans. At one point, he glances into the car and catches me. His only response is a perfect smirk, which makes my heart rate spike.

  Being the gracious guy Drew is, when he enters the car, he simply reaches for my hand and starts the engine. As I relax into his cool leather seats, I stare out the window, recalling my favorite moments of the evening. I still haven’t pulled out my phone to see what it is that Chloe said to get him here, but when I look at the gorgeous man beside me, I must ask myself, do I really care?

  When we get to my apartment, Drew parks and walks me up to the door. Instead of being the confident man he’s been all night, I notice a bit of nerves setting in as he rocks back and forth on his heels and fiddles with the keys in his hands.

  His voice comes out rough and low when he finally speaks. “I had a great time tonight. Are you still up for bowling tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, I am,” I say barely above a whisper as my eyes lock with his. My heart skips a beat, and I feel the need to moisten my suddenly dry lips.

  His perfect lips quirk, and a hint of his delicious dimple shows. “That’s great.” Almost as if he doesn’t know what to do with his hands, he suddenly shoves them both into his pockets.

  We stare at each other for a countless moment, and I wonde
r if he’s finally going to kiss me.

  One hand is released from the confines of his pocket as he reaches out to place a strand of wayward hair behind my ear. His touch alone makes my skin burn with desire.

  “Well… I guess I’ll see you then,” he barely whispers.

  He steps in and pulls me into an embrace.

  Okay, here it is.

  Butterflies soar in my stomach, my breathing quickens, and my heart races as Drew tilts his head to the side and studies me intently.

  Damn, his blue eyes smolder, and I lean closer instinctually.

  Instead of kissing me, he pulls me in for a hug.

  My heart sputters, and the contents of my stomach morph into concrete, as our perfect moment is destroyed.

  Don’t get me wrong, being in Drew’s arms is wonderful. But my entire body anticipated the kiss of a lifetime, and disappointment fills me faster than I could have imagined.

  “I had an amazing time tonight,” Drew says while he still holds me tight. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  With that, he releases me and steps back.

  Words don’t form, as I stare at him in disbelief.

  This is how he’s going to end our perfect night?

  “Good night, Abby.”

  And he turns and walks down the steps, putting some distance between us.

  Somehow, I manage to get my brain firing on all cylinders again. “Night. Drew.” And before I can do or say anything stupid, I dig my key out of my pocket and walk into my apartment and close the door.

  Without a word to my roommates, I walk straight to my bedroom and close the door. I flop myself down on my bed—face first—and scream into the pillow.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  20

  Drew

  I must be the stupidest dumb fuck on the planet. Abby and I were having the perfect night. And I fucking blew it by ending it—with a hug—for Christ’s sake. I wanted to kiss her until the sun came up. Hell, after having her sexy as hell body rub against me all night, I wanted to fuck her right there for the world so see.