Need You Tonight by Marquita Valentine Page B

blurt and then wince. “TMI?”
    “Give me a minute, because one, I have conflicting feelings of jealousy and anger. Jealous because you got a taste of that boy, and anger that he shot you down.”
    “He gave me the it’s not you, it’s me line.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “I wish. Then he said I deserved better than him because he took advantage of me.” Our conversation replays in my mind, dredging up every bit of the disbelief and shame I’d felt.
    “B, you got it all wrong.”
    “Huh?”
    “Yeah, when a man says that to you, it’s completely because he’s trying not to fall.” She smiles at me, and I’m taken aback at how smug it is. “Did he apologize to you?”
    “Yes, but not until after we fought some more.”
    “Foreplay. Got it.”
    My boss and new friend is insane. It’s the only explanation.
    “I don’t mean for the two of you to sex each other up right this second,” she says with a huff. “When’s the last time you talked to him?”
    “It’s been a while. Although, he texted me last night to let me know that he’d completed all the jobs on my list.”
    “But I didn’t text him back,” I add quickly, not wanting her to think I’m weak. I want Rowan to see me as strong and independent like her.
    “Told you.” She leans forward. “He finished everything on your list, instead of hiring someone else, and then texted you to let you know it’s done, because you wouldn’t have known otherwise? Puh-lease .”
    “I guess what you’re saying makes sense, but why would he want to give his job to someone else?”
    “He and his brother, Cole, used to own The Double Deuce. When they sold it a few months back, they made a killing. It was all in the papers. He doesn’t actually need the job, B.”
    “So you’re saying,” I begin slowly, “that I should give him another chance?”
    Rowan sits up, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m saying that you should make him sweat a few more days, and then give him another chance by putting him in the friend zone.”
    *
    Parker
    I GIVE B ROOKLYN a week to cool off, but all that time away from her, only serves to remind me of how much I enjoy being with her. Okay, so maybe I gave her a week, because she never answered my text I’d sent her last Tuesday. Then again, I hadn’t required a response.
    “I’m losing my mind,” I mutter, sitting on the back porch and eating breakfast. It’s Saturday and the only thing I have planned is a soccer game with West and some guys from our old team in high school.
    Maybe I should try again. Invite her to do something with other people, not just me. If only to let her know that I’m a man of my word. I promised to help her.
    Picking up my phone, I pull up her number.
    Me: Soccer game today at 4. Would you like to come?
    I nearly drop my phone when she answers.
    Brooklyn: Sounds fun. Where?
    Shit. Do I pick her up or meet her there? Stop overthinking, dumbass.
    Me: At Forrestville Parks and Rec. I’ll come get you at 3:30
    Brooklyn: Thanks, but I’ll meet you there. See you then.
    Well, she hadn’t refused the invitation, even if she refused my offer of a ride. Smiling, I finish eating the rest of my breakfast.
    *
    I ’M ALREADY WARMING up by the time Brooklyn arrives. She scans the co-ed group on the pitch, her gaze landing on me. I jog over to her. She’s wearing a purple t-shirt with a GO PLAY logo on the front with a pair of light blue athletic shorts that highlight her long, tan legs. She’s pulled her hair back into a ponytail, giving me and everyone here an unobstructed view of her beautiful face.
    “Glad you came.”
    “Thanks for asking me.”
    Before I can say more, West joins us. “We’re short a keeper.”
    “Make Chris play the position.”
    “Dude, I like winning.”
    “I’ll play.”
    Both of us turn to look at Brooklyn. “You play soccer?”
    She takes the ball from West and does a combination of moves that leaves me speechless. “The correct term is football.”
    “Hell,