“Dude, you don’t have a girl because you’re a walking, talking STI.” Gio exploded with laughter but it became muted when Griffin punched him in the arm.
“I had chlamydia once. One fucking time. She told me she was—”
“Rule number one, Griff,” I said. “Always wrap it.”
“Yeah,” he dragged a hand through his hair, “And what’s rule number two?”
“Get a steady girl and then you won’t have to worry about wrapping it.”
Gio and I shared a knowing smile. He wasn’t in a serious relationship like me and Felicity, but he had steady pussy.
“Nah, I need to sow my wild oats before I settle down.” Griffin grabbed some free weights and started pumping.
“You just haven’t met the right girl,” I said. I didn’t make a habit of sharing my personal life, but Gio and Griffin were my closest friends on the team. Both juniors, they’d taken me under their wing last year. It wasn’t the same as having Cameron and Asher—guys who had known me most of my life—in my corner, but I trusted them. And sometimes, when I needed to, I confided in them.
“You guys want to get a drink at The Gridiron later?” I asked them.
“Fee giving you a free pass?” Gio smirked and I flipped him off.
“She’s working a shift at the shelter. She’ll meet us after. I’m going to invite Asher and Mya too.”
He’d been nagging me to get together, but it had been a crazy couple of weeks.
“I’ll ask Jordan if she wants to come.”
“Pussy whipped.” Griffin coughed under his breath.
“We’re friends.”
“Friends with benefits,” I corrected.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Count me out,” Griffin said. “But enjoy couples’ night.” He squeezed Gio’s shoulders before heading for the chest press.
“I hope his dick falls off.”
I chuckled. “He just hasn’t met—”
“The right girl, yeah.” Gio looked conflicted but I didn’t ask. If he wanted to talk about Jordan, he’d bring it up. “How are you feeling about being captain?” He changed the subject.
“It’s an honor.” It was. I’d come to Penn wanting to go all the way, and this was just another step in the right direction.
“But...” he prompted.
“Linc left some big shoes to fill.”
“Nah, you’ve got this. If it wasn’t going to be this year, it would have happened when he graduated. This spot was yours the minute you stepped foot into the locker room.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”
“No need to thank me, Jase. You’re one of the best; the kind of leader this team needs to go all the way. I have faith in you, man, even if you don’t.”
“I guess we’d better get to work then.” I smirked, brushing off his compliment no matter how much it meant to me.
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “We’d better.”
Felicity