Page 59 of The Player

“I just want him to know you’re taken,” Drew said.

“Am I?”

“Isn’t that what we talked about last night?”

“We said we wanted more. But are you saying you want us to be exclusive?”

Drew frowned. Wanting more meant her and nobody else. He’d figured that was obvious, but shit, he’d never actually said it. “Yeah. That’s exactly what I want.”

Nicole didn’t look convinced. “You’ve got women throwing themselves at you all the time.”

“Like you don’t have guys throwing themselves at you? Have you seen yourself? Guys are lining up for you, and you know it.”

“It’s not even close to the attention you get. And not to sound presumptuous, but I doubt you hated it.”

“I’m not gonna lie. I liked knowing I could have somebody when I wanted and walk away when I was done.” His thumb moved along her waist. “But with you, I keep wanting to stay, Nicole. I’ve never wanted that with anybody.”

“So you’re really sure you want this? Because those women aren’t going anywhere.”

“I know. But I haven’t been sitting around wishing I could be with somebody else. I’ve been wanting more time with you. I like waking up with you. Having breakfast with you. All this shit I never stuck around long enough to do before.” He kept his eyes on hers. “I want to keep doing it, and you’re the only one I’m doing it with.”

“When was the last time you were with somebody else?” Nicole asked. “I haven’t been with anyone since Cedric, and that was six months ago.”

Drew opened his mouth, then stopped. Shit. He actually had to think about it.

Phallon had come over before the Homecoming party, but he’d ended things with her. Trisha hadn’t interested him that night, either. And the girl who’d shown up at his bedroom door while he was on the phone with Nicole hadn’t even made it inside. Plenty of others had made it clear he only had to say the word.

He hadn’t made some big decision to stop sleeping around. He’d just lost interest in everybody else, and he hadn’t noticed how long that had been going on until now.

“Not since we met,” he said.

Nicole stared at him. She still didn’t look like she believed him, and he almost laughed. Hell, he was a little surprised himself. “I only want you.”

Nicole leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, damn pleased with the smile she was trying to hide against his chest.

“You’re the only one I want too,” she said.

He kissed her hair. Then Nicole eased back to look at him. “But we do need to talk about what happens when you leave. You know, for the draft.”

Drew let out a breath. He’d have liked a little longer to enjoy knowing she wanted to be his girl. “You’re right. We can’t just leave that hanging.”

“I don’t want to pretend that isn’t coming.”

“Neither do I. I can’t tell you where I’m going to be. I could end up anywhere. I know being with a guy going into that life is the last thing you wanted.”

“I didn’t expect you,” she said.

“Wasn’t exactly planning on you, either.”

That got a small smile out of her, but it didn’t last. “I want to be with you, Drew. I just don’t want us promising each other something we can’t actually do.”

“So we take the time we’ve got,” he said.

Nicole met his eyes. “And when you leave?”

He took a second before he answered. “Then we let it end.”

Nicole looked down between them. “It’s the right thing to do.”