Single, Available, and Completely Attached by Michelle Brewer Page B

they score.   And do their little dance.”   She did a silly little jig, feeling breathless and airy now.   Drew chuckled once more, this time a little breathless himself.
    “Oh, Annabelle.   You might be the most adorable thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
    “Yeah, yeah…you’re just trying to get out of answering my question because you don’t know the answer.”   She nudged him with her shoulder, still grinning.
    The crowd erupted a moment later, a collective sound of anger and outrage as a call was made on the field that pretty much dashed any hope the Bengals had of coming back.   And though the mood of the crowd slowly faded out around them, Anna wasn’t affected.
    And neither was Drew.
    The mood carried them all the way to the car and most of the ride home.   Drew volunteered to drive, and Anna had spent half of the drive singing along with the worst songs she could find on the radio as loudly and terribly as she could while Drew chuckled along beside her.  
    Eventually, though, she rested her head against the window and the heat of the car enveloped her, lulling her into a sleep she struggled against.   By the time he pulled up into her driveway, she had opened her eyes.   “All partied out?”   he questioned.
    “I had fun.”
    “And I actually believe you this time.”   He told her, resting his head against his seat.   Anna unbuckled and settled a little more comfortably into the corner of the vehicle.  
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “The last few times you were supposed to be having fun, it didn’t really seem to work out for you.”   She knew he was talking about those nights at the club.
    “I was almost having fun.”   She admitted.
    “Almost doesn’t quite cut it.”   Drew didn’t take his eyes off her, and so she didn’t look away either.   Strange, she couldn’t help but think, that she didn’t feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable beneath his gaze.   “Can I ask you a question?”   he asked.
    “If you have to ask permission, I probably won’t like it.”   She sighed, giving in.   “Go on.”
    “Why were you so mad at me, after I brought you home?”   The moment the words left his mouth, Anna felt her cheeks burning and she found she was very grateful for the darkness surrounding them.
    “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t mad.”
    “No, I mean—after that.”   She sighed loudly.   She wasn’t sure what she had expected him to ask—but this definitely wasn’t it.  
    “Honestly?”   Drew nodded, and Anna sighed again, more softly this time.   “I was…embarrassed.   And, I don’t know—hurt.”
    “Why were you hurt?”   He raised his head from the headrest and she knew that he was really paying attention.   Unable to look him in the eye any longer, she shifted her gaze downward as she plucked at a string in the upholstery.  
    “It’s stupid.”
    “I’m sure it’s not.”
    “Because—because, I don’t know.   You rejected me.   I was so far gone, I was even below your standards.”   She felt tears welling in her eyes and she fought against them—but the moment she blinked, she felt them slip away.   She tried to laugh them off as she wiped them away, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.   “Stupid, like I said.”
    “It’s not stupid.”   He reached over and brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers.   “You have no idea how hard it was for me to walk away from you that night, Annabelle.   But if I would have stayed, I wouldn’t have been any better than those douche bags I was trying to keep you from.”
    “Excuses, excuses…”   She told him, trying to lighten the mood with sarcasm as she waved her hand in the air.  
    “No excuses.   If anything, you’re way out of my league, Anna Maloy .”
    “Well, that much is obvious, ”   she agreed with a coy grin.   Drew rolled his eyes and nodded his head, as if to tell her he’d walked right into that one.   “Can I ask you a question?”