Chapter 2
Sam snapped his fingers.
"Or!" he exclaimed, "we get him back out there.
Dating again."
"Dating," Boone scoffed.
"Is that what we're calling it now?"
"But doesn't that just bring us back to where we started?
Where he's just sleeping his way through half of Belford again?" Val asked doubtfully.
"More than half, probably," Billy said.
"Considering he bats for both teams."
"Is saying two teams limiting?" Damien mused.
"We know gender is a spectrum..."
"Okay," Sam broke in. "So maybe not dating–" Boone rolled his eyes and Sam ignored him.
"–but at least with someone consistent."
"Like a partner?" Jonas asked.
"Who isn't Elle?" Damien added.
"Yeah," Sam said.
"I felt way better after I was able to be public with Leo.
It's good to know someone is in your corner, you know?
Drago deserves that as well.
Someone who's willing to actually show up to events and stuff with him."
"But who could even attempt to lock down Drago" Billy asked, the wonder evident in his voice.
"The man is the ultimate playboy.
It would have to be someone fucking..." he trailed off, apparently at a loss for words for what a person would have to be like to get Anton Dragunov to come to heel.
"Someone pretty fucking spectacular," he finally finished.
"I didn't know you knew words with that many syllables, Bill," Val said as he gave Billy's shoulder a nudge.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Jett asked.
Jonas grinned.
"What's wrong, Jett?
Don't want your crush hooking up with someone else?"
Jett frowned and gave Jonas the finger, but the effect was undercut by the blush that was quickly enveloping his cheeks.
"It's a great idea," Sam said, the enthusiasm rising in his voice.
"I mean, with Leo–"
The team groaned.
"We know," Boone cut him off.
"Your life became rainbows and butterflies."
"So that's what we'll do," Sam said, speaking over them.
"We'll find Drago a serious partner.
Someone special."
There was another beat of silence.
"What does Drago even like?" Jonas asked.
I'm actually not sure," Sam said.
"There is an easy way to find out," Val said, eyes glinting.
"The same way he gets under everyone else's skin."
"By chirping?"
"By chirping."
March 2020
THE HAWKS-SQUAD
BBQ at my place this weekend, whos in?
I'll be there with Tessa.
Jonas
Jett
I will be there.
Thank you for the invite.
Val
Need us to bring anything?
will be there with Leo
what else is new?
Nah, its covered.
Just your fine selves
Drago
busy
You're always busy man, when are you going to make time for the team
Billy
One day Drago your gonna have to stop banging chicks and actually hang out with us
chicks?
I did not know you were so homophobic
Who taught you that big word?
sorry, too busy banging chicks AND dudes to hang out with us #ally
Aren't you almost 30?
It's time for you to settle down man
Maybe he simply has not found the right person yet?
What would a person have to be like to get Anton Dragunov to settle down?
blonde, big tits
no and yes
No blondes?
What about brunette?
black hair?
Okay, but what about lifestyle?
Interests?
Personality?
Damy u text like a teacher or smthing
Bill we need to teach you about the qwerty keyboard
whos qwerty
Whoever they are, they'll have to be someone who doesn't mind Drago's constant chirping, that's for sure.
someone who likes you being a dick all the time?
Someone who can out-dick you
yes. that one.
And what else would this person need to get Drago to settle down?
must be most beautiful person you have ever seen
very funny but does not know they are funny
and suck dick like their life depends on it
the man wants it all
At Boone's place, most of the team had gathered on the deck.
The patio heaters were helping fight the chill that still lingered in the air, but Sam found his hands always got cold no matter how many layers he wore.
Boone was standing in front of his giant grill, clicking his tongs in between placing marinated chicken breasts over the low flames.
The smell was already making Sam's stomach growl, so he pulled out his phone to distract himself.
"So we have an idea of what Drago wants," Sam announced, scrolling through the messages again.
"What's the next step?"
"I didn't think he'd be so specific," Val mused.
His breath fogged slightly in the cold air.
"I thought he'd say hot and breathing and leave it at that."
"Do we know anybody who fits all this?" Sam asked.
"Someone who's beautiful and funny and could put up with Drago's bullshit?"
They all pondered for a moment.
Boone clicked his tongs several more times as he thought.
"Mira has a friend that runs a yoga studio," he finally said.
"Zara.
She might fit the bill." He fished his phone out of his pocket and navigated to PixGrid.
"Check her out."
Jett took the phone and gave it a quick glance.
"She is pretty, yes," he said, passing it along.
Val gave a low whistle as he peered over Jett's shoulder.
"Ignore him, he's just being jealous again.
She's a total smokeshow, damn!"
Sam waited impatiently until the phone made it to him.
When he finally had it in his cold fingers, he had to agree with Val.
The woman on the screen was stunning.
"Drago is always going on about yoga," he mused.
"Yeah, but only to chirp on Madden," Val pointed out.
"Whatcha looking at?"
Sam startled so badly he nearly dropped the phone.
Leo had somehow materialized at his shoulder without him noticing.
"We're trying to find Drago a partner to settle down with," Billy said.