Free Single, Available, and Completely Attached by Michelle Brewer Page A

to start.  
    Roughly, anyway.
     
    ~*~
     
    Wednesday evening, Anna found herself sitting in the bleachers, a basketball game taking place on the floor in front of her.   She was alternating between looking at the floor and doing research on her phone.   Even though it was only a pick-up game, Anna liked the kids to know that she was still around.   Before taking over as the Director of Affairs, she had spent most of her time with the kids—and sometimes, she found she really missed it.  
    Even though she loved her job, she couldn’t deny how much easier things had been when she’d simply been a volunteer.   No responsibility, no pressure…but she knew that what she was doing now was making a difference.
    She barely even noticed when someone took a seat beside her.   Aside from herself , there were just a few clusters of girls scattered around the bleachers—most likely watching their latest crushes.  
    “I thought you said this was just for kids.   That guy looks like he’s at least twenty.”
    Anna’s head shot up, her eyes wide, as she stared at the familiar dark-haired individual.   “Here, I brought you a peace offering.”   He held out a paper cup.   “It’s some sort of fancy Jasmine something or another tea.   I thought I remembered you liking that kind of thing.”
    “Thank you, ”   she nearly stammered, her shock getting the best of her as she accepted his offering.
    And then she caught herself, pushing the warm cup back toward him.   She noticed he already held one.   “Wait—what the hell, Drew?”
    “Too late, you already accepted.   You at least have to hear me out, now.”
    “Right, because we’re five years old.”   She pushed the warm beverage back toward him, but he refused to take it.   Instead, he lifted his own cup to his lips and took a drink, barely even offering her a glance.   “I’m not above throwing this at you.”
    “Who’s joining the five year old club, now?”   She clenched her jaw, realizing how ridiculous she was being.   “Just give me a few minutes, Anna.   I promise , I won’t be a jerk.”
    She could handle him being a jerk—that she was used to.  
    What she was having a hard time with was feeling like a complete and total idiot.  
    “There’s nothing to say, Drew.   I was drunk.   You did me a number of favors.   End of story.”
    “Then why are you so mad at me?”   She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.  
    “I’m not mad at you.”   Anna finally admitted.   “I just don’t know what you’re doing here.”
    “I’m just watching a little basketball.”   He glanced at her out of the corner of her eye.   “Aren’t you going to drink your tea?”   She looked down at the cup in her hands, thinking long and hard for several moments.
    Though she wasn’t quite sure what Drew’s sudden interest in her personal life was, she knew that, if nothing else, he meant well.  
    He’d shown her that much, anyway.
    So, with a reluctant sigh, she raised the cup to her lips and took a small sip.
    She didn’t miss the quick smile on his own lips before he took another drink of his own beverage.   “So—”
    “So, here’s what I was thinking.”   He interrupted her, still watching what was happening on the floor.   “You seem like you could use a friend.”
    “I— ”   But Drew turned to face her, reaching out and touching his finger to her lips.   She immediately began to bristle around the edges.  
    “You took the offering—you have to listen.”   Anna narrowed her eyes at him, but Drew simply turned his eyes back to the floor.   “I’m not saying you don’t have friends, or that you have bad friends.   I’m just saying that a person can never have too many friends.”
    “And you want to be my friend.”
    “Why not?   We used to be friends.   Sort of.”   He paused, tilting his head to the side and furrowing his brow.   Anna thought back to their brief relationship—she had always