There’s nothing they can do to keep us apart.
“I missed you, Nathan,” she says, rolling over on the bed and taking my hand. Her frizzy hair makes me chuckle.
“I missed you too, Mae.”
She pauses, lips pursing. “Would now be a bad time to tell you my brother knows about us?” A small laugh falls from her.
I shrug, joining her. “Would now be a bad time to tell you I already know that because he threatened to give me a black eye?”
32: Mae
“Ican break her nose if you’d like?” Flo says as we wander down the restricted stadium corridor. Once she takes in my lour, she purses her lips. “How about I just give her a nosebleed then? Not enough to break it, but just cause some damage, you know?”
My best friend looks at me hopefully, and although the thought of her pouncing on Sophia like a lion and wrestling her to the ground makes satisfaction blossom deep in my chest, I know it isn’t worth it.
The last thing I want to spend my evening doing is bailing Flo out of jail for assault.
“Although I’m tempted, I’m going to have to reject your offer. Maybe next time.” I shoot her a wink.
“Fine,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “I guess a bitchy glare will have to do. But I’ll be wasting my MMA potential.”
I laugh. I haven’t spoken to Sophia about discovering she’d been the one to gather the photographs of Nathan and me. He’s been desperate to confront her, but I don’t want her threatening to spill our secret before he has a chance to get his ducks in a row.
God, that saying is haunting me.
If this is going to come out, it’s going to come from us. Nathan and I aren’t a dirty secret.
He’s accepted the fact that he’ll have to kiss the Missarali Storks goodbye for breaking the terms of his contract, and although I’ve checked more than a few times, he keeps insisting this is what he wants and needs.
“I got you tickets to this game to support me, not to beat up my team members.” My smile betrays me.
“No, you got me tickets to this game because even though you think giving Sophia a taste of her own medicine is unethical, your subconscious would love to watch me rip those hair extensions from her head.”
“Well, the joke’s on you. Her hair is natural.”
“Lucky bitch,” Flo growls. “Do you know why she did it anyway? Did she really go to all that trouble just for a bit of cash?”
I shrug. I’ve racked my brain trying to come up with reasonable explanations for why Sophia did what she did. She doesn’t need the money. She’s just married rich and works a job on the side of cheering, too. Money just doesn’t seem like a good enough motive to me. “I honestly don’t know. She was always so nice to me. I’m still having a hard time believing she’d do something like that.”
My best friend sighs. “I guess some people really do love to keep their enemies closer.” Her eyes widen as if she’s just remembered something. “Your friend, Poppy’s been messaging me, by the way. Sweet girl.”
I freeze at Flo’s admittance. “What? Really?”
“You told her I work for Starbound Talent Agency, and she clearly did her research because she was aware that the company also own Elevate Publications. They have a few tabloids they’re in control of, and since I’m due a promotion, I’ll use Poppy’s suggestion and propose we run a few positive stories ontheNathan Slater finding his happy ever after. We can make it cute and restore people’s faith in true love again. The readers will eat it up… as long as you provide us with exclusive photos and statements, of course. Once one tabloid does it, others will follow. I believe Poppy called it ‘softening the blow’.”
I shake my head in disbelief, a smile stretching my lips. “You’d do that? Seriously? Flo, I don’t want my drama getting in the way of your work.”
“They don’t know I know you, Mae, and shut up. You’re my best friend.” She pulls me to her side. “This is the least I can do. Remember when I threw up in front of Bobby Macknell, the hottest senior in the entire school, and you took the fall and said it was you so that I had a chance with him? That’s the kind of shit I’m talking about. You scratch my back; I scratch yours.”
The fuzzy memory fills my mind, the smell of Flo’s mac and cheese vomit forever etched into my brain. I shiver.
“Well, the game’s about to start.” Flo arches an eyebrow at me. “Shouldn't you be with your man, giving him an unforgettable blowie right about now?” I slap my hand over her mouth, but she manages to mutter out, “For good luck,” before I can shut her up.
“Is this a conversation I should interrupt, or should I grab some popcorn?” The gravelly voice rockets right through me—sharp and intense. I turn to see Nathan leaning against the wall behind us, dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a tight white T-shirt that shows his pectoral muscles a little too nicely.
Flo shoves me off and takes a few steps forward. “So you’re the man who’s dropping everything and moving to Florida for my best friend.” Her eyes dart up and down his form—like she’s sussing him out. “You’re shorter than I imagined.” A mischievous smile breaks out on her face.
The mention of Florida fuels the restless flame of anxiety within me again. I accepted the practice’s offer the other night, but I’m not finding myself thrilled about leaving. It doesn’t feel the same as when I first left Montana for Colorado. I couldn’t wait to move. I counted down the days, optimistic, but thinking about leaving now…
