“Oh, yes.” Now that she mentions it, she does look familiar. “It’s lovely to officially meet you.”
“And you. Zane asked me to help you get settled. I work for the team so I can’t stay, but Lucy Johnson mentioned she was coming, and said to let you know she’d be here by the time the game begins. Do you know her?”
“I do. I’ve just accepted a job at Heartwood University.”
“What? No way! That’s amazing. Lucy’s great. I met her a while ago through Dylan, but I’ve really gotten to know her since Wes started late last season. She tries to come to most games. Not that you have any reason to be coming to most games.” She pretends to zip her lips and I laugh.
“Zane filled you in then?”
“A little. He said it was better if you kept things quiet for the time being.”
“That’s right.”
“I can promise you, the ladies here are all wonderful and understand the need to be discreet. As do I.”
“Thank you. I can’t wait.” My voice comes out shaky, and when Keeley laughs, my cheeks heat.
“And… I promise, you’re going to have fun. If you loved Lucy, you’ll love the rest of them. They’re the most genuine humans I’ve met. As are the guys.”
My shoulders drop and I relax, her genuine smile filling me with warmth. She could be lying, setting me up for heartbreak, but she has no reason to do that, and it’s not the first time I’ve heard that about them. Zane said the same. Though admittedly, he also said he barely knows them.
“Well, there’s no time like the present. I’m ready.”
Keeley’s eyes light up. “There’s the spirit. You’ve got this.”
“Thanks. I hope so.”
She leads the way to a glass door, and I study the women on the other side of the panels, taking them in before theyundoubtedly do the same. They’re all sunshine and rainbows, laughing and smiling at each other, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve met girls like that before and they were not what they seem.
Keeley opens the slider, and as though they planned it, the four ladies in front of us fall silent until one of them gasps.
And it’s freakingHayley Jackman, Hollywood’s IT girl of the moment. How the hell did I forget that she’d be here?
“Blair?” She rushes forward. “Oh my God. It isyou.” Hayley pulls me into a hug and I internally wince for not mentally preparing myself for this moment. I knew she was dating Reed, both from the hospital and from Jenna reminding me, yet here I am, my chest tight with awe and my belly full of nerves.
Jenna and I watched her movie—after I got over Jenna’s disloyalty of talking about me behind my back—and Hayley was incredible. “Reed mentioned that you were his nurse.” She pulls back to look at me again. “I forgot about it until just now. I kept thinking of you as Jenna’s friend.” As she laughs, she brushes her long, blonde hair away from her face and bounces on her toes, her genuine excitement impossible to miss.
“Jenna is going to kill me for not inviting her today. She thinks the world of you.”
“The feeling is mutual. She matches my energy, and there weren’t many others that did on set.”
“I heard. I’m glad you had each other.”
“And I’m glad we figured out our connection to you and Zane.” She bites back a smile but I get what she’s saying. She had a hand in me being here today. In a roundabout way.
“So am I.”
A throat clears behind Hayley and she laughs. “Okay, okay. Sorry.” She reaches for my hand and drags me closer. “Let me introduce you to the girls.” She spins to face the others, but before she can speak, Keeley taps my shoulder.
“You’re in good hands, but if you need me, I can stay.” The kindness in her eyes has me instantly smiling.
“No, I’m okay. You have work to do.”
“Okay. I’ll be back at halftime to check in.”
“Thank you.” She waves to the group then disappears, and when I turn back around, I have four gorgeous faces staring my way, happiness lighting their features.
“This is Amelia, Paige, and Lainey,” Hayley says, pointing to the three women I haven’t met. “And over on the other side of the room are Jessica, Kylie, and Bree. They’re lovely.” She forces a smile, leaning in close. “But they have their own little clique, so we don’t talk to them that often.”
