ZACH
no, texting my favorite girl. but yeah, now that you mention it—sulking too.
I press my lips together, cheeks hurting from how wide I'm smiling.
ME
you're hopeless.
ZACH
only because I'm not there with you right now. seriously starting to regret leaving, sugarplum.
ME
well, whose fault's that?
ZACH
yours. you got me all lovesick and distracted.
I shake my head, smiling down at my phone like a complete idiot.
God, he's ridiculous.
And the worst part?
I miss him already.
I lean back in my chair, still smiling like a fool, but the thought creeps in before I can stop it—where is he, anyway?
He said he had to go somewhere, but he never said where.
Maybe he's out with the guys. Maybe it's some team thing. Yeah, that makes sense... probably.
I glance up, laughing as Tammie flirts with the bartender, but the sound dies in my throat when the door swings open and a group of tall, broad-shouldered guys walks in—loud, laughing, every one of them looking like they just stepped off a sports magazine cover.
For a second, I think,great, more fish for the girls to cast their nets at.
But then I recognize them.
Elijah. The twins. I think one of them's named Cody—the rest, I couldn't even guess.
They're Zach's teammates.
My heart stutters.
For a split second, I actually think maybe—just maybe—he was serious about that teleporting thing. That any second now, he's going to stroll in behind them, grinning like an idiot, ready to chase off anyone who so much as glances my way.
So I wait.
My eyes flick to the door, half-expecting to see him there—hands in his pockets, smug smile, some teasing line already on his lips.
But the door closes.
And he doesn't come.
The laughter around me blurs into background noise. My stomach twists, that small, stupid hope collapsing in on itself.
