“The season opener’s next Sunday,” he said. “Home game. Big deal. New uniforms, national broadcast, the whole thing.”
She could hear the smile in his voice.
“Abigail’s got those suite tickets,” he added. “The ones she won at the fundraiser? I was thinking… if y’all are free, maybe the four of you could come down for the game?”
Ali’s heart did that soft fluttery thing it always did when he included her people. “You want us in the suite?”
“I want you with me,” he said. “Where I can find your face in the crowd and feel a little less like the world’s watching.”
She melted into the cushions, warm all over.
“Ya’ll can come Friday,” he added. “Make a weekend of it.”
Ali hesitated.
“I know you hate driving,” he said gently. “That’s why I’m offering this too—stay with me. All of you. I’ve got room. Plenty of it.”
She blinked. “Wait, you want me… and Abigail and Raleigh Ann and Ashley? In your house?”
“I can handle four women and an army of hair products. I’m a grown man,” he teased. “Besides, Naomi says it builds character.”
Ali laughed. “You’re seriously okay with us crashing your space?”
“I’m seriously counting down the days until you’re in it.”
Her cheeks flushed as she tucked her legs under her. “You sure?”
“Completely. I want you here, Ali. In my world. At my games. In my house.”
She exhaled slowly, smiling at nothing.
“Okay,” she whispered. “We’re in. Cross your fingers that Ash isn’t already going to Atlanta. But I’m in either way.”
Ali ended the call and tossed her phone onto the couch, grinning like she was twelve and someone just told her the Jonas Brothers were coming to prom.
“ASHLEY!” she hollered. “Get in here, emergency!”
Ashley appeared in the doorway, mascara wand in hand. “What? What happened? Is Dylan okay? Areyouokay?”
Instead of answering, Ali was already pulling up her phone and starting a group FaceTime. Abigail answered first, immediately suspicious.
“You’re flushed,” she said. “What did he do? Are we mad or excited?”
“Excited,” Ali said, bouncing slightly. “Just wait—Raleigh Ann’s joining—”
“Already here,” Raleigh Ann chimed in, settling into her desk chair. “Why do y’all always FaceTime during work hours? I’m not even mad, I just want to understand.”
Ali waved her off. “8am is not work hours Raleigh Ann. At least for the non-teaching world. Okay. So Dylan just called. He wants us to come to theseason openernext weekend. Like, all four of us. The suite tickets from the fundraiser.”
Ashley squealed and dropped onto the couch beside her. “YES. Do I wear my cute Tritons tee or save that for the tailgate?!”
“It’s Sunday,” Ali added quickly. “Kickoff is at one.”
“Long weekend vibes,” Abigail said approvingly. “I’m packing my comfiest hangover outfit.”
Ali paused, biting her lip. “Also... he invited us to stay with him. Like, at his house. Friday through Sunday.”
Raleigh Ann’s eyebrows flew up. “The whole crew? Mac invitedustohishouse?”
