“You have the look,” Ares says.
“Well-spoken, my friend,” Nick says.
Ares doesn’t waste words.
Ever.
I look between my two former teammates.
Ares is poker-faced.
Nick’s unusually sober. He shrugs at me. “We all know where your contract stands. And she’s breaking barriers. That shit matters more. You’re not the kind of asshole who’ll pretend you can make it work when your seasons overlap on both sides.”
They’re not wrong.
I want a shot with Addie. A real shot with the possibility of forever. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
And this time, I’m not telling my friends I’m seeing someone but it’s not serious enough to introduce them, the way she more or less asked me to.
This time, I’m letting myself get their support.
Or listen to their objections.
“She was my secret hookup four years ago,” I say.
All four of them look back at the field.
Nick whistles low and soft.
Ares grunts.
“Are you serious?” Kami whispers.
“Oh, Duncan, no,” Felicity says. “She broke you.”
“I broke myself. And I got through it. With help. I realized that last time, I didn’t listen. That’s on me. This time, I’m listening. I know what I’m getting into.”
Paisley’s the only one who smiles at me. “Good. I like her.”
“Me too.” Feels so damn good to say it out loud. “Enough to see if she’s willing to let me help her work through her shit. And if she doesn’t…then at least I’ll have real closure this time.”
Paisley nudges my shoulder with hers. “Aww, look at you being mature. I’m so proud.”
“I’m worried,” Kami says.
“Same,” Felicity agrees.
“Got your back,” Ares says, rubbing my head again.
I fist bump him too. “Thanks, my dude.”
He nods.
His eyes sayyou’re in for a hell of a ride, but that nod reiterates that he’s on my side.
“Who started this party without us?” Zeus asks as he and Joey enter my row on the other side. “And who’s taking bets on who makes the biggest scene on the kiss cam?” he adds with a look at the familiar couple following him.
“We’re literally the reason all sports arenas and stadiums quit doing the kiss cam,” the Berger twins’ little sister answers while her husband smirks.
