My phone dings with a text, but I don’t look. My stomach tightens.Could he?
Before I can spiral, the door opens and June walks in with two women who look so much like her they could be triplets. All three have the same unmistakable warmth in their features, different, yet connected.
June’s smile falters when she catches Emily’s expression. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” I say, standing. “Emily, how about you go announce the change to the press and we’ll… go with the flow, all right? I’m sure it’s nothing bad.”
She exhales dramatically and leaves the room, muttering under her breath.
“Emily being Emily,” I say, turning back to June with a shrug. “Slight change of plans for the press conference—it’ll happen after the game instead of before.”
Then I turn to the two new arrivals. “You must be April and May.”
“Oh! Yes,” June says, catching herself. “Where are my manners? Catalina, this is April.” She gestures to the shorter ofthe pair—beautiful, with long brunette waves and bright-brown eyes.
“Hi!” April beams, pulling me into a hug.
“Hi,” I laugh, hugging her back.
“It’s so nice to meet you! We’ve heard a lot about you,” she says.
“All good things, I hope.”
June smiles. “And this is May.” She nods toward the taller woman—another stunner, with sleek black hair, bright-green eyes, and a calm confidence.
“Hi,” May mutters. She doesn’t initiate a hug, so I do because something about her feels familiar.
“Nice to meet you, May. Thank you both so much for coming to help today.”
“Oh, it’s no problem,” April says, looking around, eyes wide with excitement. “This issocool.”
Before I can respond, someone knocks and the door swings open. Thiago steps in, grin wide enough to light the hallway.
“Catalina—” He freezes when he notices the room. “Damn. I didn’t know it was ‘bring your hot friends to work’ day.’”
I roll my eyes, trying not to laugh.
“I found these two beauties at the gate,” he adds, then Bri and Marianna make their way in behind him.
I rush forward to greet them, “Hey, girls!” I wrap them both in a hug.
Thiago’s still standing there, eyebrows raised, grinning like a fool.
“Thank you, Thiago,” I state. “You can go now.”
“Catalina—” he starts, but I step closer.
“May I remind you,” I say, hands on my hips, “that the Strikers are playing againstthe best footballer in the worldtoday?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” he groans. “Rogue’s been telling Coach to put me in, and I’m freaking out.”
I smile. “You’ll be fine. Just guard that post with your life, okay?”
He grins. “Whose jersey are you wearing today?”
“I don’t know yet,” I tease. “Haven’t decided.”
I close the door behind him, shaking my head. When I turn back, the girls are already chatting—introductions, laughter, the easy kind of energy that always fills a room when people instantly click.
