“Amelia will be there too,” he adds casually, like it’s an afterthought. “If that’s cool.”
The world tilts.
Excitement pulses through me. Sharp, dangerous, electric. The kind that makes your blood heat and your instincts scream yes, even when your brain knows better.
“Yeah,” I say too quickly, then rein it in. “Yeah, that’s cool.”
Kamden smiles, satisfied. “Good. She’s been working her ass off. Thought it’d be nice.”
“Yeah,” I repeat, heart pounding now for entirely different reasons.
Nice isn’t the word.
This is a terrible idea.
A reckless one.
A thrilling one.
As Kamden heads off toward the locker room, clapping another guy on the shoulder, I stare out at the field and let out a slow breath.
Dinner with my best friend.
And the woman I’m falling for.
In the same room.
Excitement buzzes under my skin, dark and intoxicating.
I’m towelingoff after practice when my phone buzzes.
Amelia:I think I’m going to pull out of dinner tonight.
My stomach drops.
I stare at the screen for a beat, then type back.
Me:No.
Three dots appear almost instantly.
Amelia:Wilder, it’ll be too hard.
I grin despite myself,adrenaline kicking in.
Me:Something is already hard.
Her reply comeswith a laughing emoji.
Amelia:Be serious.
I lean backagainst the locker, the noise of the room fading out.
Me:I am serious. I’m capable of acting like we’re just friends. I’m good at keeping the mask in place. We’ll be fine.
There’s a pause this time.Longer.
Amelia:We haven’t even discussed what this is. I don’t want my brother finding out before we even know.
