I snort. “No. How did he land on the Packers? Didn’t you indoctrinate him into being a Bills fan?”
“He was.” West shakes his head, exasperated. “But then he saw Matt LeFleur, and it was all over.”
“Ah,” I say, chuckling. “So Darcy is the ‘picks a team based on how hot the players are’ type.”
“Or the coach. Not that I blame him. Dudeispretty hot.”
“Who is?” Landon says, stepping up beside me and nearly scaring me half to death.
“Matt LaFleur,” West and I answer in unison.
“Go, Pack, go.”
I turn to him with a grin. “How did I not know you were a Packers fan?”
Landon shrugs, a grin lighting up his face. “Not sure, really. Guess it just never came up.”
West sighs. “Alright, we better get out on the field. Coach’ll have our asses if we’re late.”
Well, he’s right about that.
Chapter 27
Parker
Staring into the mirror in my bathroom, I snap a photo of myself before sending it to Darcy.
Darcy
Whoa. Looks really good. Why the change?
I run my fingers through my hair, watching the light shift off the brand-new streaks in it. Getting rid of the pink damn near took an act of God, but the purple turned out really well. There are two streaks this time, side by side. One pale lilac and the other a deeper plum.
There’s hair color under my nails and even a little on my forehead. I’m a messy person, whether with paint or hair color. No way I was gonna pull this off without getting it all over me.
Taking a deep breath, I respond to Darcy.
Me
They’re the colors I feel the most with Ben and Landon.
Darcy
That’s so sweet, Park. I really love it.
Me
Thank you.
Pocketing my phone, I stare at my reflection. I want to be more open with Darcy; I do. We’ve been friends for so long now that it should be easy, but it’s a work in progress.I’ma work in progress, and I know I’ll get there in time. This is a massive step in the right direction.
I deserve that. I deserve to be my full, authentic self with the people who love me. Not everyone is Lincoln, and I know that now. But more than that, Ibelieveit.
“Cotton Candy?”
I smile to myself as I step out of the bathroom and into the hall. “Hi,” I say, waving at Ben.
He glances up from his phone, then does a double take when he sees me, his jaw dropping open. “Hi, yourself.” Stepping toward me, he cups my face in his hands, then backs me up against the wall.
