Video analysis with the team wraps it up.
“You coming?” Rhys’s voice cuts through my thoughts after the session.
I look up.
He’s standing there with Misha, Connor, Marcus and Declan, all five of them already dressed in street clothes.
“Where?” I ask.
“Beer,” Connor says. “Pre-birthday.”
“No,” I answer immediately.
Declan grins. “That was too fast. You didn’t even pretend to consider it.”
“I’m not doing a birthday thing,” I say.
“It’s not a birthday thing,” Rhys says, far too cheerful. “It’s a beer thing. In honor of the fact that you were born and the world has suffered ever since.”
I glare.
He beams back.
Marcus claps me on the shoulder. “Come on. One beer. Maybe two. We’ll be civilized.”
Connor snorts. “We will not.”
I exhale.
“One beer,” I say. “Then I’m out.”
Misha’s grin turns feral. “He said yes!”
Connor cheers like we just won a playoff game.
Declan points at me. “We need photographic evidence. He’s never going to admit this happened.”
“Shut up,” I mutter, but I’m already standing.
We head out as a group. The guys are loud, shoving each other, talking about nothing and everything. Their energy echoes through the parking garage.
Once we’re in the car, I pull out my phone and text Talia.
Me:
Running late. I’m out with the boys.
I hit send.
A second later, three dots appear.
Then her reply pops up.
Talia:
Okay. Don’t let them get you into trouble.
I lock my phone and stare out the window, jaw clenched, pretending the city lights are fascinating.
