“Only the pants of the most charming ones,” Avery replies, throwing him a flirtatious grin.
Henry laughs, shaking his head.
She takes a sip from her drink. “So, Henry, tell me—what’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you on the field?”
Henry’s cheeks flush slightly, and he glances between the guys and Avery, a shy smile breaking through. “Well, there was that time I completely missed the ball during practice and ended up face-planting in front of everyone.”
Avery bursts into laughter, and I feel a rush of warmth at how easily she pulls everyone in. The tension that had surrounded Matthew earlier seems to lift, and the conversation flows easily. I settle into a chair between Matthew and Ford, feeling a little lighter myself. This is what I wanted—a night that feels normal, where we can all justbe.
“Okay, okay, your turn,” Avery says, nudging Ford playfully. “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve seen someone on the team do?”
Ford chuckles, glancing over at me. “I don’t know if I can top the face-plant, but last year, I once saw Dylan trip over her own feet during a drill and take out two of our best players.”
I gasp in mock offense, pointing at him. “That wasone time! And I still managed to score on the next play.”
“Yeah, but the fall was epic,” Ford laughs.
“Is this how you all bond? By roasting each other?” Patrick murmurs.
“Only the new girl,” I shoot back.
Avery leans in closer to Henry, their shoulders brushing. “I don’t know about you all, but I love a good roast.”
As I take a sip of my drink, I notice the way Henry steals glances at Avery, his smile genuine and easy. It’s clear he’s enjoying her company, and I feel a twinge of excitement for what’s brewing between them.
But as the fire crackles and the night stretches on, I push my curiosity aside for now. I want to enjoy this moment, to bathe in the feeling of acceptance.
Matthew catches my eye, and I smile. “Thanks for being here, Matthew,” I say, my voice sincere. “I know you didn’t want to come, but I’m glad you did.”
He gives me a soft smile, one that melts away any remaining tension in his shoulders. “I’m glad too. It’s good to see you having fun.”
We both look toward Avery and Henry, who are in the middle of a light-hearted debate about their favorite plays. Henry’s animated, his hands moving as he talks, and Avery laughs easily, her red hair catching the firelight.
“I can’t help but think there’s something going on there,” Ford says, dipping down to kiss my forehead.
“Who, Avery and Henry?” I glance their way, excited someone else has noticed this too. “You think?”
“Oh, absolutely. Did you see the way they were looking at each other?”
“If that’s true, I’d be surprised. Henry’s usually pretty shy,” Jacob adds as he takes the chair on my other side.
“Shy? Not with her.” I chuckle, taking another sip of my drink. “I can practically feel the chemistry.”
Matthew chuckles softly, looking thoughtful. “Maybe you’re onto something.”
As I’m about to respond, I notice more players starting to trickle in through the backyard. Ford springs into action, a grin spreading across his face as he takes it upon himself to be the unofficial welcome committee.
“Hey, everyone! Come grab a drink!” he calls out, gesturing for them to join us around the fire.
While it’s not the whole team, it’s a good twenty of the forty-five players, and it’s a start. The atmosphere shifts, filled with excitement as laughter and chatter fill the air.
“Dylan! Come on, join us!” Ford beckons, his enthusiasm infectious. I step forward, the warmth of the fire wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.
“Yeah, what’s the point of this party if you’re just going to stand there?” Matthew nudges me playfully, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
I roll my eyes, but I can’t suppress a grin. “Alright, alright! I’m coming.”
“Okay, okay! Let’s play a game!” Ford announces, clapping his hands together to gather attention. “How about a round of ‘Never Have I Ever’?”
