Her eyes soften.
Later Mason leans over.
"You're doing alright," he says quietly.
"I know," I reply.
Across the table Natalie is laughing at something Mia said.
For a second I just watch her.
And realize something dangerous.
She fits here.
The team is loud.
Ridiculous.
Completely loyal.
And somehow she fits right in the middle of it.
Dex suddenly claps his hands once. "Alright, hold on. Nobody move."
A few of the guys groan.
"Oh no," Mason mutters. "This is going to be stupid."
"It’s not stupid," Dex says indignantly. "It's tradition."
"Since when do we have traditions?" Gregory asks.
Dex gestures dramatically toward the cake in the center of the table. "Since five minutes ago."
Bryce slides the cake closer and someone produces a knife from the side table.
"Cake ceremony," Colby announces like it's a formal event.
Natalie looks at me. "Is that a real thing?"
"Apparently it is now," I say.
"Bride and groom," Dex says, pointing at us. "Get over here."
The room starts clapping and pounding the table again.
Natalie laughs and stands. "This feels suspicious."
"Everything about this team is suspicious," I tell her.
We step toward the cake while the guys keep cheering like we're about to win the Cup instead of cut dessert.
Dex lifts his phone. "Hold on. Evidence."
"Put the phone down," Mason says.
"Never," Dex replies.
