“Oh, it is,” he says, “and I’m about to prove it.”
He disappears toward the kitchen before I can argue, leaving me alone long enough for Marco to swoop in.
My teammate looks good tonight. Not dressed up exactly, but clean and polished, hair styled, wearing a button-down like he’s making an effort. His new wife, Carol, stands beside him looking radiant in a simple dress, smiling like she knows something funny about him and is waiting for it to happen.
“Birthday boy,” Marco says, clapping me on the shoulder. “Look at you. Being social. Like a real human.”
I snort. “Barely.”
Carol laughs. “We were genuinely shocked when the invite came through.”
“You’re mean,” I accuse, softening the words with a wink.
“I’m honest,” Marco corrects. “There’s a difference.”
Carol leans closer conspiratorially. “He spent ten minutes deciding what to wear because he didn’t want to embarrass you.”
Marco’s ears go pink. “Carol.”
I grin, the buzz of alcohol loosening me into playful mode so I go right ahead and bop him on the nose. “That’s adorable.”
He sighs and flicks my hand away like he’s swatting a fly, like this is the worst betrayal. “This is why I don’t tell you anything.”
“You literally tell me everything,” I point out. I’m not even joking. Marco is a sharer, and honestly, I’m grateful as hell to call him my friend.
“That’s because you make it impossible not to,” he mutters.
The music shifts into something heavier, the beat thickening, people moving closer to the open space that’s become an unofficial dance floor. I’m watching Dan and Jody across the room—Dan’s still a player who’s steady and reliable, and someone who treats me like an actual teammate rather than an obstacle. Jody holds his arm as she talks to Drew like she’s known him for years.
It still surprises me to see my world mixing like this. I’ve never had them come together before, too nervous to allow it to happen.
Dan catches my eye and lifts his glass. I lift mine back. Then he points at the banner and laughs.
Traitor.
Marco follows my gaze, taking in the room. “This is wild,” he says quietly, and there’s something almost soft in his voice. “Your friend’s band… they really made it.”
I freeze for a fraction of a second at the wordfriend.
It’s not malicious. It’s the agreed-upon truth. The label we built around this to keep it safe. Still, it lands heavy sometimes.
“Yeah,” I say evenly. “They did.”
Carol’s eyes are sparkling as she watches the crowd. “This place is ridiculous,” she says. “It looks like a celebrity house in a movie.”
“It kind of is,” I admit.
Marco’s brows lift. “How do you know all these people?”
I open my mouth, then close it. He’s not talking about Rafe and the guys—he knows we were college friends. But still, the answer is Rafe.
But I don’t say that.
Instead, I shrug. “LA’s weird.”
Marco laughs. “That’s the most accurate thing you’ve ever said.” He winks at me as he’s dragged away by Carol.
A cheer goes up from the other side of the room, and I turn to see Miles holding court with a man at his side who I’ve still yet to meet. He has his arm around the guy’s back as they stand side by side, laughing at something Drew is saying.
