“The fuck!” I burst out, and my glare snaps to my two friends who are no longer my friends.
Jed takes the book out of the book sleeve cover Maddy had it in. No wonder he was hiding it! There it is. Glaring proof. Jed holds it up and shakes it.
Paulie and East gasp, Paulie’s hand shooting to his heart.
“Shelby!” He shakes his head like he doesn’t even recognize her.
“Maddy?” East asks, his voice small. “Howcouldyou?”
Maddy’s eyes slide shut, and he winces. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I didn’t think you’d find out.”
“I can’t believe this.” I stare in disgust at the book cover. “Hockeyromance.” The words are like acid on my tongue. “What is thisBromantic Puckboynonsense?”
“It’s the most popular sports romance,” Shelby whispers.
We all jerk like we’ve been struck.
“So, what…we’re like second best?” I ask.
Shelby and Maddy avert their gazes.
“Football,” they mumble.
“Third?” Paulie asks.
Shelby delicately clears her throat. “That would probably be soccer or rugby.”
“Rugby?”Jed and I exclaim together. What the literal fuck?
“What’s wrong with baseball?” Easton looks like a kicked puppy, and I feel that in my soul.
“Yeah,” I wave at the book. “Why notBromantic Ballplayer?”
“Uh… Um…” Maddy shares a glance with Shelby. “Baseball is…fine.”
“Fine?” Paulie’s voice goes high-pitched.
“It’s just not as sexy,” Shelby says with a grimace.
Ouch. Ouch, ouch,ouch.
“We’re not sexy?” I ask, staring beseechingly around the room.
“Urm.” Shelby bites her lip. “I mean. You are all very sexy. But the game…it can be kind of slow and boring?—”
“Ohmygod!”I cry and clutch my heart. My dead heart that my friends just stomped all over.
Paulie blinks slowly, sinking to the floor as he mouths “boring” over and over.
“Just compared to other sports,” Maddy rushes in. “You guys know I love baseball. Iama ballplayer. But come on. Hockey, football, and rugby are all high-impact sports. Faster paced.”
“There are some baseball romances out there,” Shelby adds quickly. “Actually, in that universe,” she points to the book. “There’s a baseball player. Well, he got injured in college, so he doesn’t make it. But he becomes this amazing sports agent!”
A nostalgic grin spreads on Maddy’s face. “Ah, I love that one. Classic fake dating. Though I’m partial because one of the characters in that one is named Maddox.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “I can’t believe you two are cheating on us with hockey!” I look to the rest of the group—myrealfriends. “All in favor of banishing them, sayAye.”
A chorus of “Aye” echoes through the room.
