I texted:Any chance of a couple more seats up there? If not NBD, but my dad wants to ask three of his buddies.
That was a lie; he had two buddies, but I wanted to ask Ellie.
It was more fun to blame it on my dad, though.
Connor:Yeah, no problem. So your dad, your brothers, and three more?
Me:Yes
Connor:Text me all of their names and they’ll be on the list.
I couldn’t believe he was that generous.
My dad and I left for work with our phones to our ears as we collectively freaked out about our sudden Thursday-night plans. He was on the phone with Machado—“Fucking A, right? We’re gonna be up in Cunningham’s suite”—and I was begging Ellie to go with me.
“I know you don’t like football, but you have to come with me tonight,” I said as I got in my car and started it up. “You might end up on TV.”
She was all-in, and she made me blow off lunch to run into Macy’s and speed-shop for something to wear. She found an amazing ensemble for herself in a split second—a red sweaterthat looked amazing with leather shorts and boots—but I struggled a little.
Because everything she thought looked good seemed way too…showy.
I just wanted to wear a hoodie and jeans. It was a football game, for God’s sake.
“Dammit, Duff,” she said after I rejected her suggestion of stilettos with jeans and a halter top. “Did you not read the friend zone article? You have tolooklike someone he wants to date. He has to see you and feel a drive towinyour hand. If you roll up in jeans and a jersey, you symbolize comfort and friendliness and stability. But if you lookhot, like a challenge, he’ll be more intrigued and think you’re interested in him, too.”
I groaned because she was making sense, even though I hated every word she’d said. “That’s dumb, even though you might not be wrong, but I cannot wear heels that high with a shirt that tiny. Surely we can compromise, right? Find something pseudo-hot that doesn’t make me want to hide under a blanket…?”
“Yes, let’s find pseudo-hot,” she said, nodding and grabbing my arm. “By the way, your stupid brothers aren’t going to be there tonight, are they?”
Ellie had always had a love-hate relationship with them, the kind of friendship where they viciously roasted each other but didn’t really mean it.
“Like they’d miss it, come on,” I said.
“If Matty says a word about my outfit I’m throat-punching him.”
She argued with Matty more than the rest of them, mostly because he’d always seemed to relish getting under her skin.Even when we were in grade school he used to do everything in his power to irritate her.
“Just don’t do it on-camera,” I said as she handed me a pair of black leather pants. “Football fans are very sensitive about assault.”
17
Connor
Duffy:We’re still in the suite.
I laughed as I read the text, because of course they were.
The game was long over, we’d spoken with the press, yet the Distefanos were somehow still partying in the suite.
I texted:I can’t believe they haven’t kicked you out.
Duffy:My dad knows the security guys.
That also tracked.
I rubbed the back of my neck and tried to figure out the best move at the moment. I was tired and wanted to go home, but it seemed to me that getting to know Duffy’s inner circle was a golden opportunity.
I texted:On my way.
