Frida laughed before she gave Em an over-the-top look of innocence. “What?”
So that small exchange between her and Grant had not gone unnoticed. She bit her bottom lip.
“You’ve got it so bad,” Frida said.
She shook her head. “I don’t have anything. I was just looking over at Grant to make sure he was okay after what he did.”
“Mm-hmm.” Miriam gave Frida a sly look. “It’s funny how the more you say youdon’tlike Grant, the less I believe you.”
Frida waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Have you seen the way they try to interact all sneaky on Instagram?”
“No.” Miriam gasped. “What do they do?”
“They—”
“If I was trying to besneakyabout it, I would DM him instead,” Em said. “But there’s nothing to be private about since there’s nothing going on.” Her words had gotten progressively louder, and she glanced over to Grant to make sure he hadn’t heard, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. Therewasn’tanything going on. She was speaking the truth.
The coach was talking to him now. The stern look on his face made Em think that Mason wasn’t the only one giving lectures.
“Don’t worry,” Miriam said. “He didn’t hear you say there was nothing going on between you.”
Frida giggled. “No trouble in paradise today.”
Ugh.If she hadn’t known Frida since they were kids, and if Miriam wasn’t one of her only friends who loved the Storm as much as she did, Em would find new friends.
No, that wasn’t true—not even close.
But that didn’t mean she liked them teasing her about her non-crush on Grant.
“I just got a great idea,” Miriam said, a wide smile on her face.
A pit formed in Em’s stomach as the game went on forgotten. Whatever made Miriam look that gleeful was sure to be something that Em wouldn’t like.
“So, you know how I’m the community outreach manager for the Storm, right?”
Em gave her a look that said “duh.”
“Well, Silas had this great idea earlier this season for some of the players to go visit local schools and read to the kids. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen you all season, or maybe it’s because there are so many elementary schools in the area—it’s hard to remember them all—but I can’t help but notice that they haven’t visitedyourschool.”
The pit in Em’s stomach got heavier. She sat down in one of the seats.
Meanwhile, Frida started clapping her hands in front of her. “Oh, I like where this is going.”
“I was thinking this would be the perfect time for the guys to do another visit. And guess who likes going to community events.”
“Silas?” Em deadpanned.
Miriam laughed. “Yeah, he does. But guess who else.”
Em knew the answer Miriam was looking for, but refused to say his name out loud.
“I think she means Grant,” Frida leaned down and whispered loudly.
Em smacked her leg. “I know who she meant.”
“Good, then there won’t be any surprises when he shows up to your classroom next week.”
Next week? Em tried to ignore the way her heart thumped at the idea of seeing him outside of the arena.
