Charlie jumped up and down. “Go, Liam!”
“If you score,” Griffin whooped. “I’ll forgive you for everything!”
“Trip that defender!” Cash shouted.
“Y’all are getting smoked by a farm boy!” Bowen hooted.
“RUN, YOU BEAUTIFUL GAZELLE!” Theo screamed.
Oh good. Pike was gone—hopefullyback on the field where he’d get sacked and knocked unconscious. Possibly forever.
I slipped onto my stool just in time to scream ‘TOUCHDOWN!’ with the rest of them.
And those were the last happy moments I would spend with my Duprees.
The last happy moments I would spend with Griffin.
Chapter Thirty-Three
GRIFFIN
Liam jogged toward us, helmet in hand, hair plastered to his forehead, grinning.
I whooped and sprinted ahead, colliding with him. “Dude.” I gave him a rib-cracking hug. “That was the sickest touchdown of all time. You juked that defender better than Blue ever did.”
He clapped me on the back. “I’ll make sure not to tell him you said that.”
Everyone descended on Liam then. Cash, Theo, Bowen, Charlie, Sophie. Even Maggie. Jules held back, though, fingers pressed to her lips, smiling nervously. I pulled back from the hug. Everyone else let go after that.
“Good to see you, Juliette,” Liam said, but it was stiff.
“You too,” Juliette said, just as stiff.
It would take them some time.
I put Liam in a headlock. “So proud of you, man.”
Maggie shook her head. “Boys are so weird.”
“Facts,” Charlie said. “Weren’t you two about to tussle on Granny and Gramps’s lawn last time you were together?”
“That’s the best thing about being a guy,” Theo said. “Wedon’t process. We baptize. One touchdown and the whole relationship is washed clean.” He made a sprinkling motion. “Begun anew.”
“Begun anew?” Charlie turned to Cash like,are you hearing this? “What is this, Sunday school?”
Holden, Christy, and Maddie arrived, all grins.
“That’s my boy.” Holden pulled him in.
“So, so good.” Christy beamed, waiting for a turn.
Maddie shrugged. “Meh. It wasn’t terrible.”
“Wasn’t terrible?” Liam yanked her into a bear hug, squeezing until his biceps looked ready to pop—along with her rib cage.
“Can’t. Breathe.” Her feet left the ground, and she kicked.
Liam set Maddie down, his jaw tightening as something past us caught his attention. “Not her.” He swore and his face darkened. “She must’ve crawled out of Satan’s anus.”
