After I’ve hugged the whole crowd, my mom asks, “Are you hungry?”
I spot JJ hanging back, waiting for me, and shake my head. “Nah, I’ll be okay. I’m going to catch a ride home with JJ, if that’s okay.”
He’s the only teenager I’m allowed to ride with. Naturally, my overprotective father doesn’t trust anyone else. Not that it’s an issue. He and Sutton are really my only friends.
My dad cranes his neck, and when he spots JJ, he smiles and waves him over. “Great game tonight.”
JJ officially towers over my father. He’s also bulked up a lot in the last six months—a detail I try not to think about. I also try not to notice how gorgeous his blue eyes are or how every time I see him, I find myself staring at his lips and wondering what they would feel like against my own.
“Can’t say I had much to do with the result, but it was a great game, Mr. Langfield.”
My dad glares at him. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Beckett?”
JJ laughs. He’s known Dad long enough to understand his bluster. “Maybe a few more.”
“All right, take care of our baby girl,” my mother says. “Come on, babe. I’m starving.”
My father kisses my cheek, then winks. “Proud of you, Little One. Don’t be too late.”
The whole group disperses, and pretty soon, I’m left standing in the hall with JJ.
“I like what you did with your hair,” he says, eyeing it.
I shove a hand against his chest. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not.” Laughing, he drapes an arm around my shoulder and guides me toward the main hallway.
As we wander closer to the exit and approach a few of the guys, he drops his arm and high fives them.
They joke around, saying stupid shit. But none of it registers. I’m too busy focusing on the girl standing a few feet away, staring at JJ, to make anything out.
Her strawberry blond hair is done in waves, and her tight top exposes a bit too much cleavage considering how fucking cold it is in the arena. Her black leather skirt might be the shortest I’ve ever seen. She either didn’t actually come into the game or she froze.
My guess is she only just got here.
I’ve seen her after a few of the games. And I’ve seen JJ talking to her. But I don’t know her name.
“Hey, JJ,” she says, sauntering closer.
Grinning, he swivels in her direction. “Hi, Tabitha. You see Addie’s amazing save?”
The girl, Tabitha, frowns like she has no idea what that means, but she recovers quickly, smiling. “No, but I did see you do an amazing job. Best goalie ever.”
JJ glances my way, covering a laugh with a cough. “Right.”
“Any chance you want to grab something to eat to celebrate your big win?” she asks, stepping closer.
I hold my breath, waiting for him to blow me off. When he doesn’t immediately, probably struggling after he promised my dad he’d keep me safe, I force a smile and take a step back. “You should go. I can catch a ride with one of the guys.”
His spine snaps straight and his brow creases. “What? Who?”
I shrug, hoping the move looks unbothered. “Um, Peters. He offered last time.”
“Did he, now?” he mutters, assessing our winger, his jaw flexing.
“Yeah, so you two should go,” I chirp with another step back. “Have fun.”
“Great,” Tabitha says, eyes bright, as she reaches for JJ’s hand.
