“You don’t understand,” I say, shaking my head, “I don’t care how it looks. I don’t care if I get fined. I don’t care if I get benched for a play. She’s worth more than any punishment I could be given.”
Jake barks out a laugh. “Coach is going to love that.”
“I mean it,” I say. “If it makes her feel even a little bit more okay being there…I’ll do it.”
The room goes quiet because now they get it. This isn’t a joke to me. I’d literally do anything for Sutton because I love her that much.
“You want her to feel safe,” Sebastian says.
“Yes.”
“You want her to feel chosen,” Kyler adds.
“Yes.”
Bennett is next. “You want her to know you’re not going anywhere.”
I nod once. “Yeah.”
Jake sits up, cracking his knuckles. “Alright,” he says. “I’m in.”
“Of course you are,” Bennett mutters.
“No, listen,” he continues. “If Shep’s going all in, every single one of us is going all in.”
Boone grins. “I love when he says that. It always ends in chaos.” He points at me. “You’re going to have to dance.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Jake jumps in. “It has to be public.”
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. I don’t dance. I can’t dance.”
“You said whatever it takes, bro,” Killian reminds me.
I narrow my eyes. “I did not mean?—”
“You don’t get to backtrack now,” Jake says, way too pleased.
“She’s going to be in the stands, Shep,” Sebastian adds. “She’ll be watching you the whole time. It’s perfect timing.”
“For what?” I ask.
“For you to be undeniable!” Jake exclaims.
“But how will I do that?”
Silence falls over the table and then Killian starts in with this crazy maniacal laugh. “A serenade.”
I stare at him. “A…What?”
Jake sits up, his eyes flashing with amusement. “Oh, I like that. Like a flashmob!”
“No,” I say immediately.
