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Her face relaxes, and she pops out her bottom lip. “That’s so romantic. Oh my God. I’m too single for this shit.” She laughs lightly and then sighs. I wonder if she might be interested in one of the single Stallions. “What was it about him?”

“That smile. He’s really mastered the balance between being hot and still having a little of that boyish charm.”

“Is that your favorite thing about him?”

“Yeah, but he’s also always so happy and…” I glance up at the ceiling, searching for the right words. “He’s overcome a lot, and he doesn’t let anything stand in his way.”

“Clearly,” Diana replies with a laugh. “I’m sure I’m going to be quoted saying this, but the Stallions’ roster... They’re all ridiculously hot!”

I shrug because I guess Dane is pretty hot in a conventional way, and Coop’s a charmer. But they would never be Josh.

“I wouldn’t know. I’m a very happy girl.”

“I couldn’t tell!” Diana replies, cocking her eyebrow at me. “What’s dating Josh like?”

“Well, he takes up the whole bed for starters. I mean, a king, Cal King, it doesn’t matter. He monopolizes it. Um, anyway, he’s an amazing guy. What can I say? The sweetest personality. He always has a joke. He’s from Texas, so he definitely has that if something needs to be said, I’ll say it side to him. He likes Starbucks just as much as I do.” Diana laughs.

“Sorry, I just can’t imagine him holding a Starbucks.”

“It’s true! He’s a sucker for an iced latte.” I join Diana’s laughter, and she fans herself with her cards.

“They made the drinks extra strong today,” she adds. “Uh, so it’s been a year since the tunnel kiss. What was it like going viral yet again recently?”

“Felt like background noise both times, honestly. I was more blown away that someone caught the tunnel moment and shared it. Sometimes if Josh is in meetings or on a trip, I’ll watch the video, and it just gives me the warm and fuzzies. I’ll never forget how they were coming off an away loss, but he still came off the field and pulled me in,” I explain.

“That’s really sweet. Um, why were you in the tunnel? I’ve been dying to ask you the logistics. I know it’s a burning question for a lot of people.”

I pinch my straw again and stir the ice clumps in the margarita absentmindedly. “No big reason, really. I wanted to see him. I used my last name as leverage to get down there, and it really surprised him. He gravitated right to me—didn’t even question why I was there.”

Diana’s face softens again, but her cheeks are flushed from the drinks. “Are there wedding bells in your future?”

The alcohol warms my chest and torso, and while he’s joked about making me a Mackenzie, we’ve never discussed it super seriously.

“We’ll see,” I answer.

“Alright, keeping it cryptic, I see. Well, you guys are the cutest. I can’t even be mad you snagged such a hunk when it’s clear how crazy you are for each other. I mean, my favorite clips from the Stallions’ page are when it’s you and Josh. I’m guessing the team knew you two would be a great marketing angle.”

“Yes, but running their socials has brought more life to their page. I try to film things like practices, little games I set up, riddles, and things like that. Just to show the guys’ personalities and, you know, have fun with social media,” I say.

“Coop might be the funniest. I like how number seventy-one—”

“Dane?”

“Yes! Fredrickson on O-line. He always knows the answers to your brainteasers.”

“Yeah, I don’t know how he does it. I’ve yet to stump him, but that’s Dane for you. He knows everything. I mean, he knew something was going on between Josh and me before anyone else.”

Whoops.

“Tea!” Diana squeals.

Josh

“Think we’ll win?” I ask Pete in the locker room over the chatter.

“We got this, Kenz,” Pete replies.

My eyes dart around the locker room to see if anyone is paying attention, but the guys are all getting locked in. “Um, I wanted to tell you something.”