Page 28

Rory gave him the finger.

“Sorry I could only make it for the second half. I was just so excited Tyler asked me to come today,” Zoe said. “He talks about you guys a lot…It feels a little like I’m hanging out with celebs right now.”

Rory lifted an eyebrow in Tyler’s direction. “You talk about us a lot, huh?”

Tyler looked flustered. “Um, only because we all work together, you know?”

“Admit it,” Blake sang. “You’re obsessed with us.”

Melanie squeezed her hands together. “Can’t live without us.”

“Alright, stop,” Tyler said, looking embarrassed. “Fine, I may talk about you occasionally—”

“Constantly,” Zoe interrupted. “I think obsessed is an understatement.”

“Even more obsessed than his constant need to do bicep curls?” Rory asked, shoving Tyler in the stomach. He feigned being hurt as he clutched his side.

“Oh no, that obsession runs deep,” Zoe teased.

Rory chuckled. Zoe really was so nice. And surprisingly funny. It was kind of hard to hate her.

She eyed the two of them, taking note of their body language. No holding hands or arms around shoulders or waists. They kept a friendly distance. She wondered if Tyler did that on purpose, if he felt embarrassed to show affection in front of the rest of them. This would be the first girl Tyler ever brought into the group. Jay was constantly cycling through women and wasn’t afraid to get handsy around the Scoopers whenever the opportunity presented itself. But for Tyler, this was a whole new thing.

“Michaels, let’s go!” Helen yelled from across the field. Even after their last game, it seemed Helen was going to squeeze every ounce of her last few moments as bossy team captain.

Rory gave her a thumbs-up, watching as Helen’s eyes flicked between Tyler and Zoe. She watched as Zoe gave her a shy smile, like extending kindness to someone as bossy as Helen was second nature.

Helen’s gaze finally fell on Rory, her eyes narrowing in a glare.

“Seems I am being summoned,” Rory said, turning back to the group.

Melanie pulled her into a big hug again. “Proud of you.”

Her chest tightened. This was the first time she was seeing Melanie since she’d spent a week in bed. Rory didn’t reach out to her once. She felt like the dirt caked at the bottom of her cleats.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who loves hugs,” she teased, trying to make light of the situation.

Melanie laughed, and Rory looked over at Tyler, who was smiling down at her. Tyler, whose hand was now interlaced with Zoe’s, his thumb stroking back and forth.

She sunk back and thanked her friends again, then sprinted toward her team. Meeting his friends, holding hands…it really shouldn’t be a big deal to her. Not when it was her idea they move on.

* * *

Rory came down the steps wearing white jeans, a navy crop top, and a matching bandana on her head, her mahogany hair silky and running down her back. It was a team tradition to meet for a girls’ night after the last game of the year. Which was a not-so-secret code for massive party.

She hadn’t been sure what would be worse—going home to a very guilty-looking Gabi or to an empty house. Yet when she’d unlocked the door and found the space dark and cold, she’d been somewhat thankful that she could take a little longer in the shower and bathroom getting ready. Most days Gabi rushed in and out of the house between shifts, getting dolled up for her bartending gig, which seemed to require a tighter shirt, a push-up bra, and a lot of eyeliner. Without Gabi hogging the space, she’d been able to take her time.

But now, as she descended the steps and noticed the light was on in the kitchen, she wished she hadn’t taken as long upstairs so she could have avoided whatever conversation was about to unfold.

Her mother stood by the table looking as guilty as predicted. Rory went for the coat rack in silence and shrugged on her jean jacket. She lifted her car keys off the hook by the door, then finally, when she couldn’t avoid it anymore, walked past Gabi and unplugged her phone from where it was charging on the kitchen counter.

When she slowed, Gabi spoke. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

A dark rumble escaped Rory’s chest as she chuckled and shook her head. It had been a mistake to think that Gabi would show up. To think Gabi would be proud of who her daughter was now instead of only focusing on who she wanted her to be in the future.

She knew she should be grateful that her mother was working so hard to prepare for her future. But after years and years of the same story, she felt bitter. Part of her didn’t even want the money or to go to college, just to prove a point.

“Please,” Gabi pleaded. “Try to understand.”