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Calvin let out a lengthy breath. “It’s not looking good.”

“How bad?”

“He’s not pulling in enough business in the summer to make up for the off-season,” Calvin admitted. “If something doesn’t change, the bike shop will be closed by next fall.”

Rory caught Jess’s frown, the way her forehead creased as she processed this information. Jess glanced up at Rory briefly, her face flushed. Rory knew that whatever was going on wasn’t her business—she’d made that much clear the other night at the market. She smiled shyly and looked away, noticing two figures now approaching the group.

“So, are we still sneaking into Scoops tonight for some ice cream, or…?”

Rory stood there, stunned as the Scoopers cheered for Tyler’s surprise appearance. Zoe was with him, her arm linked with his. He was limping slightly, but on the move, a black brace clinging tightly to his knee over his jeans.

She remained quiet as Tyler filled everyone in on how he was doing. All about his knee and his recovery, but not a blip was spoken about football or losing the game. They knew him well enough not to bring it up.

Tyler kept sneaking glances at Rory, eyeing the way Jay held her possessively against him, but not saying a single word in her direction. At least Zoe had the courtesy to smile and say hi to her, even though she knew how pissed she likely still was.

Rory now noticed the way Zoe’s hand looked stiff on his arm, and how everything about the two of them felt clinical and practiced. How did I not notice it before? she wondered.

Tyler’s eyes were still on her. She wondered if he knew what Zoe had confessed to her, wondered what was going on in that head of his.

As the parade dwindled down and crowds moved, a familiar group of football players approached the Scoopers. Walker wobbled slightly at their helm, undeniably tipsy from whatever was in the flask he was not-so-discreetly hiding in his letterman jacket.

“Yo, Chapman,” Walker said loudly, slapping a hand on Tyler’s back that made him wince. “You good, man?”

“Been better,” he mumbled. “I’m sorry about the end of the game.”

“Yeah, well, if you hadn’t blown up your knee, we’d probably be champions,” he said.

Tyler’s face darkened but he didn’t budge. He looked down at his shoes.

Rory was seething. She pulled herself out of Jay’s grasp and walked right up to Walker. “Yeah, well, maybe if you guys didn’t suck without Tyler, he wouldn’t have to carry your asses to victory.”

“Woah, woah, Michaels, calm down,” Walker protested, holding his hands up in a show of innocence.

She felt her blood go hot as she stepped closer to Walker, invading his space. She could smell the cheap vodka on his breath. “Don’t ever tell me to calm down. You know I’m right, and you’re too much of a coward to admit it.”

She felt a hand on her shoulder. “Ry,” Tyler said softly.

“I’m not saying you’re wrong, Michaels,” Walker admitted. “What would you like me to say? That he’s the man because he’s the best football player Haverport has ever seen and he’s dating the hottest chick in school?”

“Yes,” Rory replied curtly. She flicked her eyes over to Zoe, curious to see her reaction at hearing Walker’s hottest chick in school comment. Zoe didn’t seem pleased, her arms crossed tightly against her chest as she glared at him.

Walker inhaled dramatically, turning to Tyler, who stopped him. “Don’t, dude. It’s fine,” he said. “Go sober up before someone catches you. The last thing you need is to lose your scholarship.”

Rory couldn’t believe how kind Tyler was being. Walker simply smiled and looked over at Zoe. “That’s probably why you’re dating him and not me, right? Stand-up guy and all.”

“Exactly why,” Zoe sneered. “Goodbye, Walker.”

The Scoopers all remained silent as Walker stepped away with his group, his eyes lingering on Zoe as he left.

Tyler’s hand was still on Rory’s shoulder. She looked into his eyes briefly, but before she could read his expression, Jay was pulling her out of Tyler’s grasp. “So,” Jay said behind her, both arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “Ice cream?”

The rest of the Scoopers confirmed, making their way toward the shop. Tyler hesitated, his eyes locked with Jay’s in a standoff. Rory felt like she was going to melt from the anger radiating off them. But Tyler soon cut his gaze, looping an arm with Zoe’s again as he turned from Rory, following the group up the street.

Jay didn’t budge, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You good, baby?”

“Um…I don’t know.”

“Because you went all wild animal for a moment.”