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“Beckett.” She nods as she arrives, then turns her back to me as she busies herself with the food, revealing the low dip of her dress. My fingers twitch, itching to touch her naked skin, and I shake my hand as she spins around, the most beautiful smile spreading across her face.

My eyes smile before my mouth does. “You look lovely tonight,” I rasp, clearing my throat. “Nice to see you again.”

“Thank you.” She lightly blushes, the pink hue drawing my attention to her neck. “You too,” she adds, lifting a dessert bowl of fruit higher in front of her. “I mean it’s nice to see you, not that you look lovely. Although you look good. Just not… God. Ignore all that.” She shakes her head as if ridding herself of the moment. “I’m sorry about the game last night.” Her nose scrunches adorably and a laugh bursts out of me.

“Consider it ignored. But…are you really sorry? Henley told me she’d converted you to a Phantoms fan.”

“Oh, she had.”

“Had?”

“Had,” she confirms. “Until my heart broke when your game ended. Now I’m not so sure. I do like turquoise and black. I’ve never really liked purple.”

I nod with as straight a face as I can muster, while inside my heart is pounding in my chest. All because she’s telling me I look good and that she likes my football team. Something I’ve heard a million times before. “We’re always happy to have new fans.” I grin awkwardly and… God, I’m an idiot.

“We?” Lily asks, seemingly unaware of my inability to navigate normal adult conversation.

“My teammates,” I confirm, standing tall before I add, “and me.”

“Good.” Her smile widens before it falls from her face, her expression panicked. “Don’t tell Henley I said that. She loves you, but she’s a die-hard Phantoms supporter.”

“Trust me, I know. I’d never subject anyone to her wrath. I’m happy to keep your secret. In fact, it’ll give me hours of joy, knowing something she doesn’t.”

“She would have said the same thing if roles were reversed.”

“I know that too. But enough about my sister. How’s your night been?” And the weeks since we last spoke. It feels strange to have talked with her for hours, to have kissed her good night, and then nothing until now.

Although what do I know about anything? Maybe that’s how these things go. Whatever these things are.

Lily’s crinkled eyes flash to her table before she opens her mouth to speak.

“Sorry,” I get in first. “I’m probably keeping you.” I lightly touch her arm, and a spark jolts through me from the tips of my fingers down to my toes. “I won’t hold you up.”

“No, you’re not.” She shakes her head almost violently. “I was just checking on Ava. But she’s fine. She’s with your mom.”

“She is?” I turn toward Mom and find her glancing this way with a gorgeous little girl sitting in her lap, both of them looking extremely comfortable in each other's presence. And for some reason, the air around me heats to suffocating levels.

“Your mom’s great with her. Always has been,” Lily adds, and I’m thrown by the love in her voice. She’s smiling until she glances my way and falters. “Are you okay?”

She stares unblinking, and I have no doubt my internal reaction has made its way to my face. “I’m good. Sorry.” I will my lips into a smile and angle my body to give her my full attention, hoping she doesn’t see through my facade.

I’m not even sure what I’m trying to hide, but I feel uncomfortable. “You were telling me about your night?”

“I was.” Lily hesitates for a beat and I hold my gaze, seemingly convincing her that I’m okay because she nods and begins filling me in on the rehearsal, her eyes alight with joy. “It was perfect,” she finishes, the smallest of sighs releasing as she talks. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“Me either,” I agree and what? I can’t wait? Since when? Since I started picturing Lily in her bridesmaid dress walking down the aisle. That’s when.

Lily laughs with her entire face before hiding it behind her hand. She knows me better than that, thanks to Henley, so there’s no point in denying it.

I blow out a breath, running a hand through my hair. “Okay, you caught me. I can wait. But I’m not as apprehensive as I thought I would be.”

“That’s a plus.” She grins and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Definitely a plus.”

With a slight tilt of her head, Lily once again checks on Ava, and I follow her gaze, my eyes brushing over Henley to find her staring back at me, a brow raised. I cringe and Lily laughs softly beside me.

“She’s pretending to be annoyed over your interview comments.”