Page 73 of Forever Offsides

“Thanks, man. You have no idea how much I appreciate that. But can we please talk about something else? Anything else? You know about it. You’re my best men. It’s going to be a massive event that already makes my skin crawl. I need your support.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got it. We’re here for you. We get it. We just wish you were happily getting married instead of doing it for empire reasons.”

He shrugs, holding his coffee between his hands as he stares down at it. “We don’t always get to be with the one we want.”

Ain’t that the truth.

“This is turning into a bad country song,” Crew teases. “We do get to do a bachelor party, right?”

“Now you’re talking.” Hayes fist bumps the guys, and Brae, Skylar, and I roll our eyes. Men.

My phone vibrates again, and I curse. I swear, if it’s Russel…

Thankfully it’s not. It’s my mother, but her text isn’t what I want to read.

Mom: Hate to do this to you, but the ortho from the opposing team has the flu. We’ll need you to travel with the team and cover since a doctor needs to be on the field.

I grunt in dismay.

Me: There’s this invention called Tamiflu.

Mom: Come on, Quinn.

Except I don’t want to travel with the team. The least amount of time I have to spend with them, the better. It’s been almost three weeks since my last encounter with Rhett, and I’m trying to let it all go. I’ve even thought about possibly going on a date or two just to shake him out of my system.

Me: Fine, boss. I’ll go. Remember this on my next birthday when you take me shopping.

Mom: Love you!

“What? What is it?” Crew asks, angling his body to see my phone.

“It’s Mom. Looks like I’ll be traveling with you tomorrow.”

A smile lights up his face, making his green eyes sparkle. “Nice. You're our good luck charm. We won our first two games with you there.”

“That was hardly my doing, but I hope my presence brings you luck.”

“You always bring luck,” a voice says from behind me, and I tense, knowing that voice anywhere.

“What are you doing here?” I ask without turning to look at him.

“You mentioned you were here and that’s why you couldn’t have dinner with me. I live a few blocks over, so it was perfect. Hi everyone. Crew.”

Crew gives him a slight head nod, but there’s no love between them.

“May I join you?”

“No,” everyone says at once, and I laugh. That’s love. That’s loyalty. I twist up to Russel with a what can you do shrug.

He grins. “Okay. Okay. I get it, and I deserve it. For what it’s worth, if it’s worth anything to you at all, I’m sorry I hurt your friend. I was stupid and selfish and young.”

Jaws drop around the table. Yeah, he’s been planting that on me too.

“I won’t ruin your coffee, but Quinn, can we talk? Two minutes? That’s all.”

I hesitate.

“Friends, remember? Please.” He holds his hands up in supplication and gives me puppy dog eyes.