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I pass a few players, walking and chatting as they head toward the doors I just came in.

“Where is Delaney?” I ask.

“I think he was meeting with Coach,” one says.

“No. He’s in the locker room now,” another says.

“Miss,” a security guard approaches me. “You can’t be in here.”

Jaxon Pierce comes down the hall. He glances over and sizes up the situation in an instant.

“She’s with me, Matt. I’ve got her.”

“You sure, Jaxon?” the security guard asks.

Trey approaches us. “Hey, Cass!” He pulls me into a hug. “You here for Delaney?”

“Yes,” I tell him.

“She’s with me, Matt,” Trey says.

“I thought she was with Jaxon,” the security guard says.

“Yeah. She’s with both of us,” Trey says. “She’s Delaney’s girl.”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” I say.

“You sure about that?” Trey asks.

“Okay,” the security guard says. Then he turns to me and says, “Sorry, we don’t generally allow family and friends access to the facility without a pass.”

“I understand,” I tell him. “Thanks.”

Jaxon steps up next to me on one side and Trey flanks me on the other.

Jaxon asks, “Does Delaney know you’re here?”

“No. It’s a … surprise,” I say.

Trey chuckles. “He’s in the doghouse already, huh?”

“I’m not sure,” I say.

“Okay,” Trey says, smiling.

The two of them escort me the rest of the way to the door that leads into the locker room.

Trey opens the door and shouts, “Woman incoming!”

I glance around until my eyes land on Marcus.

He looks up from his locker and smiles a wide smile at me. “Hey, Carter.”

I practically storm over to him. My hand lands on my hip. I hold out the keys in his direction.

“Everything okay?” he asks, smiling and looking at the keys.

“No. No it is not,” I say. “And wipe that smug smile off your face, Cold Turkey.”