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Brayden just kept smirking, looking between the two of us as if some new truth had been unlocked. If it had, I was hoping someone might fill me in on it.

“Lil bro and I are gonna hit the showers. After that long car ride.”

I couldn’t exactly say Jefferson’s arm around my shoulders was unwelcome, but the fact that he’d thought to pull on a t-shirt and sweatpants did leave me even more aware of my relative undress.

“A very long ride,” Carlos suggested, his mouth tilting at the corners.

“But worth it, by the end,” Luke added, then snorted as Coach elbowed him sharply.

I had a strong suspicion that my cheeks now matched Donny’s.

“We should...” I prompted, gratified that Jefferson started walking a moment later.

“Don’t forget to pause and enjoy the view,” Brayden called out. He might’ve been talking about scenes of outstanding natural beauty, but the way he was staring at my ass suggested otherwise.

#

The teasing had just about settled down by dinnertime. Well, as settled as it ever got between five teammates who saw it as a point of pride to embarrass one another most effectively. Coach’s dry sarcasm was in full effect, as scouring to the ego as any of Brayden’s crude jokes or Carlos’ sharp wit.

Luke was quieter, to the point where I was starting to worry: concerned he might be feeling overwhelmed by the banter. Right up until he left Brayden’s jaw hanging with the roast-equivalent of a dropkick to the face.

After that, everything felt just that little bit easier, the conversation more free-flowing. Not that I was entirely sure Coach was so happy about that.

“You guys never thought of getting hitched, then?” Donny looked between them, curious.

“Donny!” Coach sounded indignant, though any further comment was derailed by his boyfriend’s hand on his knee.

“Chill, babe,” Luke said, easily.

I bit back my giggle. Hearing someone call Coach “babe” felt vaguely otherworldly.

“It’s been talked about,” Coach said, stiffly. Pointedly not looking down to the fingers squeezing his leg.

“Are you worried we’d gatecrash the reception?” Brayden suggested.

“Hardly,” Luke countered, “we were thinking you’d be the entertainment.”

From the expression on Coach’s face, he might’ve been questioning his decision to bring Luke along. Or regretting extending the invitation to the rest of us.

Brayden side-eyed him. “I think I’ve retired from my dancing career.”

“Very wise,” Coach agreed.

“So says the man who was naked when he first met me,” his boyfriend teased.

Coach’s groan overlapped with the cries of “Wait, what?” and “Details!” from the rest of us. The poor guy didn’t stand a chance.

Luke chuckled. “What is it about jocks, that their preferred pranks always involve taking off their clothes in public?”

Braden raised his arm, biceps bulging pointedly. “All that hard work, you gotta show it off sometimes.”

Jefferson elbowed him, almost sending him tumbling.

“It was just a stupid joke,” Coach complained, with the expression of someone hoping that explanation will settle things but knowing it probably won’t.

“Streaking through the biggest cafeteria on campus, in nothing but socks and sneakers, with your vital measurements written across your back with a Sharpie,” Luke recounted, still grinning. “Whoever did that had great penmanship, incidentally.”

Either the name of the person responsible had been forgotten, or the thought of it was too mortifying to recount.