Hadley flicked her eyes up. “Is it wrong to want to dump beers right on their crotches?”

“Then step back and yell, ‘Oh! Who smells like piss?’”

We were both laughing when I remembered I wasn’t supposed to be leaving with them. “Shit. I have to go somewhere else.” I pulled my phone back out, but Reese hadn’t texted yet. I began backing away. “I might have to go that way?”

We had separated from the group, so I was torn. I was good with directions. Hadley wasn’t. She could get lost in a Super Target, and since I didn’t see Trent or Grant or any of the others ahead, I decided to take Hadley to where we first came in, then make my exit to wherever Reese told me to go. He probably needed time to shower.

My phone buzzed.

Reese: Leaving from the main floor exit, in the back. Go out where you were sitting, and go left. Keep going left until door 16. Take that down a floor, and you’ll see a group gathering. Press is here, by the way. If you want, you could come to the hotel and we’ll meet there?

I was still with Hadley, so that worked best.

Me: Which hotel? That’s perfect.

Reese: Hotel Ivy.

Me: Sounds good.

Reese: Wait. Fuck.

Me: What?

Reese: If we’re doing this, why don’t I just come to your apartment?

Me: Sounds even better. I’ll have my friends drop me off.

Reese: Sorry. I didn’t realize how many press would be here. Hot kiss cam, by the way.

He sent me a picture of Hadley and me. Kissing.

Me: Her lips are super sweet. You should be jealous.

Reese: Jealous is not the word.

I barked out a laugh, then saw Hadley watching me. I sent one last text.

Me: Leaving now. See you as soon as you can get to my place.

“Look.” Hadley motioned behind us.

The two guys from before had spotted us. They were following again.

Hadley walked next to me, close enough to nudge me with her arm. “Maybe they’re following us because of us, not you and Reese?”

It was a thought.

I squeezed her hand, and for some reason, I enjoyed holding it during that moment. She felt safe, reassuring.

“Let’s just find the rest. Change of plans.”

Reese texted me just as we saw the group lingering at the door.

Reese: Coach let me go early. He’s got a soft spot for you. I’m leaving straight from here. I’ll shower at your place. I have clothes with me. If I go back to the hotel, it’s going to take forever to leave again.

Me: Okay. We’re walking out now.

Hadley went to Owen’s arms, and Grant moved toward me. I explained about the two guys, who Grant immediately spotted and began scowling at. Then I let him know about the change of plans.

Trent migrated over. “That’s fine,” he said. “But things will get tricky because we’re dropping you off and have to grab our stuff. What if, you know…” He gestured to where Lauren was standing, far enough away not to hear us, but close enough to know he’d mentioned her in some way. Her eyes narrowed.

At this point, I was done with all the planning and evading. “It will be what it’ll be.”

Grant snorted. “Yeah. No.” He rotated to Trent. “She can stay in the car. You and I can grab your suitcases.”

“And if she insists on coming up?”

“Oh my God.” I was done with all of this. “Let’s just see where the chips fall, okay? Two guys following me is enough for me to deal with.”

“Well, let’s go now,” Grant said. “See if we can hurry and be out of there before he shows up.”

With a plan in place, we all surged out to where we’d parked. Hadley and Sophia yelped from surprise, and Lauren hurried to keep pace, throwing suspicious looks my way. Our way. Her eyes lingered where Trent and Grant had closed ranks around me.

My phone buzzed again.

Reese: I’ll be out of here in twenty.

I showed Grant and Trent the text. Both nodded.

“Then we’ll be out of there in twenty, just to be safe,” Grant confirmed.

I loved my friends. Why had I ever stopped hanging out with them?

I didn’t want them to feel rushed, but that’s what we were all doing. Rushing.

Walking through the parking lot to the van took ten minutes. Getting out of the parking lot was another twenty minutes itself.

Reese buzzed me as we pulled onto the street, and we still had to maneuver through the traffic.

Reese: Almost to your place.

Grant was driving, so Trent looked back at me. I just gave him a resigned look.

Me: We’re still trying to get there. Post game traffic is a bitch. How are you getting there faster than us?

Reese: Left from the back way. We have roads cleared for us. I’ll wait till you get there.

Me: Juan?

Reese: Told him to take a hike. I just want you tonight.

Me: Friendship boning.

Reese: FF. Friendship fucking.

That was one phrase for it, but every time we talked on the phone and during our text exchanges, something else was there. It was building, growing. It was becoming more and more cemented inside of me.

When we pulled up, an SUV was pulling away, and there, about to open the door, was Reese.

Lauren jerked forward, gripping the seat in front of her. “Is that—oh my God!”