Page 38 of Snap

I gave him a look. I shared a photo of me and him on my platforms once. It took months to convince everyone that we weren't dating. I still wanted to insert a vomit emoji after that thought.

"We can take one, but it's not going up on the Internet." I pulled my phone out of my bag and turned on the camera. We pressed our heads together and smiled. I took one photo like that, and one with us both sticking out our tongues.

I was just lowering my phone, when a ripple of excitement passed through the room. I made a face.

Dad looked excited. He was like a little boy at the circus. Here came the clowns and dancing bears.

Okay, I should be nicer.

Hawk Florence and Bec were first into the room. He wore a dark suit and a red tie that perfectly matched her gorgeous red dress. With her blonde hair piled on top of her head, she looked stunning.

Bam and Grace followed; him in a white tuxedo, her in a green gown which fell to mid-thigh. She wore her hair down to hang past her shoulders.

Henry 'Pinky’ Innocenti stalked in after the first two couples, with his usual scowl on his face. Did the man never smile? If he did, I hadn't seen it.

A few other players filed in, followed by Chase and Ashley. She looked immaculate as always, in a soft pink gown which complimented his grey suit.

Chase turned to share a joke with the guy behind him.

My heart stopped.

Sweat sprang up in my hands.

If I hadn't put my phone away, I probably would have dropped it.

"What the hell?" I whispered.

Dad looked at me, then followed my line of sight. "That's Ollie Tucker, the team's star centre."

My whole world started to spin. My ears rang. I felt as though I was going to throw up. I almost dropped my water glass, before Dad grabbed it and pulled it out of my hand.

"Are you okay? You look as white as a sheet. I know the girls seem to find him good-looking, but I've never seen anyone swoon over him."

"I'm not—" I shook my head. "I need to sit down."

Dad handed our glasses to a server and put an arm around me. "I'll help you."

I tried to shake him off, but he guided me over to a chair.

"Can I get you anything?" He crouched beside me and looked worried.

The only thing I needed right now was an explanation. But not from him.

"Would you like to meet him?" Dad asked. Before I could stop him he straightened up and started to wave.

Oh God.

"Hey, kid," he called out in that cringey way dads have. "I have someone here who’d like to meet you."

He stepped aside and Ollie and my eyes met.

Ollie's expression changed from dutiful annoyance to recognition.

"Rubie."

I gave him a watery smile. "The one and only."

"Oh," Dad said. "You two know each other."

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