Page 18 of The Captain

“Vic, looking sharp.”

Vic, my sister’s badass certified friend, is wearing what looks like a custom-fitted suit. Except there’s no jacket, her button-down blouse is sleeveless, and her pants taper to her ankles and to her studded heels. Her brown hair is twisted into some complicated knot on her head, and her eyeliner is pretty intense.

“Thanks, Linc. Not looking so bad yourself.” She nods, giving me a wink.

The woman lives to make me blush, and I never know how she does it, but it works every time.

I study the group for a second, not seeing any apprehension over Cassie and me being right next to each other again. No more than usual, anyway.

We’d had a hate/hate relationship for as long as any of them knew, and that hadn’t changed.

Except briefly.

“Cassandra,” I murmur quietly, thankful that one of my teammates came over and is now distracting the rest of the group. My right hand comes out of my pocket, and I barely restrain myself from reaching out and grabbing her.

“Lincoln.” She nods at me, not turning to give me eye contact, not giving me anything at all.

She was still pissed. I got it.

Didn’t mean I was willing to let it stand.

“Can we talk?” We haven’t talked in a while, and it was making my insides feel like they were going to break apart at the slightest breeze.

Every moment without her in my life felt like my life was falling apart piece by broken piece.

“No, thank you.”

“Cass—” Anyone could hear my heartbreak in my voice.

“No.” She finally turns to look at me, cutting off my plea, and the look in her light-green eyes absolutely guts me. “I can’t talk to you.”

The way her voice breaks over the last word has me itching to reach out and snatch her up, pull her to my chest and hold her until I can’t feel my arms anymore.

She moves in closer to the group, cutting me out. Tanner is the only one who notices, and for a moment, he gives me a pitying look.

I shake my head and move back toward the kitchen, wishing like anything I still drank, because I could use it right about now.

Sitting at one of the tables in the backyard of my childhood home, I listen to Coach’s parents make a joint speech about the happy couple.

They were an interesting couple, almost looking like they didn’t really belong together, but for whatever reason, their chemistry was off the charts.

People laugh at one of their jokes, and they wrap it up, giving Tanner and Mickey hugs and returning to their seats.

My parents had this event catered so that no one would have to kill themselves. Actually, Tanner had the event catered himself, relieving my mom of any hardships to pull this off.

People circle them, and I launch back into conversation with my teammates, who sit around my table with me, Crew talking to me about a new book he’s been reading.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cassie hurry inside, and before I know what I’m doing or even have a plan, I’m up and rushing into the house, giving polite smiles and nods to those I pass.

She rushes into the main floor bathroom and shuts the door. I stand right outside, waiting patiently for her to finish and open the door again.

I hear the sink run and turn off, then the handle starts twisting. As it does, I grab it, twisting and pushing gently but firmly inside, shocking Cassie.

“What the—Lincoln!” she squeaks, taking a stumbling step back as I grab her around the waist, steadying her, and then turning to slam the door shut behind us, locking it.

“What the hell are you doing?” Her firm voice draws my attention to her lips. Lips that I miss so fucking much.

“I need to talk to you,” I say, desperate.

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