Page 80 of Delicate Storm

“I do.” Hayley raises her hand enthusiastically and rushes over to pull Keeley in close. “I need to thank you because Paige is my girl crush. Has been for so long and I can’t believe she’s standing in front of me.”

All eyes flit my way and I laugh out loud. “Says the woman who is set to become Hollywood’s IT girl.”

“Maybe so, but I will never be Paige D’Angelo. I will say I’m happy you ended things with Christian. I always thought he was a bit of a dick.”

“He was. Still is. But the sex was amazing. I’m only twenty-five; that’s all I needed from a relationship.”

“Yes,” Hayley and Keeley both cheer. “Get it, girl. What about now?”

“What?”Dammit, I walked right into that.

“What’s your status now?” Hayley asks again. “Met any San Fran men that you fancy? Having any hot sex?”

“Hayley,” Amelia cuts in, shaking her head with a smile. “You can’t ask her that on day one. At least let her settle in.”

“Why? She knows we’re about to become besties. All of us.”

I laugh while my mind drifts where it shouldn’t. To Keeley’s brother, their husband’s teammate, my dad’s player. And no matter how forbidden it is, I still want it.

Dammit.

I give a coy smile and shrug my shoulders, making the girls burst out laughing.

“Oh, you have a story to tell. I can feel it.” Hayley taps her fingers together like she’s some cartoon villain. “But don’t worry, I’m patient. I’ll wait until you’re ready to share.”

“Since when?” Amelia’s jaw drops and I laugh at the banter between them all.

“I’ve got to say, I’m with Amelia on this one, Hayley,” Lainey adds with her hands in the air for surrender. “When I mentioned I’d bought aspecialgift for my wedding night, you wouldn’t stop until I told you what it was. And I’d only really known you for a month.”

“Very true. But it’s day one for Paige. She gets twenty-four hours grace.”

“Run,” Keeley jokes. “Run before it’s too late and you find yourself telling these ladieseverything.”

I once again laugh along with them until another reason for not having friends pops into my mind. I have secrets. Secrets I can’t tell anyone right now. And I’ve always been known as an oversharer. Am I walking into fire if I get to know these girls? Is it easier to keep to myself?

I think on that for a second as they all stare at me in anticipation, but it doesn’t take much for me to make my decision.

“I can handle that. But be prepared; I’ve lived a good life.”

“Yes.”

Cheers ring out from the crowd and my new friends all cringe before racing back to the glass. At least, Lainey and Amelia do. Hayley shrugs like she could take it or leave it, but when she glances down at the field, it’s easy to see she’s just as obsessed as they are.

Keeley takes that as her cue to leave again, and we watch the rest of the game without her.

The girls chat about the plays, cursing the referees or umpires or whatever they’re called, bouncing excitedly when one of the players does something impressive—I think—while I try hard not to spend all my time watching Easton.

Though that task is next to impossible.

He’s a goddamn machine. An incredibly sexy machine who even looks good with a helmet and gear on. Which is really freaking annoying. I have no idea what position he plays, or if he’s even a good player—though that should be assumed since he’s playing in the top team—but what I do know is that I wish I had number 11 painted on my back. I wish this was a Wilder jersey.

At some point during the second half, someone mentions Zane, and I have to fight to quell the rage inside me after readingabout what he did to Easton. Yet another reason to dislike Isaac’s mom. No matter what the circumstances are, you don’t cheat. Period. Maybe I should introduce her to Christian—they’d get along well with their similar lack of values.

Ignoring the new protective vibe I have coursing through my veins, I watch the rest of the game with my heart racing and my body tense, praying for a good result. When the Storm takes the win, the relief I feel is surprising. I wanted them to win for Dad; I didn’t realize I’d want them to win for me too. Maybe Dad was right and football is in my blood. He said he always tried to get me interested at a young age and I’m finally there.

The crowd goes absolutely wild for the team’s success, and it’s impossible not to get caught up in the celebrations. The energy buzzing around the room is like a drug, giving me a high I never expected. So while I still have no idea what happened—I never really took the time to learn the game—I know they won and I still had fun. I’m glad I listened to my dad and Keeley. Maybe this place is going to grow on me.

And I think I just might attend a few more games.

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