Page 70 of In It to Win It

“You can pay me back.”

She puffs out a short breath. “Fine.”

Hiding my smile, I order several large pizzas, then look around for anything else I can help with. There are a couple of lamps in the corner of the living room, so I set them on tables and plug them in. Taylor throws herself down onto the couch and exhales a deep sigh. “I think we’re mostly done.”

“You want these pictures hung?” I ask, pointing to the frames propped against one wall. More sunflowers, really nice images on black backgrounds, framed in black.

“Um, sure.”

“Got a hammer and nails?”

She bites her lip adorably. “Nope.”

I laugh. “You better get yourself a set of tools. No worries—we can do it another time.”

“I’m too tired to decide where I want them, anyway. And my dad said he’d come help with that.”

I take a seat too, on a chair so I’m not too close to her. Keeping my distance is much better. But I’m not pleased when Abs and Dutch sit on the couch with her between them.

“Thanks for your help, guys. You don’t even know me, so I really appreciate it.”

“Japester owes us,” Abs says with a grin.

“Japester?” Taylor grins and shoots me a look.

“Nickname,” Abs says.

“Japester. Okay. I guess your nickname is Abs?” she says to him.

He pats his flat belly and grins. “It’s because of my six-pack.”

I snort.

“And your nickname probably isn’t Dutch because you’re from the Netherlands,” she says to Dutch.

He laughs. “Nope.”

“Théo, what was your nickname when you played?”

“I was The Win Man.”

Lacey collapses into giggles. “The Win Man? Oh my God.”

“Usually shortened to just Win Man.” Théo smirks and adjusts his glasses.

Taylor’s beer is empty. I get up and move over to the little kitchen and pull two more out of the fridge. After popping the caps off, I walk over and hand one to her.

She gives me a surprised little smile. “Thanks.”

“What about me?” Dutch waves his empty in the air.

“Get it yourself.” I sit back in my chair.

“Okay, sure. I see how it is.” Grumbling, Dutch rises.

“Hey, bring me one too,” Abs calls.

Taylor’s smiling, and something warm expands in my chest. I like seeing her smile. Way more than seeing her cry, that’s for damn sure.

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