Page 44 of Just Say Yes

“Thanks, Julep,” I said, letting her real name slip off my tongue, savoring the sound of it. “For coming today. I know you didn’t have to.”

She looked down, her cheeks tinged pink. “Yeah, well ... I like Maria. Plus, it’s for the team, right?”

“Of course,” I said with a grin. Though, really, I wasn’t sharing her with anyone. If MJ was anyone’s lucky charm, she wasmine.

As I walked toward the locker room, I rubbed the little achy spot that bloomed in the center of my chest.

Goddamn.

TWELVE

MJ

I satat the large picture window of the Sugar Bowl, enjoying my steaming cup of peppermint tea and daydreaming about a particular hot, sweaty rugby player, when Annie’s wild red curls came into view.

After she saw me, her blue eyes lit up and she waved. Her face twisted into crossed eyes and puffed cheeks, pulling a hearty laugh from my chest.

The bell clanked against the glass door as she entered, and I stood to greet her with a hug.

“Hey, stranger!” She squeezed me tight. “Feeling any better?” Annie smiled and perched herself atop the high stool beside mine.

I held the white ceramic tea mug and let it warm my hands. After my not-so-graceful exit at the Grudge, I was so embarrassed that I’d gone dark and ignored their calls and only texted to reassure them that I was fine.

Annie and I had become close over the last couple of years, and I had confided in her how hurt I’d been after what Trent had done. She knew that sometimes I struggled, even now, to trust again when it came to dating.

But I was the cheerful one—always quick with a joke or a kind word. I didn’t need my friends to start worrying aboutme.

The sooner I fessed up to what I was feeling, the sooner we could talk about something—and someone—else. “Hey, I’m really sorry about ditching you guys the other night.”

Her hand found my back as she rubbed. “We were just worried, that’s all. Are you sure you’re okay? Just tell me if we’re supposed to hate him and I will.”

“Thanks. You’re a girl’s girl, you know that?” I leaned into her. “No, it turns out that Logan not onlyknowsTrent, but is his best friend.”

Her eyes went wide. “Oh, shit ...”

I shrugged. “What are the odds, right?” I pressed a hand to my chest. “If you’re me, pretty good, apparently.”

Annie frowned as I watched her try to wrap her mind around it.

I shook my head. “It’s fine. There was really nothing between Logan and me anyway.”

Her eyes sliced to me. “MJ ... it’s okay to admit that you kind of liked him. It’s okay to be disappointed. Besides, who knows ... maybe it doesn’t matter at all that he knows Trent. No expectations, no heartbreak, remember?”

No expectations, no heartbreak.

I repeated her words like a mantra. “I promise, it’s fine. We had a few flirty moments, that’s all. I think I just liked thepossibilityof him. I doubt very much he’ll be interested in dating his best friend’s ex-girlfriend. I think there’s a bro code about that or something. Besides, I don’t even know howIfeel about it. It all suddenly seems ... gross. We agreed that being friends is best.”

Annie nodded in solidarity. “I get it. But maybe this was a good thing. Maybe it means you’re ready for something more.”

I sat quietly and nodded. Logan was nothing like Trent ... but that was the problem. He was better. And that made this whole thing feel even more dangerous.

“Bummer about those thighs, though ... what a waste.” Annie sighed, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’ll cheers to that.” I lifted my cup and took a sip of tea, letting its warmth spread across my chest.

“I think the next time you see him, make surehe’sthe one who’s flustered.” My brow pinched down so she continued. “Next time you see Rugby Jesus, just flip your hair and pretend like he doesn’t exist. His ego won’t know what hit him.”

I cackled, drawing curious looks from patrons at the bakery. My hand clamped over my mouth as I giggled. “You’re ridiculous.”

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