Page 107 of The Triple Play

I wrapped my arms around him, tugging him in close. “I’m proud of you, man. That’s growth. Real growth.”

He snorted into my chest. “Because I didn’t deck you?”

“Not just that,” I laughed, letting him go.

“I’m genuinely impressed, Xav,” Cole smirked, ruffling Xavi’s hair and sending little flecks of sweat flying. “You sure you’re good?”

He nodded once. “Yeah. I feel fine.”

I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my cheeks. “So we’re all okay with me doing it?”

Cole and Xav glanced at each other before Xav gave a small shrug. “It was your idea. You’re the most impulsive if we don’t count throwing punches. Kind of feels right.”

Cole gave me a small, slow nod. “She’ll say yes.”

I swallowed. That hit somewhere deep. Unexpectedly deep.

Xavi nudged me gently with his elbow. “Since I lost, can I plan it?”

I chuckled and pushed up off the bench, careful not to knee him as I swung my leg over. “Yeah, man. Go for it. All yours. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

————

My phone buzzed in my pocket as Cole and I walked back to our cars in the parking lot of Peach Arena, the sun tipping at an angle, long shadows breaking up the harsh rays. I slipped it from my pocket and tucked the phone against my ear, glancing at Cole before speaking.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I said, nerves suddenly springing up in my stomach. I’d never been nervous to talk to her, to talk toanywoman, but knowing what I was going to do made me feel like I’d run a marathon the moment I spoke to her. “What’s up?”

Cole stopped as he heard me talk, a brow quirking up in my direction.

“Hey,” she said down the line. I could practically hear the smile in her voice. “Did you talk to Coach Casey?”

“Oh, shit,” I faked, my lips twitching upward as I kept walking toward the car, Cole falling back into step beside me, his ear craned in my phone’s direction. “Completely slipped my mind. Guess you’ll have to go alone to your scan.”

“Colton. Please tell me you’re?—”

“Of course I talked to him,” I chuckled. “I didn’t tell himexactlywhat it was for, but I’m cleared to have the day off. Don’t worry.”

“You asshole,” Annie hissed, but her voice shifted into laughter. “Had me scrolling through my contacts looking for Coach Casey’s number myself.”

“You literally made me set a reminder last night. I wasn’t going to forget.” I stopped just short of my Lexus. “We’re just leaving the arena now. Want us to grab dinner?”

“Oh my god, please, a Pub sub,” she blurted. “Buffalo chicken tender. Provolone. Ranch. Like, a lot of ranch. Wait, can I eat provolone? Let me check?—”

She went quiet for a second.

“Where’s Xavi? Why’s he not with you?”

My gaze flicked to Cole. Shit. She must have been looking at our locations — we’d set it up two days ago as a safety measure with the whole Elliot situation, but it was backfiring. “Where’s Xavi?” I parroted, hitting Cole’s chest to feed me a good enough lie.

Cole’s eyes went wide. “Uh… Shit, tell her he’s…” He pulled out his phone, opening up the tracking app.

“Are you trying to come up with a lie?” Annie deadpanned. “I can hear Cole.”

“No, of course we’re not trying to come up with a lie,” I lied. Cole zoomed in on Xavi’s location.Jesus.“He’s at Hobby Lobby.”

“I can see that.Whyis Xavi Moreau at Hobby Lobby?”

“Can Xavi not have hobbies?”

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