Page 32 of Return Policy

I didn’t know Elijah’s jersey number, but when someone ran on the field after our starting quarterback, Noah—the sit-on-my-face guy—got hurt, I could tell it was him instantly. The way he commanded the attention of his team. How they all fell into a rhythm immediately.

Is he still a cocky jock if he has the skills to back it up?

“So how are you liking your classes?” Diane asks, giving me her full attention.

“I really like them… Actually, in my world history class, we had our first test, and basically the entire class failed.” I put my hands flat under my chin and smile sweetly. “Except for me. And my photography professor said I have a lot of potential, and she’s excited to see how I grow this semester.”

“Wow, that’s great, Soph,” Leah says, giving me a high five—my number one fan.

Elijah walks through the entrance, and the moment his eyes connect with mine, a heart-stopping smile spreads across his face.

“Hey, Soph,” he says, striding up next to me at the table. An older man and a guy that looks equally hot but about ten years older are standing behind him.

“Hey.” I beam up at him. “Great game today.”

“Thanks,” he responds with a grin, a bit of pink tinging his cheeks as he places his palm between my shoulder blades. It’s a friendly gesture, but the look my dad gives Elijah makes me want to call an ambulance.

Someone get this man a laxative because he looks constipated as fuck.

“Hi, sir.” Elijah removes his hand and offers it to Dad. “I’m assuming you’re Mr. Summers? I’m Elijah.”

Dad looks at Elijah’s hand briefly, then returns the gesture. “Call me Will,” he replies, with a tight-lipped smile.

“Pleasure to meet you. Oh…” Elijah says, turning towards the two men standing behind him. “This is my, uh—Mark, and my brother, Cole.”

Why does that name sound familiar…

“Nice to see you, Will,” Mark clips.

What the…?

“Mark,” Dad replies, his jaw tight.

“You guys know each other?” Elijah asks, obviously not seeing the enormous elephant in the room.

“Leah.” Cole nods in her direction, smiling smugly.

“Cole,” she says, with narrowed eyes and a sarcastic smile.

What in the ever-loving hell is happening?

“Alright…” Elijah says, eyes bouncing between our weird as fuck families. “Well, we’re gonna go eat now.” He points a thumb over his shoulder. “Nice to meet y’all.” He waves at my family. “See you Monday, Sunflower.”

They walk off and when I turn back to the table, six eyes bore into my soul so hard I flinch.

“Can’t believe you guys all know each other.” I laugh nervously. “Small world, right?”

“Do you know who that was?” Leah asks with an amused grin.

“Should I?” My eyes bounce between them, connecting with Diane’s, and she looks as confused as I am.

“Mark and ColeDanvers,” she replies, her eyes widening briefly.

No fucking way.

“Cole Danvers?” I mutter to myself as the perplexing puzzle pieces fall into place. “The one who arrested Jake?” I whisper-shout to the table.

“The one and only,” Dad says.

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