Page 44 of A Game Plan for Love

I pause for long enough that my silence is the answer.

“We like her,” Maren says. “And Nora.”

“I do, too,” I admit.

More than I should, only having spent a short time with them.

Since our game this week was in New Orleans, I’ve barely seen Addie. Between traveling and our days off, I’ve had nothing more than a passing glimpse of her as she helped Ben load the bus heading to the airport.

Thinking about her doesn’t hold a candle to spending time with her, and I’m greedy for more time.

I miss the way the light shines on her hair, the copper strands bright, like a new penny. And her giggles—god, do I miss those. The way they start soft and low, then grow boisterous over time.

Nathalie stares at me with a mildly concerning smile. It’s all teeth, and she blinks far too often than is natural. I poke her with my foot.

“Stop looking at me like a deranged demon.”

She gasps. “I’m not.”

Deon appears in front of her, picks her up, and then sits back down with her in his lap.

“I was banished from grill duty,” he grumbles.

Her odd behavior washes away as Deon rubs a hand down her back, clutching her tightly.

“Why?” Maren asks, but I think we all know why.

“Yourhusbandis very particular and told me I was ruining the meat.”

“Then you probably were,” Maren says, then turns in her chair toward Jack, who is guarding the grill. “Looking hot!” she yells, wolf-whistling.

Jack waves, then turns back to the grill, focused on his task.

“What are we talking about?” Deon asks, pulling Nathalie’s left hand into his and playing with her engagement ring.

“Addie,” Sawyer says with a smirk, “And how Declan likes her.”

“Ohhh,” Deon coos, “Declan has acrush.”

My nose twitches at his teasing, but I can’t stop my small smile.

He opens his mouth, but Henry’s head pops out of the back door. “I found some friends,” he says, before a head of dark curly hair and pink sparkles darts out the door. My breath hitches as Nora runs across the patio, a piece of paper in her hand and a tiara on her head, straight toward me.

A piece of paper flutters in her hand as she moves closer, and my heart races faster and faster.

They’re here.

A head of the most beautiful hair appears beside Henry in the doorway, but my attention is ripped away when Nora crashes against my chest, her small limbs wrapping around me.

“Decy!” She pulls away, then says, “I made this for you.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and she bashfully hands over the piece of construction paper. Emotion clogs my throat as I take in the drawing.

It's us.

Nora, Addie, and me at Olive Garden. She’s drawn crowns and tiaras on each of our heads and used glitter glue to add some sparkle.

A tear slides down my cheek as I admire Nora’s work, and my heart thumps in my chest. This is going right on my fridge when I get home. It will add some life to the dead space.

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