Page 25 of Remember Me

“What about the others? Aiden and Alyssa? Thea and Jackson?” Britt asked.

“Thea and Jackson are down in the press area,” Adam explained. “Something about filming pre-game content for their channel.”

“And Aiden and Alyssa...” Hayden trailed off, her lips twitching.

“Bathroom,” Adam finished with a pointed look. “For the last twenty minutes.”

“They're having sex in the bathroom?” Britt asked, her voice rising an octave before she caught herself and lowered it to a conspiratorial whisper. “At the Super Bowl? With everyone around?”

“It's Aiden,” all three of us said in perfect unison, then burst out laughing.

“Some things never change,” I added, shaking my head. “Remember when we caught them in the equipment shed during graduation rehearsal?”

“Or in the janitor's closet during Aiden’s final game,” Adam added.

Britt turned to me. “Do you think I should go and help Thea and Jackson? I know she’s in talks withChallyand I’ve done the circuit before. I could help. The Super Bowl is an insane place to audition your show.”

I placed my hands gently on her shoulders. “B, it's your day off. Your first in weeks. You don't need to be everything to everyone all the time.”

She looked up at me, those beautiful eyes of hers softening. “But if they need help—”

“Then they'll ask,” I said firmly. “Trust me, Thea's got this. She's interviewed plenty of quarterbacks before. She can handle this. You need to relax.” My gaze drifted down to her stomach.

Adam looked between us curiously. “Everything okay?”

“Perfect,” Britt answered quickly. Too quickly. But she recovered with a smile, moving her hand casually away from being anywhere near her stomach. “Just taking in the moment. It's not every day you get to see your college friends play in the Super Bowl.”

“Hey, Britt,” Hayden said, “would you mind helping me grab some drinks from the bar? I'm dying for something that isn't hotel coffee.”

Britt nodded, following Hayden to the other side of the suite. I watched them go, a small part of me wondering if Hayden suspected anything. Britt and I had gotten pretty good at keeping secrets, though. Three years of unsuccessful fertility treatments had taught us that much.

“So,” Adam said, clapping me on the shoulder, “how've you been, man? Still tearing up the tech world?”

I tore my eyes away from Britt and focused on Adam. “Something like that. The new security algorithm's been keeping me busy. But enough about me, congratulations on the new job at Rome U! Offensive coordinator is a big deal.”

Adam ducked his head, a flush creeping up his neck. “Thanks, man. It's... it's a good gig.”

“Good? It's fantastic. You're coaching at one of the top programs in the country. That's huge.”

He shrugged, looking almost embarrassed by the praise. “It's not the NFL, but—”

“But nothing,” I cut him off. “You're doing what you love, making a difference with those kids. I saw what you did with that high school team in Charlotte. State champions, right?”

“Yeah,” he admitted, a small smile finally breaking through. “Those kids worked their asses off.”

“And now you get to do it at the college level. Seriously, man, you should be proud. You've built an amazing life.”

Adam glanced across the suite to where Hayden was laughing with Britt. “I got lucky,” he said softly.

“How's Autumn doing?” I asked. “Must be getting big now.”

Adam's expression softened slightly, a small smile spreading across his face.

“She's incredible. Four going on forty, I swear. Smart as a whip, just like her mom.” His eyes brightened with pride. “The other day, she corrected my blocking scheme diagram. Told me I'd drawn it wrong.” He laughed, and I caught the quick blink that suggested maybe his eyes had gotten just a little misty. Nothing dramatic, just the subtle tell of a proud dad. “She's something else.”

I was about to respond when the suite door opened, and in sauntered Aiden with Alyssa close behind. His hair was slightly disheveled, and her lipstick was noticeably touched up—freshly applied but not quite even. Subtle, they were not.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to join us,” I mumbled to Adam. “Get lost on your way to the suite?” I asked Aiden.

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