Page 27 of Keeping it Real

Sheridan sighed.“As long as he doesn’t get used to all of this.Our stay in Milwaukee is only for the season.”

“I see,” the other woman said.“Well, it will make for some great memories.”

For one of them, perhaps.

“Oh, you’re finally here!”a woman cried out from the far end of the room.“Yay-uh!”

Everyone turned to look at Sheridan as the tall blonde woman navigated around the tables to join her.

“That’s Sloane,” Lori murmured.“She’s with Valentine.”

Claire sidled up to Sheridan’s elbow.“She’s a lot to take at first,” Claire said with a soft laugh.“But she’s harmless.”

Sheridan suddenly found herself wrapped in Sloane’s arms.After getting over her confusion and embarrassment, her first thought was to ask the other woman what scent she was wearing because she smelledah-mazing.

“Oh, I hate everything that you have been through.”Sloane took a step back but left her hands braced on Sheridan’s shoulders.

The woman was tall.At least five foot ten.The platform sneakers she wore made her appear even taller.She was also stunning.And vaguely familiar.

Holy snot.

Sheridan suddenly realized where she knew Sloane from.The woman standing before her was a social media sensation, advising millions of women on what to wear, and how to do their hair and makeup, among other things.None of which Sheridan could master.

“But you’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”Sloane shimmied her shoulders up and down as she let out a little squeal.“And you’re going to have so much fun with us.But first, let’s get you dressed.”

“Dressed?”Sheridan was so caught off guard, she allowed Sloane to drag her by the hand to one of the tables in the back.

A petite woman with short red hair and glasses smiled as they went past.“Don’t fight it, honey,” she said, her accent distinctly Nordic.“She’s a force of nature.”

“See how gorgeous Ingrid is in her jersey?”Sloane gestured to the woman.

Ingrid stood and did a little pirouette.Her jersey was more like a dress that she’d paired with cute purple boots.Her glasses were embellished with the Mayhem M.

All the WAGs were sporting their significant other’s jersey, Sheridan realized.Not only the kids.Claire had paired her husband’s with cream-colored skinny jeans and open-toed wedge sandals.Another WAG had cropped her jersey and added contrasting fringe.She wore it with wide-leg jeans and platform sneakers.

Sheridan looked down at the Mayhem sweatshirt she’d picked up at the big box store earlier that day when she and Finn were out grabbing dog food.On closer inspection, the purple wasn’t even the same shade as the color the Mayhem wore.

“Don’t worry,” Sloane said.“I have something that is going to look great on you.”

She reached for a duffel bag and pulled out a jersey that looked like it had been lengthened to mid-thigh, similar to the one Ingrid had on.

“I brought options, but I think this would look so cute with your tennis shoes.”Sloane held it out to her.“There’s a bathroom over there.Go try it on.We’ll zhuzh up your hair when you get back.”

Sheridan froze.The dress was made from one of Alek’s jerseys.

“I can’t wear that.”

Sloane snapped her fingers.“I see the problem.”She reached back into her duffel and pulled out a baggie containing a razor and some shaving cream.“My sponsors keep me well stocked, and I love it when I get to share.The sink is pretty large in there.”

“It’s not that,” Sheridan protested.Although, she couldn’t remember whether she had shaved her legs that morning.Or the day before.“I can’t wear Alek’s jersey.”

“You have to.All the other guys are taken.Well, except for Zach.”Sloane rolled her eyes.“But everyone knows he doesn’t date women here in town.”

Sheridan could feel the cheap sweatshirt beginning to stick to her back.“That’s my point.If I wear this out there, everyone will think Alek and I are together.And we’re not.”

The chatter in the room quieted.A short, heavy-set woman who looked out of place among the chic WAGS flicked her long blonde braid over her shoulder as she wandered over.Three little girls ranging in age waddled in a line behind her.

“Maybe not together like that.”Her accent was more pronounced than Ingrid’s.“But you are a little family now, yes?And that’s all that matters.Who cares what anyone else thinks?”She gestured to the jersey that hung to the knees of the black girlfriend jeans she wore with black booties.“Just like us, you are here to support the team.A sister cheering on her brother.”

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