Page 16 of Crazy Love

Uh…what? You all right? Are you still at the picnic? Looking for you.

No, I left.

Weston

Oh shit. Sam? Is he okay?

Rhodes

Be there in ten.

Bowie

Where?

Gym. Place is empty because everyone is at the picnic.

Henley

On my way.

They all hurry, no doubt assuming this is about Sam. I feel bad for leaving that hanging, but this is another kind of dire situation that has me in distress.

It only takes them fifteen minutes to get here, which is impressive since they’d all been at the picnic, even Henley. They all file into the gym. Henley is in a polo, Weston’s wearinga backward cap like he’s fifteen, Rhodes looks suspicious…like he’s expecting me to drop something insane on them—which, fair—and Bowie just levels me with a look.

“What’s going on?” Weston asks, breathing hard like he sprinted here. “Is it Sam?”

I rub my face. “I wish I had an update on Sam. But this is about Addy.”

They exchange glances, still catching their breath.

“Addy?” Henley repeats.

“The girl I’m so hung up on…you guys met her today,” I say, the words feeling surreal as they leave my mouth. “All of you. At the picnic.”

They look at each other and then back at me, not following.

“What do you mean?” Rhodes asks.

I brace myself. “Addy isAdeline Evans.”

Silence.

Then—

“Shut the fuck up,” Rhodes yells.

“No freaking way.” Weston throws his hat on the ground dramatically.

Henley just stares at me like I’ve told him I’m quitting football to become a monk, which now that I think about it, might be a good idea sinceI kissed Coach’s daughter.“Hold on, hold on. Adeline, Coach Evans’ daughter, is the girl from the Bahamas?”

“Yes.”

Rhodes lets out a low whistle. “Damn. I don’t even know what to say.”

Bowie pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re fucked,” he says.

“This whole time you’ve thought she was this unattainable mystery woman and it’s Adeline? I’ve met her before. Have you never met her?” Weston asks.

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