Page 18 of Crazy Love

“We knew the day would come, pretty boy,” Henley adds smugly.

I roll my eyes. “I hate you all.”

“You love us, and we’re gonna help you,” Rhodes says. “Where is Project Woo when we need it?”

I throw my head back, groaning at the ceiling. “No. This is not the time for Project Woo. She’s off-limits! No-go. This cannot happen!”

“Dude. It’s already happened,” Weston says. “She cast the net and you didn’t just get ensnared…you dove right in. She has caught you— hook, line, and sinker.”

I scowl at my favorite people on Earth besides my family…hell, these guysaremy family. “No, she didn’t,” I grumble.

“Beg to differ,” Weston says.

“How ‘bout we go out tonight? It’s our last weekend before training camp starts. Not super late, just a little outing with the girls. They can help with this,” Rhodes says, noddingyeswhen I shake my headno.

“I do not want them involved in this. I’m staying in my lane,” I say, giving my hair a tug. “I am,” I insist, trying to sound more determined. And then a beat later, I add, “Maybe going out is a good idea. Otherwise, my thoughts will drive me crazy.”

“Texting Elle right now,” Rhodes says. “I’ll see if she can gather up the crew. I think they were going to Twinkle Tales after the picnic, so maybe they can meet up with us in a few hours. What if we go eat at Whitman’s in Denver?”

Everyone nods. We all love that place.

“Okay, let’s do it. Meet at Whitman’s at seven?” Henley asks, checking his watch.

I lift off of the wall. “Sounds good. I need to go shower and change.”

“Same,” Weston says.

On the way home, my mom calls.

“Hey, Mom,” I say.

“Hey,” her voice fills the SUV. “Calling to see if there’s an update on Sam.”

“Not yet. I’m supposed to meet with the social worker again this Tuesday.”

“Have they come up with a plan?”

“Not that I know of. But I think I’ve bugged her enough this week that she knows I’m not backing down.”

“Good. Don’t give up,” she says.

“I won’t.”

“And tell them your parents would be happy to move closer to help out.”

My eyes widen. “You’d seriously move to Silver Hills?” My parents live in Arizona and have never talked about moving here.

“Well, we don’t really want to leave your grandparents, but we could come for a while. We could stay during the football season to help out with Sam.”

I sigh, feeling emotional. “That’s…you’re the best, Mom. Thank you. I’d love to have you here, but I don’t want to take you from your home, and Papa and Nana need you.”

She snorts. “We hardly see them these days! They’re playing pickleball all the time. Nana won second place in the little competition thing they had last weekend.”

I chuckle. “Go, Nana.”

Mom laughs. “They have more energy than I do these days. And I would love to spend more time with you, honey. I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” I say, and a wave of homesickness hits me harder than it has in years.

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