Page 23 of Gap Control

My thumb hovered over send for a long moment. Then I deleted that, too.

Instead:

Mason:The egg roll story better be worth it.

I sent it before I could change my mind.

Three dots appeared immediately. Then disappeared. Then appeared again.

TJ:Fair warning: You'll probably laugh again.

I stared at the message and then glanced in my rearview mirror.

TJ's car was still there, brake lights glowing red in the dark. He was looking back at me, too.

We sat there, two guys in separate cars, caught in the act of actually wanting to keep talking.

I started my engine first, but I saved his message before I drove away.

Chapter five

TJ

Iwasn't supposed to be early. I was never early. Not on principle, just… structurally. Like, if my body hit a doorframe, it was a fluke of physics, not planning.

There I was, parked outside the Colisée before the sun had even fully committed. Half a coffee left. Zero appetite. Hoodie strings chewed to death.

Inside the car, it was silent. Outside, steam was rising off the pavement like the city was tired, too.

I'd soon be boarding a team bus to Manchester, New Hampshire, for the first in a series of four road games.

My phone buzzed. I opened one eye to look.

Brady:we're riding the wave. couples content = fan love = $$$. smile pretty. lean in. be adorable.??

I flipped it screen-down and stared at the glove compartment. Not for any reason other than looking anywhere else felt too much like checking in with myself.

A few minutes later, I grabbed my gear and headed for the arena's players' entrance.

The locker room was waking up like it always did before a road trip—too loud in one corner and too quiet in another. Monroe sang something wordless under his breath with a country twang.

I dropped my bag by my stall.

"TJ," Mercier called from across the room, "got your boyfriend packed or is he flying solo?"

"He's not my—" I stopped and didn't finish the sentence. "He's probably fine."

Lambert sauntered past with two coffee cups and a bag of sour candy. "You guys doing a travel vlog?Two Boys, One Bus, No Boundaries?"

I smirked and did my best at such an early hour. "We were thinking something more tasteful. LikeSkates and Soulmates."

They both howled. I sat down, pretending I wasn't listening for footsteps.

Mason showed up just as the bus pulled up. Earbuds in. Hoodie up. He'd set his jaw, but something about how he looked around—quick scan, slight pause—made it feel like he'd been watching for me, too.

I silently hoped that was a good thing.

When Coach gave the signal to board, the team poured out like we were storming a beach. I ended up next to Mercier on the bus because fate hates me.

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