Page 17 of Dream Chaser
Jade, Phoebe, Kendall, and Mom all gasp.
“Oh my God, I can freaking cook.” She scowls at them.
“Of course you can, but all the food is already prepped.” a links her arm through hers. “Let’s go get our aprons on and get ready to serve the masses.”
She looks at Jade, her mother-in-law. “I can be very personable.”
Jade smiles and links her arm through her other. “You, my dear, wear a lot of hats.”
“I rock them.” Ava nods sharply.
“You do, but you just screamed at the commissioner of the league on the phone. Let’s take the time to let the steam roll out of your pretty little ears before we switch hats, okay?”
“Ten minutes,” Riley announces as she and the kitchen staff begin bringing out the trays for the buffet.
Everyone scatters, and I try to remind myself that, although this is the first time our Knights have won the division and our first fan function on this scale, it won’t be the last. Anything thatgoes wrong is not the end of the world; it’s a lesson on how to do it better next time.
This is for our team, our town, our community, and our players.
And those kids showing up last? They’ll remember it forever. I sure as hell would have.
I double-check the player name tags, lining them up on the table. Skinner’s is on top. Of course it is. Bold letters. Tactical font. The shirt he made me dig out of the closet is seared into my memory in ways I’m not proud of.
Sydney catches my expression as she walks past and slows. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Just making sure everything holds together.”
She smiles, soft but knowing. “It already is. We’re all here.”
“Missing one.” I frown.
“And who would that be?” I hear from behind us and whip around.
“Lexi is here!” We all freak the hell out and rush to her.
“I wouldn’t miss this for all the tea and biscuits in England.” She laughs as we hug her.
I glance at London from our huddle. “You knew!”
“Hell yes, I did.” London laughs.
Before I can reply, the walkie crackles to life.
“Callie to Iz. Hay wagon’s rolling in. Five out.”
I grab the bracelets for group one, tighten my grip on the clipboard, and look to Lily. “You ready to give out your bracelets?”
“Oh boy, am I!” She jumps up and heads toward me, leaving her friendship bracelets behind.
Laughing, Syd follows her with a basket of Lily’s special, personally made bracelets with her.
Lily grabs my hand. “I’m ready.” Then she holds up her other hand, the empty one, and makes a giantOface.
Sydney looks back around as she approaches. “Hey Lily, you think we should wait for your mom?”
“Umm …” She looks around as she bounces on her toes, seconds from running out the door, but is doing such a good job at holding back.
“I’m here,” Lyndsey calls out breathlessly as she all but falls through the back door. “Sorry, I got stuck in the line of vehicles pulling in.”
