Page 70 of Lucky Baller
Most of the crowd is gone by the time Jeremy, Case, Trent, Thomas, Jack, and Kaden exit the locker room. Everyone on the team I’ve met, except for the man I want to see most. “Where’s Landon?” I ask Jeremy.
“He’s getting his ass chewed by Coach Neil,” Case offers.
“Oh, no.” I cover my mouth with my hand, my wide eyes staring at Jeremy, waiting for his confirmation.
“I wouldn’t say chewed.” Jeremy tries to downplay it. “He is in his office.”
“He knows better,” I say, irritated that he would put his position on the team on the line. Hell, it wasn’t even worth a fine I’m sure he’s getting right now.
Trent nods. “Yeah, but when it’s your girl, the heart always wins. We know we’re going to pay for it, but it’s worth it.”
“This guy”—Kaden points to Trent—“did something similar. Only he stole a mic from a reporter and asked Luna to marry him.” Trent’s all smiles as his buddy tells the tale.
Before I can comment, the locker door opens, and we all turn to look. Landon grins and holds his hands out at his sides. “I’m feeling the love,” he says, his long legs carrying him to me. He wraps me in a hug, lifting me off my feet.
“I’m going up to the box to get my wife,” Trent tells us. “She prefers the stands, but since she’s pregnant, I like her to be in the box, without crazy fans being able to get to her.” With a wave, he’s ambling down the hall.
“Yo, meet us at Henry’s!” Jack calls out for him. Trent throws his arm in the air, giving him a thumbs-up, but doesn’t stop.
“Spill,” he says, placing me back on my feet but not letting me out of his hold.
“Nothing to spill. Great game,” I say, deflecting.
“Tessa.”
“Landon.”
“Autumn,” he says with a sly grin, his eyes watching for a response from me.
“I’ll fill you in at Henry’s,” she offers, and he smirks.
“Are your parents coming with us?” I ask him.
“No, they’re going to head back home. They have an hour drive ahead of them. They said to tell you goodbye. They called me a few minutes ago.”
I feel bad that I forgot to look for them. I was too flustered with everything that happened at the game. “Mom said we looked good up on the Jumbotron.”
“Ugh,” I groan, resting my forehead against his chest. My head bounces from where his chest vibrates with his laughter.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re sitting at several tables we pushed together to make a longer one in the middle of the private section of Henry’s. The gang’s all here, according to Case. Henry takes our drinks and appetizers orders, and holy hell, these guys can eat. I shouldn’t be surprised at their size after the exertion a game takes out of them.
“Spill,” Landon says, turning in his chair to face me.
“It’s nothing.”
“Tessa,” Autumn says, her tone warning.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes dramatically, and she sticks her tongue out at me. Time to rethink this best friend thing. “Just some woman about my age wanted to know if I was your girlfriend. I said yes, and she walked away.”
“Tessa!” Autumn scolds.
“Fine. She said you could do better,” I mumble.
“Who was she? What did she look like?”
“She was just some woman in a Barker number eighteen jersey like hundreds of others who were at the game today.” I pull at the exact jersey from my chest to prove my point.
“You’re not like the others,” Landon insists.
