Page 118 of Bad Crush
“Please. I’m going to need a personal assistant.” I slip my arm through hers.
“And a personal trainer.” She runs in place.
A groan escapes from my lips, but she laughs it off. “Come on. If we hurry, we can make the end of the game.”
35
Adam
“Great game, son.”My dad hugs me, and then my mom takes her turn.
I look between them. “You both came.”
“Of course.” They look at me like I’m the crazy one, and they haven’t been absent from all of my games for the past two months. I let it slide.
I don’t know how comfortable they are being together, and I decide that tonight I don’t care. “Let me grab Reagan and let’s go out to dinner. Heath and Ginny, too. Shit, let me just grab all the guys.” They promised we’d be a family still, and families go to dinner after the game with their friends.
We head to The Hideout and span two tables that they’ve pulled together for us. I don’t have any delusions that my parents are going to decide to get back together or that things will be easy from here on out. I’m sure there are lots of things I haven’t even considered yet that will pop up and remind me that we’re no longer the same family we once were. But for tonight, this is just about perfect.
“Is this okay?” I whisper to Reagan. It hadn’t occurred to me until now that being around my family might be like rubbing salt in an open wound.
“Yeah, it’s great. I’m glad to see you and Ginny both smiling so much.”
I bring our fingers up to my lips and kiss the back of her hand. “You’re pretty great.”
She leans into me and presses a quick kiss to my lips. My mom doesn’t miss a thing. She’s smiling as she watches me and Reagan interact. I’m definitely going to get some phone calls about us. I introduced her as my girlfriend, but if the way I feel is projected in my actions even a fraction, then they’ll know how special she is.
The conversation is light and fun. Mav is good at injecting humor into any situation. I can see my parents relax at their opposite sides of the table, and that makes me take a deep breath and sit back too. Dad asks me about our upcoming games. We’re down to only a few games in the regular season, so the guys are quick to jump in with their excitement and hopes for regionals.
The only awkwardness comes as we’re saying goodbye and my parents get in their separate cars. That’s going to take some getting used to, but they came, and I feel like maybe we’re gonna be okay—a new normal. Not the way I would have pictured it, but what is? Life has a way of taking whatever you think you know and flipping it upside down—testing your faith in people, love, and even family.
Back at the apartment, we all file out to the deck.
“Should we play sardines?” Dakota asks.
“I’m pretty cozy right here.” Reagan snuggles into my side. I hear that.
“Yeah, and I’m tired of having to be a trio with those two.” Rhett tips his beer toward us. “It’s a real bummer.”
I flip him off and pull Reagan closer.
“I took care of that and called in a backup,” Dakota says. “Come on. It’s so nice out, and sitting here with these happy couples makes me feel like I’m on a bad episode ofBachelor in Paradise.”
“I would totally pick you if we were stranded on an island,” Mav tells her.
“Who says I’d pick you?” She smiles at him, though.
It is a nice night. The late February weather promises spring is near. Warm enough to skip the layers but cold enough Reagan still sticks close for warmth.
“Where’s this backup, Kota?” Maverick slings an arm around her shoulders as we get close to campus.
She points, and we all look ahead where Liam is walking toward us.
“Dreamboat?” Mav asks. “Whose team is he on?”
“Not it,” Rhett calls quickly.
“What’s up, guys?” Liam says.
