He nodded, handing the woman cash and taking the cups from her outstretched hand.
He transferred one to me, and I wrapped both hands around it, stepping out of the way. I looked over my shoulder to bid Michael goodbye, but firm pressure on my back had me throwing out a quick wave and walking toward the bleachers instead.
I narrowed my eyes at the man beside me, the feel of his hand hot against my lower back. “We could have invited him where we’re at, I don’t think he knows anyone here.”
“He’ll live.” With the lack of concern in his tone, we might as well have been discussing the weather or the branches of government.
I grumbled. I knew Garrett naturally wasn’t talkative, especially to strangers, but being new sucked. It wouldn’t have killed him to be friendlier.
Garrett sighed, and I swore his fingers glided an inch up my back. “I’m sorry, I’ll look for him next time.”
I let him guide me back up to our seats, pointedly rolling my eyes when Layla wiggled her brows at me, accepting the second coffee from Garrett. I’m sure watching Garrett potato sack me with a hoodie was the highlight of her day.
I settled next to her, holding my cup near my face, and basking in the steam. Garrett dropped down next to me, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was sitting a little closer than he had been before.
The boys lost the game. I wanted to be able to pat Jamie on the back and say something like, “It was so close!” But it wasn’t. They got creamed. He was eight, so I couldn’t care less who won. I just didn’t want to see him upset.
Layla, on the other hand, hadn’t shut up about it. Garrett and I were currently suffering through the tail-end of her rant as we stood to the side of the field and waited for the boys to be dismissed.
“I mean, honestly, if they would’ve just—” She stopped, nudging my arm. “Never mind. Incoming.”
I glanced over, expecting to see Jamie, but what I saw was the mutts of my own personal hell descending on us. Otherwise known as Tristan and her gang.
Her face was pinched like she’d eaten something sour, and Carolyn and Lara—I still wasn’t sure if those were their names—both looked uncomfortable. Tristan was looking directly at me until Garrett’s body shifted a half-step closer. Her eyes darted to him, and she swallowed, turning and transforming her features into a mega-watt smile.
“Hello, Madison. How are you?”
I fought the urge to frown and give her the finger. What did this woman want? “Fine. You?”
“Cold as an ice cube and sad the boys lost their game, but I’m peachy keen.” She continued smiling at me like we were fast friends, and I looked around wondering if I’d somehow dropped into another dimension.
“I wanted to let you know early, since you’re always…so busy, we’ll be having a party in a couple weeks for the team. I’ll send little invites at the next game, but I hope to see you there!”
I gaped, only succeeding in nodding my head. She seemed satisfied with the response and flipped her hand in a wave before she and her group moseyed off to go wait for their boys.
I slowly faced my companions. “That was weird, right? Did anyone else find that super weird?”
Layla looked about as confused as I felt, but Garrett looked like a cat that’d finally caught the annoying ass canary. He was watching the women walk away, an immensely pleased expression on his face.
I glanced back and forth between Tristan’s group and him, “Garrett Rowe.”
“Hm?”
“Is there something you’d like to share with the class?”
He dragged his face down to mine but only tapped a finger under my chin and winked. Then he stepped past me, striding off to meet Jamie who’d finally been released from the field.