“Yeah, but not the shrimp. I swear it was raw.”
He grins and pops open a bottle, handing it to me. “We’ve been over this. You can’t consider shrimp sushi.”
“Of course, I can.” I laugh, pointing the neck of my bottle his way before bringing it to my lips.
A shuffle grabs our attention, and both our heads snap up, finding our forgotten guests standing there, frozen in the entryway, staring at us like we’re mutants.
My stupid cheeks rush with heat and I dip my head, trying to get my hair to cover it.
Noah clears his throat to hide his smile and stands tall, blocking me from my friends. “Beer?”
“Hell yeah, man.” Brady darts forward then, tugging Cam along, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. He steps around Noah on purpose, raising a strong blond brow my way.
I offer a tight-lipped smile, but then Brady winks, and my shoulders ease a little.
“Cam, there’s Mountain Dew, too.” I hop off the counter, and Noah slides a few feet left, so I can reach inside the fridge to grab her one.
“Yes, please.” She tugs her hoodie off, sneaks me a smirk as she sets it down on top of mine and Noah’s.
“Sit wherever you want. I’ve got YouTube TV and Netflix or there’s a shitload of DVDs in the drawers.” Noah pulls his phone from his pocket, readying to call in our order.
Frown in full effect, Chase disappears around the short wall into the living room, and when I look to my brother, his eyes narrow.
He’s angry, but something tells me it has nothing to do with the situation, and everything to with the fact that I know his teammate’s studio well. He knew we hung out here sometimes—no reason to share exactly how often that ‘sometimes’ is—but knowing and seeing are a lot different. There’s no telling what’s running through his mind right now. He’s taken a step or two back lately, and honestly, I’ve been grateful. I know it’s in part because he’s so busy right now, but staring at him, I’m pretty sure he’s regretting it. I think he might be a little hurt, almost feeling like there’s a part of me he doesn’t know, and, I don’t know, maybe there is.
Mason takes lazy steps toward us, blindly digging into his wallet.
“Here.” He hands Noah two twenties. “Toward the food and don’t say you got it.”
Noah nods, taking the cash, passing Mason a beer in trade.
Mason accepts, glancing around the room. “This place is cool.” He looks back to Noah, tipping his drink. “Thanks for inviting us up.” Pulling Cam along, he rounds the wall to the living room.
“You got ESPN?” Brady shouts.
Noah chuckles, looking to me.
“Go. I’ll order.”
He winks, joining them while I place our order. I stay in the kitchen a minute or two after hanging up, and then with a deep breath, I pile into the small space with my oldest friends, choosing the open seat beside my newest one.
Where the boys have to wait until their coach releases game film on Mondays, Noah has early access to the website, so he pulls it up, and signs into his captain’s account. Just like that, the awkward tension I might be the only one feeling is gone, and I couldn’t be happier.
This has the boys on the edge of their seats, watching their own game as if they didn’t have the best seats in the house, and it’s not long before our food is delivered.
For the next hour or more, they’re completely entertained.
They hop up between bites, point out different things they saw, rewinding and re-watching several plays while Cam and I sit back laughing at the personality they show on the field. Far too much swag for one team.
Full of food and beer, we settle in for a movie, allowing Brady to talk us into a two-hour Marvel movie.
Somewhere along the way, I must have passed out, because the next thing I know, Noah’s whispered, ‘hey,’ has my eyes peeling open.
I sit up, adjusting my head on the couch pillow. “Hi.”
His lips curve to one side. “Brady went to his room a while ago, but the others knocked out with you.”
I shift, looking to find Chase asleep in the recliner, Mason and Cam passed out on a pile of blankets on the floor.
“I notice she’s been hanging out with Trey more and more,” he says quietly.
I nod, staring at them. “Yeah. I’m glad. I got it wrong about my brother. He loves her, but not the way she hoped.”
“And her, how does she feel?”
“She’s… happier now.” I nod, my smile gentle and pointed at my best friend. “Done waiting.”