Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
KENNEDY
YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS ROMANTIC.
Team dinner was becoming one of my favorite activities.
We still didn’t have a set schedule, especially since the guys were still deep into the playoffs, so we kept putting everything together at the last minute every time they had a home game, but still, every damn time, I loved it.
Tonight, we were at Donovan’s house. After we had some lasagna—sponsored by Aurora, who was an amazing cook—I was sitting on the patio with the girls while the guys were inside. Some were watching a game tape, others were playing video games.
It was weird, in the best kind of way. Because a few months ago, I never would’ve imagined this.
At the start of the season, I’d felt so untethered—like someone had knocked the wind out of me and I was still trying to figure out how to breathe again.
I’d lost people I thought were my friends, people I trusted, and suddenly I was left standing alone.
But then Henry happened. And this team, too.
Slowly—so slowly I didn’t even realize it was happening—these people gave me something I’d been aching for and never thought possible.
A family. The kind of friendships I’d see in movies or read about in books.
The kind that felt like home. A place where I finally belonged.
“I cannot believe he told you,” Aurora said through fits of giggles after I finished telling them all about the fake dating fiasco.
“My brother is a literal idiot,” Olivia groaned. “Scratch that. The real idiot is Wes. He loves to do dumb shit like this.”
“I think it’s romantic,” Valentina piped wistfully. “I’m still mad you didn’t tell me, though.”
“You think everything is romantic,” I deadpanned, setting my eyes on Val. “And we both know if I told you, you were probably going to run off to Hayes and help him scheme something.”
Valentina grinned. “Damn, woman, you know me too well.”
“Did he also tell you I said they were all idiots and that it wasn’t going to work?” Aurora asked.
I laughed. “He did—well, I read the texts. I asked him so many questions, he ended up resigning by handing me the phone and telling me to have fun.” I shook my head, still in disbelief. “It was a whole ridiculous scheme.”
“It may have been ridiculous, but look at where it got you. It worked the same way the jersey thing did,” Val commented before taking a sip of her wine.
My cheeks felt hot to the touch when I rested them against the palms of my hands at the reminder.
“Hi, ladies,” Henry said as he stepped out with Hayes, the door clicking shut behind them. His eyes immediately found mine, and a warm smile tugged at his lips. He dropped into the seat beside me, pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “Why do you look so flustered?”
“Oh, you know,” Valentina said with zero shame, “just reminding her about the night she wore your jersey. The amazing sex and all.”
A smirk curled in his mouth. “That was a pretty epic night.”
“Um, hello?” Olivia waved in the air. “In case you’ve forgotten, your sister is here and very much within earshot of this horrifying conversation.”
“Oh, come on, Livvie,” Hayes said, sliding into the seat beside her. “Don’t act like you’ve never gotten freaky.”
“You’re disgusting.” Olivia gagged. “Zero manners.”
“And you have zero sense of fun,” Hayes shot back, grinning.
Olivia rolled her eyes. “You know, if you talked less, you’d be more tolerable.”
Hayes leaned back, casually draping an arm on the back of her chair. “And if you smiled more, you’d be almost charming.”
“Is this how it usually is between them?” I whispered the question to Henry as those two continued to bicker in the background. It was like watching an intense tennis match.
He let out a tired sigh. “Pretty much.”
Olivia gaped at Hayes. “And if you—”
“Okay.” Henry clasped his hands. “If I don’t shut this down now, neither of you will ever shut up.”
“Noooo,” Val whined. “I was having fun.”
“Watching these two banter is more entertaining than the enemies-to-lovers book that’s waiting for me in my room,” Aurora said.
“It’s not bantering if I’m only pointing out how annoying he is.”
“Oh, like you’re—”
“Guys,” Henry warned. “Enough.”
“Whatever,” they both muttered.
I dropped a quick kiss on Henry’s cheek before getting up to pour myself a glass of wine. As I filled it, the sound of footsteps against the concrete caught my attention.
I turned just as Olivia stepped into view. “Hey, want a glass of wine?” I offered.
She shook her head. “If I drink one more glass, I’ll end up bickering with Wes all night, and I’m already wiped from today’s flight.”
I took a sip and leaned back against the wall. “When are you officially moving?”
“As soon as the season’s over. Finally,” she groaned.
“I’m excited to have you work with us,” I said honestly. I loved hanging out with Olivia. She was sharp, and had a no-bullshit attitude I admired. Which made sense, considering she was an athletic trainer. She had to be tough if she wanted these players to take her seriously.
“I’m excited, too,” she beamed.
“Even if it means living with Hayes?” I asked, a knowing grin tugging at my lips.
“Surprisingly, yes.” Olivia’s gaze drifted toward the pool, her expression softening. “I want out of New York. Desperately,” she murmured.
I reached out and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. She still hadn’t opened up to any of us—not even her brother—about what really happened with Holt or what made her pack up her life and walk away. She’d been saying it was because she wanted to be closer to family, but Henry wasn’t convinced.
“You know you can still come live with us, right?” I said. “I moved into Henry’s room—well, our room—already.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I love my brother, but I don’t want to live in an apartment where he’s constantly…” Her voice trailed off, and I lifted a brow. “You know,” she added, waving her hand vaguely.
I pretended to think. “I believe Hayes called it ‘fucking like a caffeinated rabbit,’” I said while doing air quotes.
She faked a shiver. “Oh God, not you, too.”
We both shared a laugh without a word.
The door to the back patio opened, and Owens’s head popped out. “I’ve had enough socialization to last me a lifetime. You ready to go, Pecas*?”
“Yeah.” She gulped the rest of her wine, and when she stood, she wobbled a little. “Whoops. I think I overdid it with the wine tonight.”
Owens stepped outside and was next to her in an instant, holding her by the waist. “I got you.”
Val padded his cheek. “You’re always so nice to me, Nico.”
I swore I saw Owens’s cheek blush. “Let’s get you home before you start talking too much,” was the last thing I heard him say as they went back into the house to get their things and head out.
“We should head out, too,” Henry said as he approached me and Olivia. “Big game tomorrow.”
I couldn’t help but smile as a spike of excitement shot through me.
The guys had given their blood, sweat, and tears during the playoffs, and now they were battling it out against the Florida Bay Kings in the finals.
Tomorrow could be the night we—they—brought the Cup home.
And I couldn’t be more excited about it.
* Freckles.