40. Derek
I don’t know how I ended up in this situation, but sitting across from Sienna as she rants about dance while Jace makes goo-goo eyes at her has me rethinking all my life’s decisions.
Sienna’s hair is light orange today. She spent about ten minutes explaining that she’s trying to experiment with wigs, which is how yesterday her hair was white, and this afternoon it’s orange.
She sighs, eyeing Jace quickly before rolling her eyes, “Stop staring, psycho… It’s creepy.”
He chuffs, acting as if she’d shot him as he takes a bite from his burger and turns away from the two of us.
I roll my lips in, holding back a laugh at the two of them.
Yesterday, I was confused as hell to see all my friends lounging around my place when I got back from the gym.
The girls all wore matching pajamas, cuddled up with Agnes, as the guys looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there.
I truly believe the only reason the guys stayed was because all their girlfriends threatened them.
“Like I was saying, it’s so odd that everything is changing now, and I don’t know if it’s for the worse or not.
I mean, my final project is due in a week, and it’ll be my final dance as a college student.
I’m a nervous wreck, and it’s only me performing,” she emphasizes, popping a French fry from Jace’s plate into her mouth.
“Georgia, on the other hand, must rely on others for her show, and half of her guys pulled out two days before the event. I know she’s stressed, but she wouldn’t show it at breakfast today.
” She sighs, her slender brown fingers making grabby hands toward my sweet potato fries.
I push my plate forward, allowing her to steal a few as my mind goes haywire.
Georgia’s in trouble? Why didn’t she tell me? My girl is too damn strong for her own good, and that’s something I love about her. She’s independent, and she’s not afraid of doing things herself. I wish she’d place some of her burdens on my shoulders—if not all of them.
When Sienna gets honey mustard on her cheek from the fry missing her mouth, Jace is quick to lean forward and clean it off with a napkin. I watch as my friend fusses over his girlfriend, then my eyes trail down the expanse of his forearm.
Most of the guys on our team are about the same size…
The thought hits me in an instant, and before I know what I’m doing, I pull out my phone and text the team chat.
Derek
I’m invoking the goalie rule
I don’t know how many of her male models have bailed, but I remember her mentioning how many pieces she had to make for the line a while ago.
Jace and my phones go off like crazy with all the guys chiming in and responding to my text thread. He raises a brow at me, not bothering to check his own phone as messages roll in.
Sienna scrunches her brows, looking between the two of us before tilting her head. “What did you do?” she asks, narrowing her eyes at me. The gold in her hazel eyes seems to brighten as a slow smile begins to curve on her face.
“Invoked something that none of the guys can say no to.” I shrug casually and am quickly reminded of my company as Jace gasps.
His green eyes are bright and wide as he stares me down, his jaw agape.
“You didn’t…” he whispers, his eyes trailing down to his own phone that hasn’t stopped vibrating with new messages.
“Oh, but I did.”
Sienna pouts as she looks between the two of us, trying to understand the silent communication between us as Jace huffs.
He throws his head back with a sigh, looking at the ceiling before eying his girlfriend with a frown. “He invoked the goalie rule.”
Sienna pops a brow up, taking one of Jace’s fries. “The goalie rule?”
He groans, flailing like a toddler as he pouts. “Whatever the goalie says, goes, for the next twenty-four hours.”
I smirk as I open the group chat once again. Half of our newer team members are sending messages of confusion, while the older members are riddled with anxiety. I roll my neck and grin deviously as I text them.
Derek
All you assholes are expected to be at my wife’s show tomorrow, send all of your measurements within the next hour. I have a plan.
Remember what the goalie wants, he gets.