Marisa’s whispered mumble to LJ wasn’t as low as she thought, or maybe that was her point. “That’s what she said.”
I’d miss them. Whether it was Wisconsin or another team, playing together and being in the same city wasn’t likely to be a long-term thing. It would suck leaving them behind again.
“Holy shit, it’s the Goblin King.” Jules’s wide-eyed outburst sent more than a few heads turning. “Bravo. Complete commitment. Love the eyeliner.”
Knox preened, his already massive chest puffing out even more. “Why thank you.” He punctuated it with a flourish-filled bow.
Berk stared at the parking lot filled with people whose tickets were being checked as they were loaded into the buses. “No one will ever doubt you know how to throw a party.”
“None of it’s me. Headstrong Foundation does all the work. I just show up.”
Berk patted my shoulder and squeezed. “All this self-deprecation is making my teeth hurt it’s so sweet. Funding all that work means you get at least some of the praise. Deal with it.”
“I could say that to you guys too. Thank you for the generous donations.”
LJ landed a soft punch to my other shoulder. “Come on, you know we did it for the tax write-offs.”
Marisa swatted LJ’s arm. “Ignore him. We were happy to do whatever we can. There are even a couple kids I’ve gotten museum internships for next year. Everyone is excited to help.”
“Nix has a few working in his restaurant and said it’s working out great.”
Getting emotional over people helping out was an occupational hazard of being a part of Headstrong Foundation, but seeing the guys here supporting it made the little kid I’d been feel a hell of a lot less alone.
The next batch of buses pulled away.
“You guys can hop on any of the buses. Knox, you too.”
“I can hang out with you a while longer.” Knox piped up. Probably waiting to do Bay recon.
I loved him, but I wasn’t going to go full werewolf the second I saw her. This would be the third time we’d seen each other. I’d made it through each time without baying at the moon.
Marisa threaded her fingers through LJ’s, resting on his shoulder and looked to me. “What about you?”
I rocked from foot to foot, watching the entrance to the parking area. “I’m taking the last bus, but you don’t have to wait around for me.”
Some partygoers approached and asked for pics. The three of us posed for a few pics and signed a couple autographs. I couldn’t help but notice the way this was different than when Bay was rushed. We were part of a team. Sure, one of us might’ve had a great play—well not me, but one of the guys—but they wanted our signatures because we were on a team they loved. I was a bit more recognizable because of my ‘good luck’ status, but it was almost never the kind of visceral, spotlighted attention Bay got.
Berk wrapped his arm around Jules’s waist. “We’ll wait for you.” He nuzzled the side of her face and I couldn’t help but feel the flares of sadness and jealousy itching at my skin.
These guys had both found the women who they couldn’t live without. They’d all fallen into a happy normalcy where they woke up next to a great person who’d be by their side no matter what.
A few more fans came up to us as we hung out in the parking lot. It felt a bit like a time warp. I’d gone back in time, leaning against cars in the Greenwood parking lot, talking and laughing with my teammates and friends, but without all the baggage I’d had back there. A different kind of life.
The last two buses idled, waiting for stragglers. There weren’t any this year. Apparently, having a Grammy-winning juggernaut performing was a surefire way to get even the fashionably late to show up early.
“Should we go…?” Jules jerked her thumb toward the rubberized stairs leading to the padded bench seats.
Crunchy gravel ground under the tires of the slow-moving vehicle. A black SUV pulled into the parking lot.
The clenched tightness in my chest relaxed and redoubled.
My group all looked to me and I realized I’d gripped tight to the side mirror of the car I’d been leaning against. She was here.
The back passenger door popped open. Bay’s security guy eyed us from the front passenger seat.
Out of the car came Holden, followed by Bay. She wore a shimmery skirt that looked part fish tail and fell to her ankles with a double-take inducing slit that disappeared under her coat. Her black pea coat hit her just below the hip, hiding the rest of the gap in her skirt.
Glitter sparkled around her eyes and the rest of her face. Starfish and coral-colored seahorse silhouettes were dotted all over her face.
She rushed forward, breathless and apologetic. “Sorry we’re late. There wasn’t much time to get ready after we left the tour fittings.” An overwhelming, stunning kind of beauty people took for granted until they saw her up close.
Or maybe it was those old high school parking lot feelings that made me want to press her up against the car and kiss her like I had far too long ago.
Her eyes skimmed across the small group assembled near me and widened when they landed on Knox.
“Knox, good to see you.” She teetered on the edge of a handshake hug before he opened his arms wide.
A moment of hesitation and she walked toward him, letting his arms envelop her.
I wished it could be that easy for us.
“Good to see you, Bay.” He released her and her gaze locked onto me.
Beside me, the mouth-gaping and arm-punching told me no one else had expected Bay to show up here. Or know Knox. He’d been invited to a few of our events, vacations and hang outs, but this was showing a whole other side of my life I’d never spoken about.
I’d hidden it from them. The back of my neck burned from the stares I knew I was getting.
“You could’ve gone straight there if this was too out of your way.” The suit had seemed like a good choice, but now the tie felt like it was choking me. I shoved a finger under the gap at the top of the knot resting against my Adam’s apple. Old patterns had returned so quickly and easily with her, and so did the fear that bad came along with the good.
“Shit, sorry. Am I throwing off the schedule? I thought Gwen said we could meet here and follow you.” She glanced over her shoulder at Holden.
A couple choked yelps squeaked behind me.
“No, it’s okay. We were about to ride the last bus in. It’s just us.” I pointed to the other two couples. “These are some of the people I mentioned back during training camp. The guys I played with at Fulton U. LJ and Berk. And their wives, Marisa and Jules. We all went to college together. Everyone, this is Bay.”
The four non-former Greenwood residents waved. I didn’t miss the darting looks of shock bouncing between Bay and me. I might’ve forgotten to mention the whole knowing her thing. Inviting questions about what had happened between us had never been something I’d wanted, and I hadn’t wanted it to come out like I was bragging about dating her in the past. What we’d had was more than that, and then it had been gone. I didn’t need to invite anyone else into the maelstrom that had been raging in my head for years.
“You can ride with us, if you’d like. You can also take the SUV and follow, if you’re busy or have things to do along the way.” I wanted her to ride with us. Not in the SUV alone—well, not alone, but with her people. I’d never seen her with anyone else. Not that I’d seen her much outside of official events, but there was a lingering loneliness to her. She’d had to cultivate a separation over the past years, and it made me want to be closer to her.