I guess that explains it.
Turning her back to the group, Becky grabs her bag. “Sure, let’s go.”
Chapter Eight
EMMETT
“So, how did the team bonding go yesterday?” Becky asks, looking out the window.
Miguel and I exchange a look at her question; I’m pretty sure we look like deer caught in the headlights. Becky’s been in a mood since she got into the truck, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what could have happened to make her upset.
“It went okay, I guess.” I look up in the rearview mirror, but she’s still stubbornly ignoring us. “Why?”
“Oh, it seemed to me that it went more than okay.”
There is something in her tone that makes me pause for a second. Thankfully, the traffic light turns red, so I can give her my attention without risking killing us in the process.
Shit, Miguel mouths, but I just glare at him.
“What do you mean?”
Finally, she turns to look at us, her lips pressed in a tight line. “Since when are cheerleaders part of the football team?”
“How did you know?”
“Does it even matter?” She waves her hand dismissively. “You know shit like that always comes out. Even if I didn’t see you with my own eyes when I was having ice cream with Kate…”
“You were there with Kate?” I ask, just as somebody honks behind me. I look up and see that the light has turned green.
Fuck.
“Of course, you’d hear that part.” Miguel rolls his eyes.
“It doesn’t even matter,” Becky huffs. “It was all over Instagram since the girls posted the whole event in their stories.”
“We didn’t know they’d be there,” Miguel says defensively. “It was John’s brilliant idea to invite them.”
“And you found it such a hardship that you went out to town afterward?”
I look up and find them glaring at one another.
“Jealous you weren’t there, Becky?”
“Yeah, because I don’t have better things to do with my life.” With an exaggerated eye roll, she crosses her arms over her chest and looks out the window.
Miguel curses silently.
“Don’t be like that, Becky.” He nudges her knee. “Nobody knew they’d be there. Do you seriously think we wanted to hear them squeal and moan every few seconds because it hurt too much to be hit?”
“Of course, they would. God forbid they break a nail.”
“Well, technically, John was the one who protested the most.”
Miguel turns to me with an evil grin. “Did you actually go for his crotch?”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Not sure what you’re talking about. It was an accident.”
Becky gasps, her eyes wide. “Emmett James Santiago, you did not!”
“Of course not. It was an accident.”
“Of course, it was.”
Miguel gives her another nudge. “So, you’re not angry?”
“Of course not, it’s not li—” Something draws her attention. “Hey, is that, Kate?”
I look up and see her walking down the street, just as Becky rolls down the window.
“Hey, Kate!” Becky yells, leaning out.
“You’re going to fall out, Becky.”
“Am not!”
Kate turns around at the sound of her voice; a backpack is slung over her shoulder, a coffee cup in her hands. I check in my rearview mirror to see if anybody’s behind me before pulling up by the side of the road.
“Hey, guys,” Kate greets us as she stops by the car. “What are you doing here?”
“The guys didn’t have practice this morning, so we’re going to school later. Wanna ride?”
Becky doesn’t actually wait for an answer before opening the door and motioning Kate in.
“Well, if you don’t mind.” Kate gives me a quick glance.
“Of course not.”
After Kate slides inside, I pull out onto the road. “So, how did you girls spend yesterday?”
Kate’s brows shoot up in surprise as she and Becky exchange a glance.
“It was good. I think Becky introduced me to half the town, and she fed me the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten in my life. Now, I might never want to leave.”
“It’s damn good ice cream, that’s for sure.”
I look up, my eyes finding Kate’s in the reflection in the rearview mirror. Becky nudges Kate with her elbow, drawing her attention.
“The guys were just telling me all about how they destroyed John out on the paintball field. Apparently, there was a ball that ‘suddenly,’” Becky makes a point of drawing air quotes, “went off-course and landed in his crotch.”
“Suddenly, huh?”
“It was an accident,” I protest, taking the turn to the school parking lot.
“Accident, my ass.” Miguel turns around to look at the backseat. “Emmett almost strangled him when the girls showed up.”
“It was supposed to be a team bonding exercise, not a damn party!”
“It seems like you guys had fun.”
“There were some good moments, but we’ll see if it was effective at all.”
I spot a place and hurry to park the car before somebody else grabs it.
“Your destination, my ladies,” I say as we get out of the car.
Kate hops out and hands me my backpack that was on the backseat. “Thanks for the ride.”
I take it, my fingers brushing against hers. “Anytime.”
KATHERINE
I’m just unlocking the door when I hear the soft rumble of an engine nearing. Although I’m not expecting anybody, I turn around just as a Range Rover pulls into the driveway.
My brows furrow as I watch a man kill the engine and get out.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as recognition sets in.
Bradley Jones tips his hat to me, a smile curling his lips. Dressed in classic cowboy attire—a plaid shirt, jeans, and boots—he looks like any other guy in this town.
Is he stalking me? He doesn’t seem like the type, there are no creepy vibes surrounding him or anything like that, but out of all the people I’ve met in Bluebonnet, he’s the one that keeps popping up at random times.
“Your aunt didn’t tell you?” he asks as he goes to the back of his truck and pulls out something from behind.
“Tell me what?” I ask suspiciously.
Why would Mabel tell me anything?
“She asked me to look at the sink. I told her I’d come by one day when I had time.”
“You’re the friend?” I remember her mentioning she’d have somebody look at it. I just never really thought it’d be Bradley Jones.
“I’m the friend,” he confirms with a chuckle and comes closer. “You mind if I take a look?”
“I guess?”
With one final look at him, I push open the door and enter. “Hey, Penny!” I call out, toeing off my shoes. There is a faint sound of footsteps coming from the kitchen, and then she pops her head through the doorway, Henry by her side.
“Hey, you done for today?”