Page 43 of Game Day

“I’m not sure your mom likes me.”

“Ah, Nova.” Kat snorts, her eyes kind. “Welcome to the family. She hates everyone.”

“She doesn’t hate Clay.” I honestly can’t understand why a person would be so judgmental all the time.

She sighs. “It’s complicated, but I will tell you that she was pregnant with Clay when she got married. I’m not sure she would have picked my dad if it wasn’t for the circumstances. They were never wildly in love or anything like that, but they’ve always been able to come together around a cause. Clay was their original cause, and the fact that he’s their greatest one is some reminder that she made the right choice.”

My chest squeezes as compassion edges in. I guess I can understand why she’s cautioning us from making a quick decision.

“What are you doing?” Brooke demands from behind me.

“It’s a gag gift. You can’t think she’s ever actually wearing it,” my sister scoffs.

“How the hell do you know that?”

My mouth falls open as I spot Mari holding the bottom of my gift over a trash bin in the corner while Brooke tries to wrestle my sister away from it with the top.

“YOU GUYS!” I holler.

They freeze. It would be comical if it wasn’t for the intensity on their faces.

I cross to them, aware of Kat and Chloe behind us but beyond caring.

We’re all friends, or we’re supposed to be.

“I don’t know what’s happening this week, but I love you both.” My attention turns on my sibling, her face flushed. “Mari, no one will ever replace you as my one and only sister.” I turn to take in my friend, who’s breathing heavily, the triangle top still clutched in her grip. “Brooke, you’re the friend I always needed and I’m so grateful you came into my life.”

They look at each other guiltily.

“I just wanted everything to be perfect,” Mari says to me.

“You deserve an amazing wedding,” Brooke adds.

“The biggest reason I wanted to do the wedding here is so I could share it with both of you,” I insist. “So stop fighting because I hate shouting at two of my favorite people.”

I wrap an arm around each of them and drag them close for a group hug.

“I was just getting rid of something you’d never wear,” Mari mumbles against my shoulder.

“I know.” I work the bottoms out of her hand and pass them behind my back to Brooke.

“I’ll put these in your bag,” she whispers when my sister steps back. I give her a thumbs up.

Sudden music has all of us looking up.

“Time for your real prize!” calls the bartender. He strips off the top of his suit and climbs up on stage.

I grab Brooke’s hand, the other flying to my face as I gasp. Shrieks go up, replaced with appreciative hollers as he dances. We watch and laugh and dance ourselves.

"I wonder what the guys are doing,” Chloe calls over the music.

Brooke's expression turns smug as though she’s sitting on a goldmine of info. "How badly do you want to know?"

13

CLAY

“What is this place?” Atlas grunts.

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