Page 22 of Her Devils

“Are you seriously skipping the meet and greet? It’ll be full of fans who bought VIP tickets for today and tomorrow, and there’s going to be an open bar. I’ve never seen the three of you pass up on something like that.” Anna’s tone is full of surprise.

Peyton shrugs, looking bored. “Yeah, nah. I want to study some maps of the jumping area and the weather forecast. After all, Wild Horse is the Angels’ sponsor, so they won’t miss us.”

Kenneth’s tone is displeased when he intervenes. “I don’t think so,” he says, looking at his team with obvious tension in his jaw. “There’s no way the three of you are going to miss an event with Wild Horse. They are shooting a documentary about the state competitions nationwide, so you’re going to be there, and you’re going to be on your best behavior. It’s nonnegotiable.”

The Cove Devils react with a collective groan, but Kenneth’s expression brooks no argument.

“Ken, can I at least go change? I can’t go to the meet and greet in this state,” Channing pleads, pointing at the red stain on his chest. “I don’t just look like the extra in a horror movie, this shit’s sticky as fuck.”

Kenneth sighs, his frown deepening. “Okay, I guess Channing can join us later, but the two of you are following us straight to the pavilion where the meet and greet is starting in ten minutes.” He points to a cordoned area with a huge white, red, and blue tent.

Channing’s arm is still around my neck when he turns to walk toward the shuttle that brings athletes and other team members to and from the event venue and the hotel.

When Kiara saw that we wouldn’t need the extra car after all, she was absolutely livid. However, it’s not like she could complain to Mom—her boss—about it, so she’s been chewing Darrius’s ear off in a full-on tantrum right by the big tent that will host the Wild Horse meet and greet. My eyes meet Sarah’s, and the grin on her face makes it impossible to stifle a giggle of my own.

“Let’s go, Len,” Channing whispers into my ear, dragging me toward the awaiting shuttle.

My shoulders stiffen, and I offer some resistance. Kenneth’s eyes are fixed on us, and I’m about to step away from Channing, since we agreed to avoid rocking the boat with the Cove Devils CEO, when Mom comes to my rescue in an unexpected way.

She links her arm with her husband’s. “Baby girl, are you going back to the hotel to work on that press release I want for tomorrow?”

I nod. “Yeah, I’m going to work on that. I’ll email it to you as soon as I’m done.”

I don’t know why Mom intervened or why she’s dragging her husband inside the tent, telling him she wants to introduce him to the marketing team of a new brand of filming equipment who are in attendance.

The ride on the shuttle is quiet as I take out my phone to avoid talking to Channing.

I don’t even know why the way the Devils’ fans show their devotion to their idols bothers me so much. I guess I should have expected it when I heard about their reputation, but I wasn’t prepared for underwear being thrown at them and phone numbers on T-shirts and all the rest.

“Channing, I want to have your baby!”

The chants of some of the most die-hard fans echo in my ears, and the notifications I get from every social media account when I unlock my phone confirm that I’ve been underestimating who the guys really are. The hashtags alone are something out of this world. #D.I.L.F.S., #fuckmedevils, #sexiestskydivers, #hornydevils, and #tamethehearbreakers are only a few of the trending ones after the press conference.

Peyton, Channing, and Jameson have been nothing but great friends to me since we met, but once again, I remind myself that I need to guard my heart if I don’t want to end up even more hurt than I was by Darrius.

For the umpteenth time, I tell myself that our deal is nothing more than a way to get back at their rival and my former friend.

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