Page 26 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

“Totally. I guess we should sit?”

We both look at the three tables in the center of the diner that have been pushed together. Martha, the owner of Mikey’s Diner, knows to have them prepared after a game. Win or lose, the team and cheerleaders always celebrate here, though of course the energy is much different when we win.

There are a few empty chairs available. Considering us Invisible Girls don’t hang out with the popular kids or jocks, we have no idea where we’re supposed to sit.

“Hastings and Park!” Jason waves us over. “Saved you seats right here. Where are Rylee and my brother?”

“Making out,” I inform him as Mia and I walk over. “Thanks for saving us seats.”

“You kidding? It’s like the queen has finally decided to grace us with her presence.”

“Sure.” I snort.

As Mia and I sit down, I catch Tiffany flare her nostrils. Her aunt has had it in for our families since she and Aunt Kara were in high school. Because Uncle Brayden fell in love with my awesome aunt and not with her. And she’s held a grudge for like thirty years. Uncle Brayden gave Coach Abberton a piece of his mind when she refused to allow Rylee on the cheer squad, but Tiffany is still the witch she is. Maybe she’ll always be. I don’t care what she or anyone else thinks.

“Mason!” Jason calls when his brother and Rylee walk inside, hand in hand. “You guys can’t keep your lips off one another, eh?”

Mason and Rylee’s cheeks go beet red as my teammates chuckle and whoop. Some of the other cheerleaders laugh, too.

After they join us, a server comes over to take our orders. I’ve been to Mikey’s a million times and I always have problems deciding what to choose because everything is delicious. But I settle on a burger and onion rings because they are so darn good. And of course, I order a blueberry slushie with a drop of watermelon and cherry.

“A slushie?” Coby asks. “You know their milkshakes are killer.”

I shrug. “Slushies are my jam.”

“You know that’s pure sugar,” Tiffany says, once again flaring her nostrils. “But I guess someone like you wouldn’t worry about that.”

I roll my eyes. “I burn in a day what you burn in a week.”

“Why would a girl even want to be a quarterback,” she whispers loudly to her friends, which is so obviously meant for me and everyone else to hear. “You get all sweaty and gross. Not to mention that helmet kills your hair. No wonder your hair looks like dead leaves after a game.”

Tiffany’s friends snicker.

I give her a look. “Are you trying to intimidate me? Because it’s not working.”

“Oh yeah?” Her eyes glimmer with a challenge. “You think any guy would want you when you look like that?” She nods at my outfit. I changed into a sweatshirt with the Lions logo and loose jeans.

“I honestly don’t give a darn whether or not a guy would want me.”

“Figures. No one on your team even sees you as a girl. They treat you like you’re one of the guys.”

“So?”

She looks at me like I’m crazy. Then she chortles. “If that’s how you want it.” Clearly realizing that she can’t get to me, she focuses on Mia. “And what are you doing here? Last I checked, you’re not a football player or a cheerleader.”

Mia squirms in her seat, but then she lifts her chin. “I was invited.”

“A friend of mine is always welcome here,” I say.

“Darn right,” Isaiah says.

Tiffany rolls her eyes. “Whatever. You’re just a has-been anyway.”

“A has-been?” Mia asks. “I’m no way a has-been.”

“You’re right. You’re a never-was.”

“What the heck—?”

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