Page 44 of Offside Angel

“While you shop for leggings, I need some of those juice glasses from Anthropologie.” Rachelle is studying the mall map on her phone, creating a game plan. “Their website says they have some in stock. Who wants to come with me to scope things out? I want the bumblebee print, but I’ll settle for cherries.”

“No splitting up!” I yelp.

“But—” Rachelle holds out her phone to show me a picture of a drinking glass with little bumblebees pressed around the sides. “—I need a full set of these.”

“No, we need to stick together. Right, Evan?” I snap my fingers for Evan to jump in and support me.

His silence is deafening.

I spin around to scowl at him and he shrugs. “You are my primary objective. I’m not being paid to watch anyone else.”

So, if something goes sideways inside, Evan will protect me at the expense of my friends? “Then I’m not going.”

“Vitamin D!” Taylor bellows.

At the same time, Rachelle loops her arm through mine and hands me her phone. “Look, Lululemon and Anthropologie are right across from each other. We don’t even need to split up.”

Jemma takes my other arm and the two of them together manage to propel me towards the building. “We stick together and we shop together. Then we eat giant pretzels together.”

I can’t imagine eating a thing. My stomach is in enough of a pretzel knot as it is.

“Whose arm do I get to hold?” Taylor complains from behind us. “You interested in being my escort, Mr. Bodyguard?”

“I should keep both hands free.” Evan doesn’t sound the least bit persuaded, even though Taylor brought out her sultry voice. He’s in full business mode right now.

It makes me feel a little better about the hornet’s nest we’re walking into.

“Do I need to remind you that you have a boyfriend?” I call back.

Taylor laughs. “I wasn’t asking for him to be that kind of an escort. Besides, my boyfriend made himself very memorable this morning. Twice.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Gross.”

“It’s about time Daniel found himself a good girl,” Rachelle cheers. “He’s too nice to be single.”

Taylor leans between our heads, her voice low. “Between the four of us, I’m not a good girl and Daniel isn’t all that nice, if you know what I mean.”

I stick out my tongue. “I repeat: gross.”

Deep down—actually, not deep at all; it’s pretty close to the surface—I’m happy for Taylor and Daniel. I want them both to be happy.

I just don’t want to hear about it. Ever.

“Zane and Daniel are finally paired off. Now, it’s time for Davis and Nathan.” Jemma taps her chin. “Do either of you have any cute friends?”

“Half of my friends have already slept with Davis. The other half have slept with Nathan.” Taylor shakes her head. “Those boys get around.”

“And all of my friends are here,” I admit sheepishly. “I’m pathetic.”

“Or,” Taylor offers, “spin team: you’re selective and demand quality from your relationships. Hence, the top-tier selection of women you see before you.”

“I second that,” Rachelle pipes up.

Jemma lays her head on my shoulder as we walk. “Third. Nothing pathetic about us.”

Jemma spoke too soon.

Thanks to the open air setup of the shopping plaza, I manage to make it through the doors and past the first few storefronts just fine. The wide walkways keep traffic flow light and there are narrow openings between buildings that work like little alleys to cut across to the other side of the circle or get back to the parking lot. I clock each and every potential exit as we walk, and I know Evan is three steps behind me doing the same thing.

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