Page 4 of The Trophy

I clasp Cash’s shoulder. “I understand how you feel. I’m scared she’s going to dump us too. But think about it, Cash,” I say, squeezing his shoulder to drive my point home. “Your choice might seem the safest option as long as she doesn’t find out, but what if she does?”

“Who’s gonna tell her if we all agree to keep the bet between us?” he argues.

The answer that’s on the tip of my tongue comes from Luca. “Do you trust Topher not to tell her just to screw us over?”

There’s a flicker of doubt in Cash’s eyes. “Do you think he’d do that?”

“Is the sun hot as fuck?” I snort. “Look, our frat president has obviously some kind of chip on his shoulder. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with him, but we wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for him. My whole left side is bruising after his little stunt last night.”

Luca agrees with me. “Yeah and he’s definitely got a vendetta against me because I called him out on being a bully to Bay and Coach heard us and decided Topher wasn’t captain material after all.”

It makes sense. “Ah, is this why Topher really isn’t running for the captain spot anymore? Coach told him he lacked the character necessary for the job?”

Luca nods. “Yup.”

I look at both my teammates. “Then his behavior as of late makes more sense. And if Luca was involved in him losing the spot?”

Cash voices the conclusion for me. “Fuck. Then he might really tell Lakyn about the bet with the intention of fucking things up for us.”

There’s a beat of silence between us as we all consider the situation.

“So, you want to just go ahead and tell Lake the whole thing?” Luca asks.

“Yeah, it’s the only way this isn’t coming back to bite us in the ass later. Believe me. I could lend you a shit ton of books where there’s some kind of bet and it causes a third act breakup.”

Cash and Luca look confused. “A third act breakup?”

“It’s when something major goes wrong—for example she finds out they had a bet and the one who wins her heart will be captain—and the couple splits up. It usually happens at about seventy-five percent of the book. But then obviously things are fixed and the couple gets their HEA.”

Cash’s eyes glaze over. “HEA? Dude, speak English, for fuck’s sake.”

“Happily Ever After,” I chuckle.

“So do all romance books have this third act shit?” Luca asks. “My sister and my mom read romances, but I never really tried.”

It doesn’t surprise me. That’s why I don’t advertise the fact that romance is my favorite genre, some guys—Topher for example—would think isn’t manly. I’m glad that Luca and Cash don’t seem to be worried about my masculinity though. “No, not every book has it. I prefer it when they don’t actually. I hate breakups.”

Luca agrees with me. “Yeah, me too. Ok, sold. We’re telling her.”

I look at Cash. “Are you on board, Hanbury? We’re all in this together.”

Cash still looks reluctant. “I don’t like this one bit. I’m worried she’ll dump us anyway. Lake was just cheated on by her ex, her trust has been broken. But I guess we have no choice. You’re both right that Topher will probably wait until she makes a choice and then ruin it for Lakyn’s boyfriend for taking what I’m sure he considers his God given right to be captain. I’m all for taking that douche down a few pegs.”

I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “It’s decided then. We tell her everything.”

“When?” Cash asks.

We all agree it should be sooner rather than later and after swapping schedules, we decide that tomorrow before practice is the best time, since we’re all free.

“Lake has a shift at the library tomorrow afternoon,” I say. “Let’s meet her there and talk to her. Together. Until then, we can call her and talk to her but no dates. Not until everything is out in the open.”

A car stops by the athletic center’s entrance.

“That’s my Uber,” Luca says. “Do you guys want a ride? We’re all going back to the house, right?”

I accept the offer. “Thanks, Luca.”

The Prince looks at Cash. “What about you?”

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