Page 10 of Header

“Who is this?” Her friend said. Before Chance could answer, she realized. “Chance Lawrence?” She turned to her friend. “You know him?”

“Sorta,” Tori answered. “I was going to tell you about it.”

“She stole my groceries this morning,” Chance joked.

Tori sucked in a breath and blushed even harder. “Leah, this is Chance. Chance, Leah,” she introduced them.

“Yep. We all know each other now. Tell me what happened,” Leah said to Chance.

“Emmett ran off in the grocery store this morning to see him after I told him not to. Then I accidentally walked away with his cart instead of mine,” Tori told her.

Chance grinned. “Emmett is great.”

“Emmett is in trouble,” Tori added.

“Emmett didn’t take my basket,” Chance countered.

“Oh my gosh, this is great,” Leah said.

Chance laughed while Tori took a long sip of her drink. “Do you guys want to join us?”

“Is that a real question?” Leah asked.

He titled his head and studied Leah. She was definitely the outgoing one of the pair, but if she agreed, then Tori would likely come, too.

“Of course,” Chance answered.

“We are so in. Grab your shit,” Leah said to Tori.

As expected, Tori didn’t argue and Chance led them back to their tables.

“Is that Maddox Stanton?” Leah asked as they got closer.

“It is. He wanted to meet you,” Chance told her.

“Well, introduce me,” Leah laughed and took the lead.

“Sorry about her,” Tori told him. “She’s my best friend, and I love her, but she can be a bit much.”

Chance laughed again, the most he’d done in almost a week. “She will fit right in with Maddox, then.”

“Tori, have you met Maddox?” Leah asked.

“You know I haven’t,” Tori told her.

“Well, I thought I knew you hadn’t met Chance either, but here we are.” Leah stuck her tongue out at Tori.

“Maddox, this is Tori and Leah. Ladies, this is Maddox.” Chance interrupted their conversation.

Maddox grinned. “Leah already introduced herself. You took too long, man.”

“I was walking with the other pretty lady,” Chance defended himself.

“Yeah, yeah. Just keeping her from meeting me and finding out that I have all the charm.” Maddox held out a hand for Tori to shake. “He’s boring when he’s not fighting. Must mean he’s good with his hands.”

Tori’s eyes went wide, her hand locked in his as she processed what he said. It took a moment, but eventually, she burst out in laughter.

Turning to Chase as she took her hand back from Maddox, she wiped tears as she tried to stop laughing. “You were right. She will fit right in.”

---