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“Emmett,” Chance called him over. “You want to go see where we practice?”

His eyes practically popped out of his head as he turned his head, looking between her and Chance. “Now?”

“Yep,” Tori told him.

“Let’s go get your seat. I’ll drive.” Chance looked to her to confirm that was okay.

“Why not?” She’d ridden with him the other night and he seemed like a safe driver.

They quickly got Emmett’s seat switched over to his car and were off. She left her car in the parking lot and they’d pick it up when they got back.

Emmett asked Chance question after question as he drove. Patiently, Chance answered each one and laughed at a few.

Tori looked out the window and wondered how a random encounter in the grocery store had led her here. It was such a strange turn of events. Despite how great it all was going, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nothing in her life ever went that great for long.

“Here we are,” Chance said, parking the car. “There’s only two rules, you have to stay with me unless me or your mom tell you otherwise and you have to listen to everything we say. We don’t want to get in the way.”

“Okay,” Emmett quickly agreed.

She was certain he had no idea what Chance said. “We’ll have to keep a close eye on him,” she told Chance.

“Already on it.” He opened the door and walked around to meet her and Emmett. “Come on,” he told them.

“We get to go down the tunnel?” Emmett asked.

Chance nodded. “We will go in and out of it as long as you behave.” He crouched down to Emmett before they reached the door. “If your mom or I have to ask you to behave at any point, we will leave. Got it?”

Emmett nodded. He was still wide-eyed and while she appreciated the attempt at reinforcing what he said before, it was still likely that he’d find some mischief.

Chance led them into the team entrance and through halls of trophies and offices before they reached the gym. He explained what everything was and she and Emmett were awestruck.

The gym was pretty full, guys working out everywhere, shirtless. She was in some sort of twilight zone where every man was perfectly built and staring at her.

“Don’t go forgetting about me,” Chance whispered.

She ducked her head to cover the blush.

“Guys, this is Tori and her son Emmett. Mind if I give them a tour?” Chance announced.

Lots of deep voices gave their approval and Chance led them around the room. The first person they encountered was Maddox.

“I see you really liked this one better than me,” he teased.

“Mom always watches Chance play,” Emmett informed them.

The men chuckled as she wished for the floor to swallow her whole. The kid was telling everyone that she had the hots for Chance even before now.

“Lawrence.” Aaron Keene patted Chance on the back. “What say we take them out on the pitch?”

“Please?” Emmett begged.

The tour an introductions cut short, they followed all the players out on to the pitch, via the tunnel of course. Emmett was silent as he took it all in.

They guys brought a few balls out, and Emmett was suddenly off. They passed with him and showed off a few of their own tricks. He was one of them in a matter of a few seconds.

“They will watch him,” Chance told her.

“I would never have believed that until today.” She looked out as all these men tried to get his attention.

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