Page 57 of The Check Down

A petite redhead with spunky pigtails sidles up. “She’ll answer to anything except her real name,” she says, her tone all sass. “Isn’t that right,Dorothea?”

Dot gives her daughter a playful pinch. As she does, I get a glimpse of an insulin pump on the back of the younger woman’s arm.

“Respect your elders,Beatrice,” Tucker taunts.

With a scrunch of her nose, Trixie grumbles something unintelligible.

A super cute dark-blond guy appears at her side and drapes his arm across her shoulders.

Tucker introduces him next. “This is my best friend, Cam.”

The hazel-eyed man salutes me as Trixie attempts to shrug him off.

“We call him the fourth Lacey,” Donna explains, her smile warm. “He and Tuck have been close since kindergarten.”

“And they stillactlike kindergarteners.” Dipping low, Trixie spins away from Cam.

Tucker scoffs, “Whatever, Trix,” right as Cam states, “We’re not the ones with a record, Silly Rabbit.”

Waving at them dismissively, Trixie grasps my hand and tugs me toward the food. “Let’s grab a snack before these vultures eat it all, then you can tell me about how you met Griff.”

I sit between Trixie and Tucker during the first half, and both prove to be valuable commentators. Trixie dishes on the personal lives of some of the players and spills a little about what Griffin was like growing up. Tucker explains the nuances of the game and answers all my sports-ignorant questions. I get caught up in the excitement that rolls through the stadium every time the Bluesmake an impressive play. By the end of the second quarter, I’m so invested in the game, I jump out of my seat without waiting for clues from those around me and cheer along with Griffin’s family when he scores a touchdown that ties the score.

At halftime, Paige textswhere are you?Before I can answer, she’s skipping down the steps to join me in the front row of the suite. After quick hellos, the Laceys gather at the tables or dash off to get more food, giving me and my friend some privacy.

“Griff’s having a great game. Five catches and a TD.” Twisting a strand of her honey-blond hair, she leans in close. “And it looks like your future in-laws have already welcomed you into the fold.”

“Paige.” With my heart in my throat, I peek behind us to ensure she wasn’t overheard. “No more talk like that, please.” I debate whether to share my shower spying session from the previous night, but since his mother is standing a few feet away, I decide to save it for another time.

“Okay, okay.” She raises her hands. “But I told you—my gut is scarily accurate about these things.”

She stays and watches the third quarter with us, giving my hand a comforting squeeze when Griffin takes a hard hit mid-field and is slow to get up. I swear the seconds he lies unmoving on the turf take years off my life. But when he pops up and leaves the field on his own, my heart settles back into his normal rhythm.

I don’t know how Paige and the other WAGs do this every week. It’s like a piece of my heart is on that field, in constant danger of being trampled, with little more than plastic and foam to protect it.

Paige leaves to join her other friends at the end of the third, and I spend the rest of the game on the edge of my seat. In the end, the Blues emerge victorious. And even though it was a close game, Griffin’s eight receptions and two touchdowns were crucial in securing the win. Final score: Blues thirty-five, Devils thirty-two.

As we exit the suite, Tucker stops me from following the signs to the parking lot. “Come with us to the family zone. We’re gonna meet up with Griff when he’s done with the media.”

Trepidation washes over me. “No, that’s—y’all go ahead.” The last thing I need is to bump into Jack while surrounded by Laceys.

But Griffin’s family—and Cam—watch me, expectant and hopeful. Except Shaw. He narrows his eyes in scrutiny.

Trixie trundles back to where I’m frozen in the middle of the concourse. “Don’t fight the Lacey love. They’ll just smother you with more.” She wraps an arm around me, nudging me forward.

Giving in, I shake my head and pick up my pace to keep up with the crew as they navigate the halls.

“You’re the first woman Griff’s ever invited to sit with us for a game. Did you know that?” Trixie gives me a conspiratorial wink. Charm must run in this family’s genes.

“Really? But what about—”

“Nope. Not evenher.” She scowls. “Thank heavens.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to repeat my default reminder:We’re just friends.

But this time, I don’t even bother with the lie.

Chapter twelve

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