Page 151 of The Problem with Players

My cheeks flushed as he placed a candle in the middle of the cake. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the candle. He held the container in front of me. “Make a wish, Avery. Make it a good one.”

I closed my eyes, and I wished for him.

When I opened my eyes, his lazy smile was smiling at me. Gosh.To love a smile like his…

He placed the cake down and then handed me the small box.

“You didn’t have to get me a gift,” I said.

“To be fair, half of the gift is mine,” he explained.

My curiosity increased from his comment as I opened the small box. I laughed instantly as I stared down at the item in front of me. “Best Friends necklaces?”

“Yup,” he said, picking up one of the necklaces that said “Best” on it. “Figured we could each wear one to highlight this beautiful union.”

I moved my hair to the side to allow him to put the necklace on, shaking my head in amusement. I then placed his necklace on.

“You’re so freaking ridiculous,” I told him.

“Don’t shame me, Coach,” he teased. “I’m not trying to cross those friendship boundaries with you tonight.” He picked up a fork and dug into the cake. He fed me the first bite. “Happy Birthday, Avery.”

Happy birthday, indeed.

49

NATHAN

OCTOBER

When Halloween came around, the Pierce brothers and Kingsley sisters linked up and went out in downtown Honey Creek to celebrate. One thing about a small town was that we took our holidays to heart.

Everyone dressed up except for Evan. I wasn’t shocked about that, though. He wasn’t one to take part in costumes. I was almost certain he only come out because he knew whiskey would be involved.

My brothers and I walked into the bar before the Kingsley women showed up. Easton was dressed as Quailman from the cartoonDoug. River and Grant showed up dressed as Ken fromBarbie. They didn’t plan to match costumes and didn’t even notice that they had until they arrived at the bar.

Identical twin behavior.

I, myself, was a tube of mustard.

When Willow, Yara, and Avery walked in, I couldn’t help but smile.

“For fuck’s sake,” Evan muttered. “Don’t tell me you and Avery agreed on beingketchup and mustard.”

Pride beamed through me as I saw Avery walk in dressed as a tube of ketchup. The most beautiful kind of ketchup, too.

“Part of me thought she wouldn’t follow through,” I said as I grinned ear-to-ear.

“That’s why I don’t fall in love. People do stupid shit when they fall in love,” Evan said.

I laughed. “We aren’t in love. We are?—”

“Just friends,” my four brothers echoed, rolling their eyes as if they didn’t believe me.

The women approached us, and Willow smiled brightly. “Hey, you guys. I see most of you went ahead and dressed up,” she said, eyeing Evan.

He grimaced yet didn’t say a word.

“Nice costumes, ladies,” Easton said, already having shots ready to hand out toward the three sisters. “Willow, you are…?”

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