Page 115 of The Baller

“Because we’re waiting to see if Tanner and Millie can find out if Rangers Douche and Scout are breaking up.”

Ace spun around. “What? They’re here?”

“Yes,” snapped Parker. “Where’ve you been?”

“Um… skating?” he shot back, but pulled Parker into a hug. “Sorry, buddy, that sucks balls. She’ll see he’s a douche soon, bet you a thousand bucks they’ll have broken up by Opening Day.”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” he replied, his eyes widening in panic as he turned back to the ice. “Shit, where’ve they gone?”

“They’re leaving,” Radley announced and pointed into the far corner, where a green coat and a taller dark coat were walking away.

“Where’s Payton?”

“Went to the bathroom.”

“No, I’m here, what are we all looking at?” she replied, before letting out a loud gasp. “Oh my God, what is Tanner doing? Why is he on one knee?”

Radley and Payton’s eyes bulged, their hands flying to their mouths as a horrified giggle escaped from each of them. Tanner was indeed on one knee in front of Millie, and a small group of skaters had stopped to gather around.

“He’s such a dickhead,” Ace laughed, as we all watched Tanner grip onto Millie’s hand, and grin up at her.

After a very painful yet highly amusing ten seconds, Tanner stood to a loud clapping, pulling a shocked Millie into his arms and kissed her.

“He’s so dead.”

The grin Tanner skated back with was a direct contrast to the fury onMillie’s face.

“Here’s the happy couple!” whooped Ace, holding his hot chocolate in the air.

“Shut up!” snapped Millie.

“When’s the wedding?”

“When Hell freezes over.”

Tanner threw his head back, letting out a roar of laughter only drowned out by the sirens going off to indicate the end of the skating session. “Hey, babe, I told you I go all-in under-cover. We needed to be a convincing couple in love. I can’t help it if that’s the way our story played out.”

Millie didn’t dignify him with a response as she sat on the tree stump.

Parker snapped his fingers in front of Tanner. “Well?”

“Dude, good news. They’re definitely just fucking.”

“How’d you know that?”

“Because he couldn’t take his eyes off Millie’s ass whenever we passed.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

Tanner looked at me, then Ace. “Do either of you look at other girls’ asses?”

Ace’s head almost detached from the speed he shook it. “Nope. No way.”

“Same here,” I replied. “Radley’s is the only ass I look at. It’s the only ass I want to look at.”

“I rest my case.”

Parker narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. “Millie, what did you think?”

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