Page 129 of The Wrong Play

“The problem is that they gave us all those expectations when they put the bag over our heads and shoved us into the basement. Remember all the ‘you will be rich and powerful’ things.” Matty said in a weird, deep voice. “That was a mistake on their part. They set the expectations too high. My trials haven’t even started yet.”

“I agree with that,” I said, holding up my hand for a high five in solidarity…which he ignored.

“Why do you sound so shocked about agreeing with me?” he growled, his eyes straying over to the car sitting in the parking lot…the one that happened to always be in the parking lot at practice.

I slung an arm around Matty’s shoulder and nodded toward it. “So, Matty…are we ever gonna acknowledge her, or are we going to keep pretending she doesn’t exist? Because I’m thinking she’s your soulmate.”

Matty groaned. “Or she’s related to Darla…and I can’t live through that again.”

Parker raised a brow. “It sounds like you’ve put some thought into it, though—the whole soulmate thing.”

Matty muttered something under his breath. “I have not putanythought into it.”

I hummed the first lines of “Love Story,” and he acted like he didn’t even know what I was humming, even though everyone knew I had excellent pipes.

He could ask Riley—she’d seen my performance first hand.

I grinned. “Matty’s in loooove.”

“Or Matty’s about to lose his teeth. She could have one of those walls in her house that she’s decorated with memorabilia,” mused Parker.

“We should talk to Riley and Casey about upping their game in that regard,” I said, once again thinking it was irrational that Matty had such dedication.

“Agreed,” Parker said, giving me the high five of solidarity that Matty wouldn’t, and showing why he deserved his place as number one bestilicious bro today.

“Can we just focus on football?” Matty groaned, running a hand down his face. “Fuck. You guys act like I’m about to get kidnapped.”

I squinted at the car again, at the girl hidden behind a big pair of sunglasses…and a hat. Because evidently, she didn’t think that was obvious. “I mean…we don’tnotthink that.”

Matty threw up his hands. “I hate both of you.”

Coach’s whistle blew again, and we lined up for another rep. I flexed my hands, ready to run the route, when Parker called out, grinning, “All right, run it back, and it would be great if both of you could try not to get murdered before the season’s over.”

Matty groaned.

Parker snapped the ball.

And I took off, grinning the whole fucking way.

I was in such a good mood after practice, I couldn’t help but fuck with Jagger.

Me: How’s the mafia?

Jagger: I don’t know how many times I have to tell you…I’m not in the mafia.

Me: I’m positive that’s exactly what someone in the mafia would say.

Jagger: …

Me: I’m going through my checklist here.

Jagger: Your checklist?

Me: Yes, my mafia checklist. And it’s quite clear…you’re definitely in the mafia.

Jagger: Ok…this list. Tell me five things on it that make me mafia.

Me: You wear suits all the time.

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