Page 187 of The Wrong Play

“Hey,hey.” I pointed at the camera. “That wasart. You think I just woke up with two perfectly symmetrical braids intermixed with the rest of my flowing, long locks? That took effort. That took precision.”

Ari pressed a hand to his chest. “How long did it take for you to look like a budget boy band member from 2002?”

I shrugged. “Thirty minutes to get the look I was going for. And it was worth every second,” I said, raising my eyebrows up and down. “I’ll have you know that Riley thought it wasverysexy.”

Walker crossed his arms in front of his chest and shook his head. “I’ll bet she did. Although, real commitment is piercing her name into your?—”

All of a sudden Ari’s hand was in front of Walker’s mouth, cutting off what he’d been about to say. “Disney, there are children in the room. Let’s not give specifics about what true love actually looks like.”

Parker’s eye roll was outrageously loud next to me.

Walker leaned back, shaking his head. “I don’t think I could get my hair messed with for thirty minutes. I can barely get through a five-minute haircut without twitching.”

Ari snorted. “That’s because you have the attention span of a goldfish, Disney.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Walker scoffed. “Did you forget about how you zoned out mid-interview the other day with ESPN?”

Ari blinked. “Blake was giving me the look. You try concentrating in the midst of such perfection. I’m just a man, Disney.”

I nodded. Because I understood what he was talking about. The struggle was real trying to concentrate on anything but RileyBabycakesThatcher.

“We should talk about your pre-game rituals too. What is it again? You have to tape your left wrist twice before your right, or you’ll suddenly forget how to function like a human?”

Ari rolled his eyes. “That’s calledbeing locked in,darling Disney. It’s science.”

Matty, Parker, and I were watching their back-and-forth avidly, like we’d never seen anything more interesting.

“I would just like to state for the record,” Ari began, turning his attention back to us. “So there’s no confusion. Walker only has big balls because Lincoln’s not around. His balls shrivel and get simpish when Golden Boy’s in the room.”

Walker sighed, and Matty waved a chip at the screen.

“Lincoln Daniels, nowhe’swhat I call style.”

Parker and I glanced over at Matty, suddenly sure there was another “simp” in this conversation…and it wasn’t Disney.

Ari raised a brow at Matty’s comment, but then he nodded. “I can’t argue with that,” he said solemnly.

I smirked, popping a chip into my mouth. “I betDanielsthought my braids were awesome.”

Ari scoffed like I’d personally offended him, and Walker looked behind them…hopefully…like Lincoln—their star center—was about to walk in the room.

Ari sighed and shook his head. “Don’t mind, Walker. He just can’t wait for the sleepover to start.”

“Sleepover?” I asked, intrigued. I loved a good sleepover. Too badMatthewwas so against it.

“Logan got a hat trick last night…so here we are,” Walker muttered, like he wasn’t fucking giddy about the prospect of Lincoln sleeping in the same room as him.

Ari side-eyed him. “Don’t pretend I didn’t see those face masks in your bag, Disney. Plus popcorn.Anda selection of movies that will emotionally wreck all of us because there are dogs involved.”

“I also broughtPretty Woman,” Walker said with a wink.

Ari looked delighted at that revelation. “Ah, yes. A heartwarming tale of an escort, a corporate credit card, and the undeniable power of thigh-high boots.” He patted Walker’s shoulder. “You brought that because it’s my favorite. Finally! The respect I deserve.”

Walker nodded…unconvincingly, but Ari didn’t seem to notice. I had a sneaking suspicion thatPretty Womanmight have been a Lincoln Daniels favorite as well.

“Anyways…” Walker said, suddenly sounding eager to change the subject. “I did have a point in calling.”

“Shocking,” Parker said, his gaze drifting to the screen where Houston had just scored a touchdown.

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