Page 139 of Brace and Chase

“Thank you for calling me,” he says then, emotion clear in his voice.

“Thank you for picking up,” I answer back, my accent coming out without my say-so because he could’ve given up on me a long time ago and he didn’t. I’m going to have to find a way to make it up to him.

“Talk soon?” he asks, hopeful.

“Absolutely,” I promise, and don’t pull the phone back until I hear the call disconnect.

“I can’t believe you’re still doing the stupid accent thing.”

I spin around quickly, surprised someone’s in here, but seeing Laney shaking his head at me makes all the emotions of the call fall away.

“I knew you before you started doing that, you know?”

I smile back at his amused expression and shrug.

“Yeah, it helps me remember my parents,” I tell him honestly, as he walks over.

“I know, buddy.” He claps me on the shoulder.

“Charlie and I are together.” I blurt it out without giving myself the time to think it through. Then I see I need to clarify. “Like, we’re boyfriends.”

“Jesus, Santa,” he groans, and throws his head back like he’s in pain. “You never make things easy, do you?” he sounds tired and exasperated, but then he snaps his head down and smiles. “Does Gab know?” He looks excited by the prospect of witnessing that scene so it’s a pleasure to burst that bubble for him.

“Charlie’s telling her now.”

“What, you were too scared?” he teases.

“No, he lost the bet.” I can’t help the smile that takes over as I think about just how amazing that bet was.

“Ugh, do I wanna know?” Laney groans, probably interpreting my smile correctly.

“Probably not.” I smirk. “We’re going to tell the team later.”

“Fuck, you better not screw with their mood. Why don’t you wait?—”

“Some gossip magazine or blog or whatever is posting a picture of us holding hands tonight. Before the game.” I drop that bomb and see it lands straight on target.

“Motherfuckers,” he spits.

“That’s about right,” I mumble.

Now,sitting in front of Gab, the leader I’ve followed for years and thought I would follow forever, I wait until I hear the sound of the door click closed and then begin.

“So you want me out of your team, huh?”

I’m not letting her get the first word in.

“No, I don’t,” she says, letting out a big breath and closing her eyes.

“It sure seems like you do,” I counter and cross my arms over my chest.

“Santa,” she starts, and the sad tone grabs my attention. “You’re the heart of this team?—”

I interrupt her with a scoff.

“No I’m not. I’m part of the team. Bear is the heart. Jules is the heart.”

She shakes her head and looks down.

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