Page 118 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Now, I’m living my best life.

Minus … Van.

“The first family group arrived this morning, and I thought you could work with them. Show them around, ask questions, then be there for the reveal. I’ll be back to film that, of course.”

“Cool.”

Family members, I can do.

Unless—

With a slow-dawning horror, I realize there is one particular set of family members I should absolutelynotbe around.

“Wait,” I say.

“This group really wanted to meet you, specifically,” Parker says, her fingers starting to turn the doorknob.

Oh, no.

I really only know theoneplayer. And I’m positive the family he’s close to willnotwant to meet me.

Or … if they do, it will be to meetand murderme. But surely not. I can’t bethatunlucky.

I mean—what are the odds?

Parker throws open the door, revealing three women in the midst of what looks like a heated conversation. Seeing us, they stop. Then all three of their gazes slide from Parker to me.

“Amelia, meet Van’s sisters.”

The odds, as it turns out, are not zero.

CHAPTER 24

Van

I manageto duck in and out of Coach’s office when his back is turned—he’s in the hallway outside the locker room talking with Ken, our offensive coach, and Winston, our head trainer. A risky move on my part, but necessary.

Hopefully, Coach won’t see what I left until later. Much later.

As I head back into the locker room, I see Parker waiting inside. She doesn’t frequent this area—too much danger of hearing or seeing something that might scar her delicate sensibilities, as she likes to say.

What she reallymeansis she wants to avoid seeing Dumbo’s hairy naked butt. Again. The screams that day were probably heard in Delaware.

When Parker turns toward me, her grin says I’m the one she’s looking for. Great.

I groan, hoping it’s quiet enough that Parker doesn’t hear. Because yesterday when she came looking for me, it was to stick me in a room with Alec, Eli, and Amelia.

Which ended with a kiss that was amazing until it wasn’t, me leaving the Dream Team text thread, and a whole lot of suspicious looks today. Alec keeps trying tocaptainme, and I keep avoiding him.

“Van—this is Melinda. She’s here to interview you.”

Only then do I notice a woman next to Parker with a matching, huge smile.

I scratch the back of my neck. “We’ve got practice in a bit.”

“That’s okay,” Parker says. “She’ll be here all day. We’ll do part of it now, while you’re getting ready. More later. Okay?”

Glancing around the room, I notice how quiet all the guys are, like if they don’t draw attention to themselves, Parker won’t ask anything of them. Not one of them wants to volunteer as tribute. The only one not ignoring me is Dominik who, of course, is glaring.

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