Page 57 of Tangled Rose

“What’s that all about, do you suppose?”

Daphne rolls her eyes. “I feel awful for Beau and Griff. It happens at almost every game.”

My face twists into a frown. “What happens?”

Max huffs. “Some people think that if they’ve been given tickets once to an event or a game that they’re entitled to ask for anything, anytime. Like Beau and Griff just have that shit to pass around like fucking party favors.”

“What the fuck? That’s so rude. They just lost their game. That asshole could have given them a minute.”

Max grins at me. “Whoa there, Tiger.”

I roll my eyes. “Sorry. It’s just that I’ve noticed it happen once or twice already—first at the party, and then Beau’s spirit girl was all over him this morning.”

Daphne scowls. “Dammit. I warned Cam not to do that. As spirit squad members we aren’t supposed to pester the players we support. She asked me the other day if I thought Beau would be able to get her some tickets to the big gala coming up in December. I told her not to bother asking.”

I laugh but then stop abruptly. “Wait. Are you on the spirit squad, Daphne?” My head rears back a little as I watch her squirm uncomfortably.

Scarlett cracks up, and slaps Daph on her on the back. “Daphne needed some extracurriculars for college applications, and that’s one of the ones she got stuck with. Lucky for her—or actually, lucky for Micah—she got assigned to him.”

“Was this before or after you started dating?”

Daphne raises her hand. “Before. Way before. But he didn’t know I was his spirit girl until after we’d already gotten pretty close.”

“Big Man definitely has all the luck.” Max winks at Daphne, throwing an arm around her and steering all of us toward the pack of football players heading in our direction.

* * *

A few hours later, my belly is full of pizza and I have a smile on my face. Beau’s managed to draw me right into his friend circle. I’ve been comfortable this evening, like I belonged with them.

Griff had his buddy Mitchell Jones drop him off at home instead of grabbing food with us, so it’s just me and Beau now in his car.

“What are you thinking about?”

Beau glances quickly over at me, before he returns his gaze to the road. He’s got one hand on the steering wheel and the other is holding mine on the console of his Urus. He glides his thumb over the back of my hand before he clears his throat and glances over again. “Just kind of bummed about how our season ended.”

I press my lips together. “I get that. And you were so close, too. It’s almost worse than if you’d taken a beating.”

“Yeah. And there were scouts there again. That’s twice now they’ve been at a game we’ve lost.”

My brows draw together as I study his profile. His jaw twitches a bit, and I think he’s chewing on the inside of his cheek. I squeeze his hand. “Hey. You played brilliantly.”

“You follow football?”

“I love football.” I used to go to the local high school games on Friday nights so I wouldn’t be alone in the house. “All those sweaty guys in tight pants.” I raise my brows at him. “Super hot.”

“Are you fucking with me about actually liking football, though?”

“I’m not. I watched a lot of our high school’s games. I enjoy watching college and pro football, too.”

We ride for another few minutes in silence before I get up the nerve to give voice to a question I’ve had since I found out the sons of my hosts also play football. “So, I’m going to ask you something and you can feel free to tell me to fuck off.”

Beau snorts, giving me an eye roll. “I’m not going to tell you to fuck off.”

I shrug. “Okay, then. Did your dad force you into football because it was his thing? Or do you really love it?”

He gives an uncomfortable laugh. “I mean, it’s definitely a family tradition. I like playing well enough. I might even consider college ball if the right school approached me.”

“Do you feel pressure to play?”

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