Page 41 of Begin Again Again

“No, you should come! You should both play!” Daisy said loudly. “Luke, shouldn’t Byron play?”

Her fiancé flashed him a wide grin. “For sure, mate! You look fast.”

Josh’s mouth thinned and Byron found he couldn’t resist. “I mean, maybe…?”

Beth elbowed him in the side. “Yeah right, as if anyone could tear him away from viral TikTok dances.”

Byron stared at her. Was she serious? Pretending she was his babysitter or some shit? He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Her cake and sugar scent hit him like a line of coke. He grinned at Luke. “I mean, if anyone could talk me into playing, it’d be her.”

Luke gave him the‘ah yeah, we all love the misso’smile Byron hoped to provoke.

“Anyway,” Josh said loudly. “Pub?”

There was a general murmur of agreement. Josh brushed Beth’s forearm. “See you soon?”

“Sure.”

Byron gave Beth a little side squeeze. “Bye, mate.”

Josh didn’t even look at him. “Yeah, see you.”

Oooh, he didn’t even give you the ‘mate.’ I’d say that’s a victory, bloke.

Thanks, bloke.

The team shambled toward their cars. He and Beth stood arm-in-arm, watching them. Byron fought back a smile, waiting. Sure enough, as soon as her team was out of sight, Beth shoved him in the solar plexus. “What the fuck was that, Aquarius?”

Byron smiled down at her. She was so short in her runners, she barely came up to his chest. “What d’you mean?”

She shoved him again. “Don’t play dumb! You know what I mean?”

“Me showing up? Or the hugging? Or threatening to join your team? Or making out we’re a couple?”

“All of it!”

The side where she’d been standing was cold. He tugged her forward and she moved willingly into his arms. Byron grinned. “That’s better. Good game, Bethany.”

She made a harrumphing noise into his chest. “Why in god’s name are you calling me Bethany?”

“Because it’s your name.” He bent to smell her hair. “What perfume do you wear?”

She wrenched herself out of his arms. “You’re being weird.”

“Are you not into it?”

Beth glared at him, but a smile threatened the corners of her mouth. He pulled her back into his side and steered them toward the footpath. “Bethany, I know you’re happy to see me and you should know I’m happy to see you.”

“Why have I been pulled into an involuntary three-legged race?”

“Because we’re going to The Cornish to get drinks.”

“That wasn’t real! You just pulled that out of your ass to stick it to Josh!”

“Keen Josh? The guy who walks like Conor McGregor?”

Beth rolled her eyes.

“What’s the problem? Was I supposed to give you a wedgie or something? Show him and the team we’re such greatfriends.”

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