Page 30 of Plays Well With Others

When he closes in on the ball, he jumps for it, and with outstretched arms he catches it…on his fingertips.

“Yes! That’s how you do it!” I cry out.

Hauling it close, he spins out of bounds to dodge the coverage, and Elodie cheers with me. “Yes, eighty-eight!”

With the game play stopped, she turns to me, her bright eyes sparkling with questions. “Someone is extra excited tonight.”

“Well, did you see that play?”

“Yes, he has magic hands,” she says, but her eyes stay locked on mine. She’s a determined bumblebee. “Do you still want to ride his horse?”

“Shut up,” I say.

“Well, do you?”

“Elodie,” I chide.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

I don’t answer her. On the field, the Renegades get back in the huddle, and I put all my positive energy into the game.

My brand-new vibe must be some kind of good luck charm because the good guys win.

After the game ends, Elodie and I make our way out of the stadium and find Carter outside the players’ entrance. He’s all relaxed and upbeat in his post-game suit as he shoots the breeze with Malik Hamlin, the team’s running back.

When Carter spots us coming toward him through the turnstiles, his grin widens. He smacks Malik on the shoulder in parting then ambles over.

Malik tips his chin toward me. “Hey, Rachel,” he says before he waves and takes off.

“Good game, Malik,” I call out.

When Carter reaches us, he says hi to Elodie and then lifts me into a hug. A warm, friendly hug. I refuse to think bangable thoughts about it or him.

When he sets me down, I reach into my purse for the gift I got him. I hand him the mug with a cartoon of a cheese grater on it, captioned: “Don’t you look grate.”

“Aww, it’s the commemorative I-saw-your-man-chest mug,” he says.

Now he’ll never know I wanted to bang him. See? I can be underhanded in my gift-giving too.

10

HOW TO SABOTAGE A FIRST DATE

Carter: I’m up late. Don’t tell anyone.

Rachel: Your secret is safe with me.

Carter: Thanks. Appreciate that.

Rachel: Are you cleaning the floors? Organizing the cupboards? Or using that amazing mug I just gave you to water Jane?

Carter: Jane! Fuck!!! Be right back.

Carter: Okay, she’s satisfied now. She appreciates you hearing her cries for help, since I’d snoozed that alert like a bad boy.

Rachel: I have a special gift for sensing bad plant daddies.

Carter: I like to tease my ladies. Make them beg for it. Also, my cupboards were organized yesterday. Thank you very much.

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