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“A long story, huh? Is Colt in on this? He didn’t mention it when I told him you guys were coming today.”
“I doubt it would have come up in conversation on its own.”
“Hmmm.” Joss hums as we follow her down the stairs.
“Oh fuck. She made margaritas from scratch. I wonder if the tequila is down here. Dollface!” I hear a man talking and then yell out the nickname just as we round the corner.
“Speak of the devil and she appears.” Joss leans in and kisses him. I recognize him immediately—Colt St. George.
“Sorry. Didn’t realize you were right there.” He looks up and then behind her. “Or that you had company.”
“Yes. I have the photo shoot today remember?”
“Oh shit. Yes, I’m sorry.” I see the recognition in his eyes. “Undergrove. Nice seeing you off the field. And good to see you again, Madison.”
So no, Xander and Tobias had not informed him of the past. I might have a little bit of a reprieve today after all.
“Madison?” I hear another male voice ask from around the corner and then a guy with dirty blond curly hair rounds the corner. He’s an inch or so shorter than me, and I don’t recognize him. But when his eyes land on Madison, they light up like a kid on Christmas morning, and he hurries over to hug her. Grabbing her up off the ground and spinning her around. “Fuck, I didn’t know you were coming, Maddy girl. I’ve missed you.”
“Nick!” She hugs him back and grins brightly as he spins her and then sets her down on her feet. They obviously know each other,well. And I have to control my reaction, biting the side of my tongue as I watch it play out. I feel the swell of irritation at how familiar he is with her. It’s obvious as fuck it’s more than just friendship on his part, and while he’d have zero clue that she’s secretly with me, he should at least be respecting the fact that she’s very publicly dating A.J. Does it make me a hypocrite given my own approach to her? Maybe. But I’m starting to think this afternoon is going to be even more painful than I thought.
They’re busy talking as Joss introduces me to Colt more formally and takes me to see the studio she has set up in herhouse. She explains she has another one we can go to if need-be but that this one is her favorite, so she thought we’d start here. She shows me a room I can change in, and I set down the bag of clothes I brought with me, pulling some of them out as she shuts the door behind me. I was hoping Madison would help me pick something, but she’s too involved in talking to the others and Joss fixing her a drink to notice, and I don’t want to interrupt. I immediately feel like an outsider here, even more than I did with the Chaos, which is saying something.
I can safely saythat I officially hate Nick who I’ve discovered is a former all-pro Ivy Leaguer and now the long snapper for the Phantom. He’s a team favorite, a fan favorite, and a darling of this friend group. And apparently, a huge fucking fan of Madison judging by the way he’s been glued to her side all afternoon. She can’t move without his eyes on her, can’t talk without his rapt attention, and every chance he gets he presses closer to her to whisper something in her ear or make a joke that sends her into a fit of laughter.
When Madison follows me to the downstairs bedroom after Joss whispers something about the next change of clothes, she shuts the door behind her and smiles at me. She’s gorgeous today, maybe more than usual for all the laughing and smiling she’s been doing, but I’m too riled to enjoy it. The envy is eating me from the inside out, and I’m trying to quell it.
“What?” she asks as her fingers brush away a small piece of fuzz caught in the five o’clock shadow I have. “I know it’s a long day.”
“Just feel a little out of place here.”
“Really? I thought they were being nice.”
“Oh yeah. Nick’s beingverynice. To you.” I look up at her and her brow furrows.
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you guys have a thing before? It’s very obvious he’s doing his level fucking best to keep your attention. Can’t stop flirting with you.”
“He is not flirting with me. He’s just a friend.”
“Just a friend,” I snort. “If that’s a friend…”
“Excuse you?” I hear her temper flaring in her tone.
“All that whispering between the two of you. That’s friendly?”
“We’re trying not to interrupt the shoot. Yes, it’s friendly.”
“You might think of him as a friend, but he definitely sees you as more than that. Which would be fine if you were single, but he knows you’re with A.J.”
“He’s just joking and chatting,” she reiterates.
“So he’s never given you any indication he’s interested in you?” I ask as I pull off my shirt.
“I didn’t say that.”
I fucking knew it. I toss my shirt and stare at her silently before I speak. Trying to choose my words carefully but they come out jealous and bitter anyway.
