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I smile at my phone screen.
Dom: I’m all for not waiting until Tuesday for tacos.
I should have asked her a question. I don’t want this conversation to end, and questions will help with that. I’m trying to think of something I can ask her that doesn’t sound awkward when I get another text from her.
Tess: I suppose you’re living it up at the beach? Didn’t you say you were going to Tampa?
Dom: I’m in Tampa, but no time for the beach. I’m in a locker room doing pregame stuff. Do you like the beach?
Tess: I’ve never been to the beach. I might get to go in a few months though if Hannah’s dance team makes it to a national competition in Orlando. We’ll just have to sell about 18,000 candy bars to pay for it. Lol.
Dom: Hey, I’ll buy ’em. I love the caramel ones.
Tess: She has a performance this week, and if she does well, she’ll be on the team that gets to compete for Orlando. Cross all the things.
Dom: Where and when is her performance? I’d love to see it.
Tess: That’s nice of you, but you’d have to sit through more than an hour of other teams just to see her four minute long routine.
Dom: That’s okay. When is it?
I’m waiting for a response, but a solid minute goes by with no text. Did I push too far? I hope Tess doesn’t think I’m trying to get her in bed by showing interest in her kids. After seeing Zane so relaxed and happy around my teammates, I’d like to do something to support Hannah, too.
“This is ridiculous!” Pollard fumes, walking back into the main area of the locker room. “Somebody better pull out a sweater that will fit me within the next ten seconds.”
Nope. He’s not getting it until the last minute. Everyone knows the drill; we ignore him and wait to see how pissed off and frantic he gets.
I look down at my phone screen and see a waiting text from Tess with the name and address of a place and a time, six p.m. Wednesday. That works—my flight home from this road trip gets in early in the afternoon that day. I respond immediately.
Dom: I’ll be there. Do I need a ticket or anything?
Tess: Are you sure? Tickets are free but I can save you one.
Dom: Yes. I’ll be there. I’ll take everyone out for dinner after.
Tess: You’ve already done so much for us.
Dom: I need to pick up Sergei’s fan anyway. I’ll see you Wednesday.
Tess: Okay, see you then.
I smile, already running through restaurant options for dinner. I want to take them somewhere nice but still casual. Tess deserves to be the one being waited on instead of the one doing the serving.
“You guys are assholes,” Pollard grumbles.
Coach Maddox is walking through the locker room and he glances over at Pollard’s locker and smiles.
“Give him his sweater, Dom.”
Pollard glares at me. “I fucking knew it.”
I shrug. “Andy knows where it is. I’ve been sleeping with it under my ass for a full week and farting on it so it doesn’t have that brand-new rookie smell. You’re welcome.”
He stares at me for a couple of seconds, considering a response, but then he stalks away.
“Welcome to the team!” I call after him.
He puts both middle fingers in the air and I laugh. That went well.
