“Here we go,” Nate muttered.
“I thought we dropped the me subject?”
Jake pointed around. “Youhave a house. A yard. A grill.”
“And?”
“And we”—he waved dramatically to himself and Nate—“live in sad little apartments with balconies that don’t allow open flames.”
Nate sighed. “He wants you to host a barbecue.”
I stared at them, eyes narrowed. “For what?”
“For morale,” Jake said immediately. “Team bonding with the Valkyries too. Post–Boston. Also, I’m bored. And I want to invite Nate’s sister.”
“I swear to—” Nate moved in quick, but I placed a hand in front of his chest.
“Easy there, big guy,” I soothed, watching him bare his teeth to Jake.
It didn’t help that Jake was a little shit, grinning at him. “You’re assuming I want thirty sweaty rugby players in my backyard.”
Jake winked at me. “See? You’re already thinking like a host.”
Nate hesitated, then shrugged. “It wouldn’t have to be everyone. Nothing mental.”
Jake scoffed. “That’s quitter talk. It’s a barbecue. It’s meant to be mental.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said finally. “But it can’t be before the away game.”
Jake’s fist punched the air. “That’s a yes.”
“It’s not a yes.”
Nate snorted. “It’s a yes.”
My phone rang again, and this time it was a number I’d been expecting to hear from. Nerves bloomed in my chest as I pointed to the pair of idiots in my house. “It’s not a yes,” I said, answering the call and walking away, when a muttered “it’s a yes” followed me.
***
Sunshine
Thank god, you’re not here. I love star-fishing and having the bed to myself.
Connor
Funny, when I’m in your bed, you curl around me like a koala.
Sunshine
Do you like being a liar?
Connor
I tell no lies.
*image attached*
Sunshine
