“Are you sure because it’s worth the stress, or are you sure because you think every good thing in life has to hurt before you’re allowed to keep it?”
I looked away.
She made a small sound in her throat. “That one left a mark. I’ll write it down as excellent mothering.”
“Can we not?”
“Fine, but only because I’m hungry and your sister is about to emotionally dismantle that goalie.”
From the living room, Skylar’s voice carried. “You have four hype songs in a row. That’s not a playlist. That’s a cry for help.”
Briggs sounded wounded. “They each serve a different emotional purpose.”
“They each sound like a truck commercial.”
Mom smiled, tired and bright. “I like her so much.”
“Yeah, me too, even though she’s meaner than me.”
“You had the same teacher.”
I huffed despite myself, and her eyes warmed like she had won something.
Then her gaze sharpened again. “Are you dating anyone?”
The question felt like a hard turn considering where the conversation had been.
I turned my head toward her. “What?”
“You heard me. You’re handsome, tense, and cleaning like a woman is coming over even though the woman arriving was me. That usually means either shame, love, or both.”
“I cleaned because Vivi was coming.”
“Mmm.”
“That sound means you’re about to be annoying.”
“That sound means I brought you into this world and know when your face is lying.”
Skylar looked up from Briggs’s phone like she had been waiting for this exact blood sport. “Easton has a girlfriend?”
“No,” I said immediately.
Vivi, still beside Cade, turned with interest. “Easton said no fast.”
Ryan’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s damning.”
Rider looked at me with quiet amusement. “Very fast.”
Briggs pressed a fist to his mouth. “Our captain has secrets.”
“I have teammates who want drills.”
Skylar narrowed her eyes. “What’s her name?”
“There isn’t a her.”
Mom hummed again.
