Page 51 of With the Assist

“Right around the time, you trash-talked my girl to her face,” Avery says, eyes gleaming and hand extended. “Nice to meet you again.”

“Ouch,” Nathan replies, chuckling.

“We’ve already paid our penance for that.” Liam strolls over, saddling up next to us. “In the form of hours of cardio torture.”

The rest of Nathan’s friends follow behind. We take turns introducing everyone while I try to ignore his hand sliding from mine and shifting to my lower back. His palm is flush against me, but the contact is casual. Normal for anyone dating. Except, it sparks under my skin in a way that’s anything but casual.

Grayson’s eyes flick to Avery, who has gone completely still beside me. His smile sharpens, like he’s been handed an unexpected puzzle.

“Well,” he says, resting an elbow against the table. “If this isn’t fate.”

Avery doesn’t miss a beat. “If by fate you mean you’ve stalked me on social media before, then sure.”

“I never stalked.”

“The picture was from a year ago.”

Grayson’s lips tilt up as he leans forward, eyes laser-focused on Avery. “Well, you looked good.”

There’s a beat of silence that hums with something unfinished. I glance between them, curiosity sparking. Avery has always been friendly, flirtatious even, but there’s a wall there now that I’ve never seen before. Unlike most men, Grayson doesn’t seem put off by it.

Nathan clears his throat. “Okay, drinks.”

We turn toward the bar, catching the eye of one of the waiters.

“Finally,” Liam says. “What’re you having, Wilder?”

Nathan looks down at me, his thumb tracing a lazy circle against my back. “What do you want?”

“Water,” I say without thinking. It’s my default. The smart athlete choice.

He nods immediately. “Water for Miller and me.”

I stare at him, knowing he’s only getting water because I am. The confused expression that passes across Wyatt’s face says as much.

His willingness to follow my lead causes something warm to spread throughout my body. So much so that when the waiter arrives, I change my order.

“I’ll take a beer.”

Nathan’s head turns toward me, eyes searching my face. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I want one.” I can’t remember the last time I had a drink, but with tonight being one big performance, now seems as good a time as any to break the dry spell.

His lips twitch, and he squints his eyes, trying to read my face. “Then I’ll have one too.”

The bartender slides them over. I take a sip, the cold bitterness washing away the spark tingling beneath my skin. Nathan lifts his bottle a second later, our eyes meeting over the rims. He doesn’t say anything, but his hand finds my hip again, resting there as if he’s done it forever.

Conversation loosens after that. Liam tells a story about getting lost downtown after a road game. Haley chimes in with one aboutBecca nearly missing a flight because she refused to leave a coffee shop. Laughter weaves between us, and I order another beer.

Then Harper appears, sliding in beside me.

“You made it.” I lean over to hug her.

She grins. “Wouldn’t miss this.”

Nathan turns, eyes lighting up. “You must be Harper.”

“That obvious?” She asks.