Page 66 of Verdict

It didn’t work. Because somehow, without even trying, the guy had already gotten under my skin.

Drake elbowed me in the ribs. “What’s with you, Jordan?”

I rubbed my side. “Nothing. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

He opened his mouth to respond, but my attention snapped left when I heard Ava’s name slip from Hudson’s mouth.

Beckham nodded, chuckling. “Yeah, she’s Walker James’ little sister. I can’t believe you didn’t know that.”

“I didn’t ask her what her last name was,” Hudson said easily. “Do you think it’ll piss Walker off if I ask her out?”

The air shifted.

Shane stabbed his fork into a scallop. “A year ago? Probably. But…” His eyes lifted to me with a smug grin. “Then his best friend knocked her up, so I’d say he’s calmed down about the whole dating-his-sister thing.”

“Yeah, dating her is a cakewalk compared to what Jordan pulled,” Maddox said before shoving a forkful of salad into his mouth.

I might’ve growled. Hard to tell.

The guys were all bent over laughing, having a great fucking time, while Beckham smirked behind his beer. Hudson glanced at me; sympathy practically stamped across his face.

That only pissed me off more. The last thing I needed was this guy feeling sorry for me.

Drake sighed. “All right, enough. Leave Cohen alone. That shit’s old news.”

I shot him a grateful look.

Silence settled for half a beat. Hudson, apparently incapable of reading a room, leaned forward again. “So… is that a no? Walker won’t care if I ask her out?”

I blew out a breath. Drake looked down, shaking his head in disbelief.

“You’re good, Fuller,” Beckham said around a mouthful of bread.

That was it. That was the green light.

Our entrees arrived, giving me something to focus on besides the fact that my teammates—my so-called closest friends—basically just handed this guy permission to take the one woman I couldn’t stop thinking about out on a date.

The guys shifted back into game talk.

Drake turned toward me, pausing with his fork halfway to his mouth.

“Things are becoming a lot clearer.”

I stared at him. “The hell is that supposed to mean?”

Chapter 19

Cohen

The crowd was electric. Alive in a way that made the stadium hum beneath my cleats. The lights burned down onto the field as we battled through the final game of the Wild Card Series. We were in the top of the fifth and up by only one run. Atlanta wasn't handing us a ticket to the ALDS without a fight. I bent at the waist, in position. Ready. The batter took his sweet-ass time stepping into the box, adjusting gloves, tapping cleats. I took that opportunity to glance over at the crowd.

My eyes locked onto Ava, like a missile finding its target. Without trying, I always seemed to find her in a crowd.

Still wearing her brother's goddamn jersey.

She was turned toward Aria, laughing at something she’d said. Ellie rested against her chest, little pink headphones covering her ears. That ache I’ve seemed to grow accustomed to settled in my chest like it owned the damn place.

My gaze drifted to the mound. Hudson wasn’t looking in for the sign. Nope. He was looking exactly where I’d just been.