Page 271 of On His Team

Then he says, “So are we.”

That is the whole speech.

He sits down.

I look toward Benson because I want to see his face. Instead, I catch Rowan’s eyes. He’s already looking at me. The corner of his mouth lifts. Then he goes back to whatever Trent is saying.

Five minutes later, I look again. He is already looking again. I raise my eyebrows. He raises his. I laugh and drop my attention to my bread roll.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

I turn toward Lucy. “What?”

She smiles.

“No,” I say automatically. And even before the word fully leaves my mouth, I know it’s not true.

Lucy sees the hesitation. Her expression changes. “You guys haven’t said it yet?”

I shake my head.

Across the room, Rowan lifts his water. His eyes find mine again over the rim of the glass.

“No,” I say. “We haven’t.”

Lucy looks toward him. Then back at me. “Well, I can tell he is.”

I cover my mouth and laugh. “Maybe.”

But something warm has already opened in my chest.

After dinner, when the team is done eating and everybody starts talking again, I pull the gift-shop bag out from beneath my chair and walk over to the table. I make sure all of them are within hearing distance when I tell them I got them something.

“I bought you presents,” I say.

Stanley looks immediately suspicious. “Why?”

“Because I love you.”

He puts one hand dramatically over his chest.

“Oh.” He turns toward Rowan. “Did you hear that? She loves me.”

Stanley takes the first snow globe out of the bag. His entire face changes. “This is fucking awesome.”

I laugh and point at it. “Appreciate it. It cost nineteen dollars.”

Stanley turns it around twice, shakes it, then holds it up toward the lights.

Benson takes his next. He stares at it. “What is this?”

“A memory.”

He makes a funny face. “There’s an alligator in it.”

I nod. “Yes.”

Blue turns it upside down and watches the glitter fall.