Page 272 of On His Team

Benson looks back at me. “Why is there an alligator?”

I shrug. “Nobody knows.”

“There are no alligators in Nevada,” Percy says.

“Thank you, Percy,” I say, folding the bag up.

He says, “It’s a desert.”

I raise my eyebrows. “I know it’s a desert.”

Rowan takes his. He looks at the tiny green alligator in sunglasses. I suddenly feel more emotional than I should.

“I wanted everybody to have something from this trip,” I say. “Because someday we’re going to look at these and remember this exact night.”

They quiet a little.

Even Stanley.

I look around the table.

“This moment right now is kind of perfect. Nobody’s graduated yet. Everybody is here. You’re playing for a national championship tomorrow, which is insane, by the way, and somehow every single one of you idiots ended up being my family.”

Benson’s expression softens.

Stanley’s does too, which is disturbing.

“And,” I add, because I can only be sincere for so long, “I have a boyfriend.”

Benson closes his eyes.

Stanley starts laughing.

Rowan looks at me. That expression again.

I point at all of them. “I’m serious. I love you guys. You don’t need luck. You’re going to win.”

Stanley leans back and looks at Rowan. “What have you been telling her?”

Rowan shakes his head. “Nothing. She comes up with this all on her own.”

“Ah.” Stanley nods. “Reeve thing.”

Rowan shakes his snow globe once. “I like it.”

“Thank you.”

He stares at the alligator. “Why is it wearing sunglasses, though?”

“Because it’s on vacation, Rowan.”

He looks at me. “The alligator is on vacation?”

“The alligator is having the time of its life.”

He does the thing where he laughs without really making a sound. Then he puts it into his jacket pocket. For some reason, that makes me ridiculously happy.

An assistant coach appears at the door and announces they have a meeting in ten.