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“Coach is trying to kill us,” Briana confirmed.
“She just wants us in tip-top shape. We have our big exhibition game coming up, and scouts from a bunch of colleges will be there,” Lacey explained to Kris and Teague.
“Sounds fun. I’m Teague,” he added, and Kris realized belatedly she hadn’t introduced him yet.
He didn’t seem to mind. He just shot her a bemused smile, like he wasn’t sure why a bunch of high school girls were so excited to see her.
MentHer,she mouthed. She’d told him about the organization when they ran into each other at Runyon Canyon.
Understanding dawned in his eyes, and he nodded.
“You guys should come to the game!” Skylar chirped. “Every player can invite up to four people. I’ve only invited my dad and Nate, so I have two spots left. It’s perfect.”
Kris’s heart squeezed at the sound of Nate’s name. The sun suddenly felt too hot on her skin, the sand too rough beneath her feet. “Thanks for the invite, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Skylar frowned. She tugged on her ponytail and glanced at Briana and Lacey, who took the hint and announced they were going for a dip in the water.
“I’ll scout out a prime sunbathing spot for us,” Teague said, also catching on. He loped off, leaving Kris and Skylar alone.
Skylar waited until he was out of earshot before she spoke. “I know what happened between you and my brother. He was in a total mood yesterday, and it took me forever to pry it out of him, but he told me.” Her brows formed a sharp, angry V over the bridge of her nose. “He’s being a stupid, asshole-y jerk and I’m mad at him.”
A rusty laugh emerged from Kris’s throat before it died a quick death. But it was her first laugh in forty-eight hours so that counted for something, right? “He’s your brother.”
“Which is how I know what a colossal idiot he is.” Skylar rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. “He’s sad, you know. He called in sick to work yesterday, which heneverdoes, and he just moped around the house in these ugly old sweatpants. He didn’t even run lines for today’s shoot.”
Something sparked inside Kris before she crushed it with a ruthless fist. She would not get her hopes up. “Whatever he’s sad about, he’ll get over it.”
The Oscar Bravo shoot today would revive him. Nate had a minor role, so he only needed to be on set for two days max, but he’d been looking forward to it since he got the job.
“No, he won’t. He’s sad overyou.”
Kris sucked in a deep breath and tried for patience. “He was the one who broke up with me.”
“Maybe he regrets it.” Skylar sounded hopeful. “Maybe he realizes he made a mistake and wants to get back together but hasn’t found the courage to contact you yet.”
Kris had to appreciate the younger girl’s romantic optimism, even if she didn’t share the sentiment. “I doubt it.”
Skylar’s jaw set in a stubborn line. “Fine. But will you come to the game? It’s Wednesday night.” Her eyes searched Kris’s face. “It’s a huge deal, and I want you there if you can make it.”
Kris had manipulated enough people in the past to know when she was the one being manipulated. Her skin flushed hot and cold at the thought of seeing Nate again so soon—she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be ready. But soccer meant a lot to Skylar, and this gamewasa big deal. Coaches from Division I schools all over the country would be in attendance. Skylar wasn’t lying about that.
“I’ll go if Teague goes.” If Kris were to face her ex again after getting dumped, she needed armor. And if that armor came in the form of a six-foot-tall blond with a ripped surfer’s body?
All the better.
