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The town that is home to the football team everyone I know is relying upon me to eviscerate.
And if the two guys sitting next to me knew any of that, I’m not sure if they’d ever forgive me.
CHAPTERSIX
MAEVE
I’m returning from my break when I see them. Him. Wes and a group of his friends have just enteredMo’sand are in the midst of settling in the corner booth.
I suck in a sharp breath as I walk over to where Clare is standing, manning the front counter.
“Perfect timing,” she tells me. “I was just about to head over to take their order.” She nods toward Wes’s table. “Can you cover the register?”
“I’ll take the booth.”
Clare looks at me with shock. “What?”
I’m equally surprised by my own words, but I don’t backtrack. “I said I’ll take the booth.”
“But—it’sAlleghany. They’re Alleghany football players.” Clare’s looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have.
“I know.” I grab an order pad and start toward the booth. I regret the rash decision the moment Chris Fields looks up and sees me, but it’s too late. I try to channel my boldest alter ego as I take the final steps that will place me directly in front of their booth.
Unfortunately, even she screams this is a terrible decision. If I had a choice, I might listen. But more of Wes’s friends are glancing at me, mouths agape.
“What can I get you guys?” My voice sounds even and calm, and I’ve never been so grateful for anything.
One of the guys sitting at the end of the booth looks me over. “Aren’t you Coach Stevens’ other kid? Liam Stevens’ sister?”
“My name is Maeve,” I reply evenly, surprised a random Alleghany football player knows my identity at first glance.
“I’ll take that as a yes. We don’t need a Stallion spy anywhere near us.”
“Not sure what I would be spying on,” I reply sweetly. “Didn’t you boys end last season with three straight losses?”
I also spent four hours on Sunday catching their quarterback’s passes, which I’m certain was more telling of their team strategy than their lunch orders will be.
I’m hit with a dozen glares at once in response to my snarky comment.
“Double BLT,” Wes says. I finally let myself look at him, but he’s staring down at his phone, typing something.
The guy at the end of the booth looks to Wes. “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear what she just said?”
“She’s a waitress. We’re ordering food. What’s the issue?” Wes looks up from his phone, but not at me. He looks directly at the guy who spoke to me.
“But—she’s from Glenmont. A Stallion. A Stevens,” the guy sputters.
“Who wouldn’t be serving us if someone hadn’t fucked all the waitresses at Burger Barn,” Wes drawls. “Actions have consequences, Baylor.” The other Alleghany players all laugh.
Baylor groans. “Fine. I’ll take a burger. Medium rare.”
The rest of the guys all call out their orders, and I scribble them down as quickly as I can. I walk away from their table rapidly and then stick the sheet of paper in the order queue.
Clare is looking at me with both eyebrows raised. I pretend not to see. Even thoughMo’sis in Fayetteville, we rarely get any Alleghany students in here. On the few occasions we have, I’ve always let Clare serve them, as the local.
I busy myself with all the mundane tasks I typically try to avoid to keep myself from looking over at Wes’s booth. I refill all the salt and pepper shakers, take out the trash, wipe down the extra menus, and am in the midst of folding napkins when their large order comes up. I see Clare glance at me once before picking up the tray and carrying their food over.
Shortly after she delivers their order, the bell above the door clangs and a group of girls wearing Alleghany cheerleading outfits enter. Maggie’s not with them, but I recognize a few from the party I went to. They all strut over to Wes’s booth immediately.
