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He rubs his chin like he has to think about it. “It is, but today, I’m providing color, so it’s not a big issue.”
The gymnastics team isn’t going to believe I met Nic Mancini and why hasn’t Logan mentioned Nic is his brother-in-law. “So, you’re the one that tells the stories and brings up their stats?”
He nods and all four of them look impressed by my knowledge of sports broadcasting.
As I grab a sparkling water, I focus on Archer and Megan’s interaction. They keep each other laughing and he can’t keep his hands off her in a PG way.
Then Hagan pushes open the all-glass entrance with Josie in tow. Jealousy rumbles up my spine because Hagan brought her as his date.
Josie fills her plate while Hagan saddles up to the bar, his mouth moving, trailed by a smile and dimples. Why is he bringing a date? Does he not remember that kiss? The flirtations during dinner?
Why do I care? And why do I keep asking myself that same question, repeatedly? No athletes. Right? Maybe.
The bartender sets the drinks in front of Hagan, offering Josie the vodka cranberry. While he fills his plate, Josie scans the room, locating me. She stalks over to me in three leggy strides. What I would give for those long legs. No, if I had grandaddy long-legs, I wouldn’t be a gymnast, so I’ll keep my short, muscled ones.
“Adalee, didn’t expect to see you here,” she says, narrowing her eyes.
“I’m surprised as you are, but Logan invited me, so here I am,” I say. We’re acquaintances but not friends. Josie and I run in the same sports circle because one of her friends dated Bryce, another gymnast during my freshman year. But the past year, she’s been hanging with the baseball crowd and since I was with Chaz, we’d run into each other.
She grabs the hem of her shirt and fiddles with it. “Oh.”
Hagan’s crosses the suite, eating filet medallions on one skewer and veggies on the other. His teeth sink into the meat as he slides it off and I swear to God my thighs squeeze. He exudes pure masculinity—the way his teeth skid slowly over the bamboo. My sight settles on his lips before I finally form words. “Did you two come together?”
Hagan’s hand flies up to his mouth as he coughs. “No, she’s Logan’s date for the afterparty.”
She grabs a skewer from Hagan’s plate. “Yeah, Hagan brought me up to eat and then I’m headed back down. Logan didn’t offer me a VIP ticket.”
From her expression, she wants more than a one-time hit at an afterparty and she’s worried that I’m Logan’s long term goal. Does Logan like me like me? I hope not. Did Hagan tell him about our kiss?
Now it was my turn to say, “Oh.” I nod my head. “We’re just friends.”
Josie kisses Hagan on the cheek. “I know, Adalee. Hagan, thanks for the grilled chicken fingers. I didn’t want junk food. Hopefully, Logan and I will see you at the party. Together, right?”
I start to say no, but Hagan interjects, “Yeah, we’ll be there.”
“It depends on how my leg feels.”
Hagan walks Josie out. Before she leaves, he hugs her, and I’m confused. Logan invited her, but Hagan is being attentive and caring.
Logan also invited me. Has Josie slept with Logan before? He has a one-time rule and doesn’t go out with someone twice. I make a mental note to ask him about it later.
Hagan’s eyes meet mine from across the room. He’s talking with Nic and Archer. God, if Archer is any indication, Hagan will be stealing hearts—forever. Hagan loads up another plate and walks my way, making my skin pebble.
“Have you eaten?” he asks as handing me a plate of the same food he had eaten. “No carbs.”
I bite back a grin because I saw Archer make his wife a plate. Hagan pays attention to how he treats Megan, then does the same. It’s thoughtful, but I can’t help but push his buttons. “I ate at home.”
“Jesus, why do you hate me?” he asks quietly with a slight dip of his head. “I’ve never been around someone that flip flops like you.”
“I don’t hate you.”
I’m keeping a wall between us, knowing it will crumble faster than a sandcastle in a windstorm. I have one protector and that’s me. It’s the push and pull going on inside my brain. No man is trustworthy.
Seeing his jaw quiver and the lines on his tanned forehead, I regret goading him immediately.
He puts the plate down on the table beside us and turns away. I reach for his hand, pleading for him to look at me. “Hagan, I was joking.” My body aching to continue looking into his eyes but he shakes his fingers loose and finds an outside seat in the front row.
Archer sits beside him, places his arm around Hagan’s shoulders. They’re clearly close and I wish for that. I must be in a daydream state because I’m startled when Megan says, “Their family bond is unwavering. Their sister became one of my best friends in college and I was always so jealous of the closeness, yet they always made me feel right at home. Do you have siblings?”
