Page 12 of Happily Ever Maybe

“I don’t think so,” Ford said. “We have an hour and a halfof practice, and then we have the tournament.”

“They have a tournament every night?How is it a tournament, then?” Sawyer asked, ever the analytical man.

“It’s like trivia night. You have a winner for the evening.And unless you’re part of a team that regularly goesagainst another and keeps score, it’s just for thenight. I promise. It’s not insane.”

“You say that, but we’re throwing axes. When did this becomea thing?”

“I’m sure some celebrity did it and then put it on socialmedia. And here we are,” Noah said as he looked up from his phone.

“Are you texting Greer? I thought this was supposed to be aman’s night.”

“It’s a guys’ night. If you say man’s night, it sounds likewe’re going to puff up our chests and compare dicks,”Kane said as he sat back down when Sawyer went to take his turn.

I snorted, grateful I hadn’t takena sip of my drink.

“Well, I didn’t hit anyone. I’m going to count that as awin,” Sawyer said as he came back to sit next to me. I looked at the axembedded in the wall, a foot to the left of the target.

“You did better when there were multiple targets with theducks. You know, where you could hit the one on the left like you constantlydo.”

“You’re placating me. Maybe I should go have a drink.”

“You’re welcome to it,” Ford said. “Most people are having adrink or two while out here. We never do, but only because we usually do thison work nights.”

“I guess that’s true. No one needs a hangover in your lineof business.” Sawyer paused. “Or any line of business.”

“Damn straight,” I said. “Seriously, though, the tournamentis soon. Are you ready?”

Ford frowned. “I feel like the training session was tooquick. The group games are fun, but for a winner-take-all tournament?I’m a little worried.”

“It’s fine. We’ve got this,” I said with a laugh, though Iwasn’t sure I truly believed it. Kane and Kingston were reallygood at this, probably the best in the room. But Ford and Noah were toobusy texting Greer to really put their hearts into it. Sawyer was a lost cause,and I was off my game. I just wouldn’t think about why.

“Okay, get ready, the Tournament of Teams is about tobegin,” a man declared via the intercom before going over the rules.

Sawyer sighed. “I’m not ready.”

“It’s okay. Maybe you’ll do betterwhen it counts,” Kane said kindly.

“I really don’t believe that.”

I grinned. “It’s fine. We have tohit targets for some of our qualifications. And a lot of us have experiencethrowing things.”

“I was a pitcher in high school,” Ford said with a grin.

“Now you pitch other things,” Noah said with a smirk, andFord leaned down and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Shut up,” Ford grumbled, his cheeks going red.

I laughed, the others joining in.

“I did not need to know who the catcher was in thatsituation,” Kane said lightheartedly.

“I’m learning so many new things. Thanks for taking me out,brother,” Sawyer said with a laugh, his eyes dancing.

“Okay, Team Montgomery, here we are,” the man over theintercom said, and Sawyer and I met gazes before bursting out laughing.

“Did we pick the team name?” Kaneasked. “Because it’d be nice to use my real name for once. Just saying.”

Ford flipped him off. “I’ll have you know I’m not aMontgomery either.”