Page 105 of Her Game Plan

Beckett grunts in agreement. “My party would be, like, seven people, and at least four of them would be uninvited party crashers.”

“I’m going to tell Larsen he’s one of the three people you’d invite to your party,” I threaten, knowing Beckett enjoys the company of the young hockey player even if he claims to find him annoying.

He shoves at me halfheartedly.

“Big plans for the offseason?” I ask them since both the Yeti and the Mountaineers are out of the playoffs.

“Finley and I are headed to Paris for a month,” Beckett answers. “I think it might be an annual trip for us.”

“I’m headed to Texas, unfortunately.” Nate pulls on his long beard. “I’ll be lucky if I make it back without my mom forcibly holding me down and shaving my beard. But I’ve got to go.”

“You certainly could use a shave,” I suggest. “And a haircut.”

Nate throws up his arms. “They’re good luck!”

“Didn’t you lose your playoff series?” Beckett asks. “Can’t be that lucky.”

Nate releases a long exhale. “You don’t understand how luck works.”

I catch Beckett’s gaze, and we silently disagree with Nate.

As the night wears on, my desire to socialize dims. All I want to do is pull Charlotte onto my lap as we sit around the fire pit, listening as she talks to all the important people in our lives.

Mostly, I just want to hold her.

Be near her.

I find her talking to Finley, Addie, and Sage, a formidable group of women, especially in the pro-sports world.

“Hi,” I whisper as I wrap my arms around her from behind.

She leans back, kissing my cheek as I pull her closer. “Hey, Birthday Boy.”

“Oh, you upgraded him from Ball Boy?” Sage asks. “Damn. You must really like him.”

“Eh, he’s okay.” Charlotte’s eyes dance with mischief. “I’ll probably keep him, though.”

“God, you two are too cute,” Addie says, her tone half amused, half disgusted.

“Maybe you’ll find some professional athlete of your own while you’re home this summer.” Sage’s wicked smile suggests it’s more of a threat than a wish for Addie.

“You’re headed back to Texas?” Charlotte asks.

“Yeah. For a little while. I’m getting so close to getting the call-up to professional men’s basketball that I can almost taste it. And I have a few big women’s games in Texas that are going to be make-or-break for me. I’m going to stay with my parents for a bit, so I’m not traveling back and forth.”

“Oh, Nate said he was going to be in Texas, too,” I tell her. “Maybe you’ll see him around.”

Addie snorts. “Who’s Nate?” Then she waves off the question. “Doesn’t matter. I’m out if y’all are going to start setting me up with your sad, single friends. Plus, have you seen Texas? It’s a big state. I’m sure we won’t run into each other.”

“I didn’t realize I was trying to set them up,” I whisper into Charlotte’s ear as Addie goes on about how busy she’ll be anyway and how she’ll never meet a man who understands her schedule.

Her breath is warm on my neck as she says, “Addie is convinced she has the world’s worst taste in men, so she has decided to swear off dating. She’s only doing one-night stands from now on.”

“She could try fake dating,” I propose. “It worked perfectly for me.”

“So true. Maybe you should suggest it to her.”

I take in the redhead and decide I like my balls far too much to do that. “Hard pass.”