Page 72 of Sweet Redemption

“Chill, brother. You look like you’re about to kill somebody. I just mean she’s been off since the whole ACL thing. I’ve been working with her nonprofit for a few years in her offseason. And the woman I see now . . . I don’t know. She just seems like she lost her spark. I figured you, being you, could maybe help her. You guys used to be inseparable.” He tips his chin my way as we head for the elevators. “I always figured you’d end up together before Britt.”

“Yeah,” I admit to him for the first time. “I did too.”

“It’s not too late, you know. I’m pretty sure she’s not seeing anyone. I don’t think that Rafe Langley thing is serious.”

Why do brothers know exactly what to say to piss you the fuck off.

I clench my teeth, trying to mask my irrational need to pound the asshole’s fucking face in just because he touched her. “It’s not. They’re just friends.”

“Friends like you two?” he asks as Kaleigh rounds the corner, a devilish gleam in her eyes. I’ve only met this woman a handful of times. She’s good friends with my cousins and Ryker and Jamie’s wives. But I’ve been around her enough to know that gleam never seems to leave her.

“Oooh, Hendrix. Who are you just friends with?”

“No one,” I groan and punch my brother.

“Aww. I could be your friend.” She winks. “Purely platonic though. I’m done with athletes.”

“I’m sure the athletes are devastated,” I grumble and wait for her to walk in front of us as the elevator opens.

“Oh, he’s got jokes,” she teases, and I can’t help but smile.

The doors close slowly as a soft voice calls, “Hold the elevator.”

A delicate hand with soft pink nails slips between the door before Serena slides inside. Her eyes dart around the interior, from Leo to me to Kaleigh before she moves as far away from me as possible.

“Perfect timing, Serena. We were just trying to come up with some new friends for Hendrix.” Kaleigh grins like the fucking cartoon cat who always tries to eat Tweety Bird.

This girl is new to Kroydon Hills. She wasn’t here when I was in high school or college and doesn’t know our history. Which means she has no clue the shit storm she just stepped into.

Serena’s teeth press down into her pouty bottom lip as her eyes flash my way. “And why does Hendrix need new friends?”

“I’m not sure. But according to Leo, he doesn’t have any,” Kaleigh happily announces like that’s even close to what was said.

But when Serena’s lips slide into a beautiful smile, I don’t give a single shit what Kaleigh said. “I mean,” she giggles—actually giggles. “He wasn’t the worst friend.”

The doors ding and open into the lobby where the team is filing out onto the buses.

Kaleigh looks between Serena and me and shrugs. “I guess it’s a start.”

Yeah . . . I think it is.

SERENA

Do you think Dora the explorer ever knew where she was going? Nope. That poor girl got lost in every single episode, but somehow, she still managed to get there with the help of a monkey and a cute pair of shoes. Pretty sure my monkey is MIA. But hey, at least I have the cute shoes.

—Serena’s Secret Thoughts

Aurora

Did you call the number yet?”

Serena

No. I’ve been interviewing candidates for my replacement.

Aurora

I thought you were in Texas.