Page 109 of Bad Run

“I’m glad you think so.” I tug at the back of her shirt. “You look good.”

“Thanks. I went home to change before the game.”

“I like it. I would’ve liked it better if you had worn my name on your back. You are a Taylor, after all.”

Gwen bites her lip. “I don’t have a Taylor jersey.”

“There are 50 in our closet. You could’ve just grabbed one of those.”

“Does my wearing this bug you?” she asks, turning around to flash me her last name again.

I look around to make sure no one can hear me. “Yes, it bugs me. The only name on your back should be mine.”

I sound like such an asshole, but luckily it doesn’t bother Gwen. My wife smiles widely, like the mischievous vixen she is. “Next time, I’ll wear your jersey.”

A group of my teammates burst out of the locker room, laughing and causing a ruckus. Gwen jumps out of my arms, and it takes everything in me not to pull her back. I don’t care if anyone sees us, but she does, so I won’t fight her on it.

For now.

“Some of the guys were thinking of going to The Clubhouse for burgers. Want to join?” I hook my finger in her belt loop.

“Why, Lance, are you asking me out on a group date?” she asks.

Realization hits me like a blow to the nuts. I haven’t taken her out on a proper date, and we’ve been married for weeks.

I need to remedy that as soon as possible. Same with taking our relationships public. I want everyone to know Gwen is mine.

“Something like that. Want to go?” I tug her shorts, making her cheeks blush.

“I’m in.”

Side by side, Gwen and I head out of the stadium to meet the rest of my friends at the restaurant.

thirty-six

Gwen

Present

“Please, not the emu story again.” Nico shakes his head, covering his ears with his hands.

“Oh, be quiet. It’s funny,” Talia scolds her brother as Cam wraps his arms around her shoulders and kisses her head.

I was a little surprised Lance asked me to join him for a late dinner with his friends and their significant others. In public.

Nervous energy buzzes along my body as I glance around the bar, looking for any familiar faces. There’s no one here who would tell my dad they saw me with Lance.

At that relieving thought, I look around the room. The Clubhouse is the same as I remembered. Tons of Evaders’ memorabilia cover the walls, and the old black-and-white checkered floor and red leather booths remain, a throwback reminiscent of another time.

Once, when I was a kid, my father brought my brothers and me here after an Evaders game for fries and root beers. I had fun then, but it was nothing like this.

Eating dinner, surrounded by Lance and his teammates, is an experience. I can sense their strong bond in the way they talk and joke. They are more than friends. They’re family.

“Funny, my ass,” Nico grumbles.

“The emu thought his ass was funny.” Blake chuckles.

I listen as Cam tells me about how an emu chased him, buck naked, around a farm during Christmas. I’d normally be laughing my ass off—because Cam is a funny guy—but tonight, I can barely concentrate.