Page 88 of Mac Meyers Needs Me

I slip an arm around her waist and burrow through her hair to kiss her neck. “Hey.”

“Hi.” Her hand covers mine.

Brody dips his chin. “Finally managed to escape Beans, huh?”

“It must be irritating when they glom on after Tristan shows up at a game or practice,” I reply.

Brody shrugs. “No more than it is for Fee and Tally.”

“At least until I started dating one of my dad’s players,” Tally replies cheekily.

“Your patience paid off.” Fee shifts so she’s tucked into my side, under my arm.

“I’m not dating you for your connections,” I blurt.

“We all know you’re dating Fee because you’ve been low-key crushing on her since you met her,” Gage interjects.

“You mean we’ve been low-key crushing on each other,” Fee corrects. She kisses the edge of my jaw and pats my chest. “And I know. You’ve always been cool about who my sister is and who she’s married to.”

“It makes sense in a way, though.” Gage runs a hand through his hair. “That you’d hang out with a bunch of people who have similar experiences and understand the position you’re always in. And these parties, while sometimes annoying for the three of you, also make it easy to suss out when people aren’t genuine. It kind of feels like training for the future, and like it creates tighter friendship bonds.”

We all stare at him like he’s suddenly sprouted two heads.

“That was very insightful, Gage,” Enid says.

Gage nods, like he knows this. “We’re all pushing towards the same goal: do the thing we love the most as a career, but not all of us will make it. Might as well be surrounded by like-minded people who will have your back when it gets hard and understand the challenges that come with this.”

Gage slides his phone out of his pocket. “Shit. I gotta take this. My sister is going through it right now with her boyfriend.” He holds the phone in front of him and signs as he heads for the stairs.

“Is it just me or did party Gage just leave the building and become introspective, protective older-brother Gage?” Cammie asks.

“That’s how it appears,” Brody confirms.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Enid says.

“How do you mean?” I ask.

“He picks up lunch from the café for his sister at least once a week.”

Tally presses her hand to her heart. “I knew Gage was a secret softie. He has that golden retriever energy.”

Brody leans forward, brow quirked. “Don’t let Flip hear you, or Gage will end up in a shallow grave.”

Tally smirks. “I think we all know I prefer older, reformed bad boys.”

“Truth.” Fee grins. “I honestly think Gage might just turn into actual boyfriend material this year.”

“Kind of like Flip?” Enid asks.

“Yeah.” Tally bites her lip and twirls a lock of hair around her finger. “Exactly.”

CHAPTER 31

FEE

Mac

Meet you at the dining hall in five