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I could make an excuse and skip the party at the last minute. Sickness, family emergency, an impromptu sponsor event—the excuses were endless. But if I did that, people might suspect I was lying about the date. The suspicion would lead to questions about why I’d lied, and that would lead to a mess I couldn’t untangle.

Besides, I didn’t trust Samson alone with Carina. There’d be other people around, but a Samson Opara party was bound to have free-flowing drinks. Dark rooms. Sexy music. All the trappings of a seduction scene.

My mind conjured an image of them dancing together, his hands on her hips and her arms around his neck. She was smiling up at him, and he was leaning in to kiss her.

Jealousy exploded inside me and incinerated the cursed image into ash. The sheer force of it rattled every cell in my body.

I was going to that fucking party—but first, I needed to find a date. How could I do that without actually picking up a woman at the bar?

I swore under my breath and scanned the pub, hoping an answer would materialize out of thin air. It was filled with Blackcastle fans and players. I definitely wasn’t going to date a fan; that would be a disaster in the making. The players wouldn’t be any help except…

My eyes landed on Adil. He was talking to Asher and Vincent in the corner.

Dammit. I knew what I had to do, even if I didn’t want to do it. I had no other choice.

I walked over and caught his attention. He broke away from the guys and faced me, his expression curious. “What’s up?”

I took a steadying inhale. Then I uttered the words I thought I’d never say and would likely come to regret. “I need your help.”

BLACKCASTLE GROUP CHAT

ADIL

This is not a drill! Noah is going on a date!

STEVENS

Noah who?

ADIL

Wilson, Stevens. There’s only one Noah on the team

STEVENS

Noah Wilson. Our Noah Wilson?

ADIL

That’s literally what I just said

STEVENS

Shut the front door. No fucking way

GALLAGHER

Shut the front door? Who tf talks like that

GALLAGHER

But also, who tf is Noah going on a date with??!

GALLAGHER

Send pics immediately

VINCENT