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“I busted my ass to get here; I’m not chancing her taking this from me, too.”

“Kolby—”

“And last night, as good as it was?—”

I feel a tingle up my spine and fight to hold back the little happy dance threatening to explode inside of me.

“—I need this team, Lo.”

“Well, in case you didn’t know it, this team needs you, too.”

“Everything good?” Riley asks, looking between the two of us.

“He thinks even though he showed up late and the kitchen is basically closed, we should cater to his pro ass and bring him out Mom’s brisket.”

“Oh, hell yes,” Skinner says, sidling up next to him. “My pro ass, too.”

“Might as well heat up what’s left over and bring it all out again,” Hudson says, rubbing his hands together.

“You know I have one partner, and you’re not it,” I ask him.

Kolby doesn’t have to say a word. There’s thanks in his eyes, and then mischief. “Any chance there’s any cheesy potatoes left?”

I say, “No,” at the same time, Riley says, “Yes.”

“We have three days off after tomorrow in an already extended season; that pan back there has my name on it, literally.”

“You’re going to eat a whole?—”

“Do not shame me.” I cut her off with a glare.

When I bring out Kolby’s and Skinner’s plates and set them in front of them, he grins down at the potatoes as Skinner scurries away, arm protectively slung around his plate.

Kolby chuckles. “You’re too damn easy.”

“Excuse me?” I gasp.

“Your whole mood changed in a snap.” He snaps his fingers. “After I stroked that ego of yours.”

“Myego?”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“I’m not telling you a damn thing.” I toss a napkin at him and walk away … ego intact.

Check.

When the vultures start circling around Kolby, I look toward Riley, who is giving me a look, one that says,Oh, look, at those poor babies.

“Fine, let’s bring it all out.”

An hour later, Riley and I are behind the bar, watching every guy on the team sitting quietly as Vegas takes their first lead in the game, with only seven minutes to go.

“Still a lot of time.” Lucas nods. “And it doesn’t matter who ends up with the W this game; next week, they’re riding out of Blue Valley with an L.”

This raises their spirits.

“Fuck yeah!” Skinner says then hoots, and they all start making the same damn noise.