Page 2

“We’re friends. It’s fine.”

From the background, I hear Oakley say, “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you laid. Dawes got a divorce. There are actually a few single guys, so you can have your pick.” She bursts out laughing.

Corbin covers the phone but even though it’s muffled, I can still hear. “Babe, I don’t want to talk about my sister’s sex life.”

I shout, “Don’t worry. I don’t have one.”

“Sis, you’ll come through the other side. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known, other than Mamaw and Oakley.”

“I know. I need to call Madison and pack. Are you still picking me up on the way to the airport tomorrow?”

“Yep. I’ll be there at five in the morning.”

A low rumbling growl travels up my throat, and we both say in unison, “The early bird gets the worm.” Our mom always uses that term, and we’ve always been early risers because of our athletics.

I feel a smile sliding across my face just thinking about cheerleading and what it meant to me. I dance for the professional basketball team, The Nashville Fireflies, but it isn’t the same. I miss the thrill of competing.

“And Becca, you friend zoned him, I don’t know if anything happened between you. He’s been quiet about it. But if it did, you can tell me.”

Not wanting to talk about it, I add, “I know. I’ll see you in the morning. Can’t wait to relax on the beach with a strawberry daiquiri in hand.”

“Oakley has big plans, and I must admit, I’m a little scared of how this honeymoon slash Stallions reunion will shake out. Love ya, sis.”

“You, too.”

Since Corbin married Oakley on a friend’s pool deck almost a year ago, this is the first opportunity they’ve had to take a honeymoon, so he convinced his Stallion teammates from colleges to make it their annual reunion. And since I didn’t want to go alone, I asked Madison, my cheerleading teammate to come with me.

Just when I’m thinking about her, she calls. Before I’ve said hello, she asks, “How many bathing suits are you taking? I have ten in my suitcase.”

She’s always known how to make me forget my problems. Madison is a true Southern girl from Alabama. Everything is monogrammed. Every word drawn out. Every outfit perfectlysuited for the occasion. So, why would a bathing suit be any different?

“Ten doesn’t seem like enough considering we’ll be there ten days.” I chuckle. “You’ll need two a day.”

“Well, fudge.” Although we’re on the phone, I know the expression she’s wearing, biting her lip and twisting it to the side with her brows pinched.

“I’m kidding. It’s a resort; if you need more, we can buy more, or maybe do laundry.” My voice lifts at the end at the suggestion of Madison doing laundry. I lived with her through four years of college and had to pick up her clothes to walk through the apartment.

“This will be like Spring Break our junior year… surrounded by hot guys. I hope there are some single ones.”

“There will be. Corbin said some of the Stallion bachelors are coming, not just hockey players. Of course, Dane and Lettie, but I think Logan and Harper are coming with some other Stallions.

Madison squeals, “It’ll be like old times.”

That’s why it’s called a reunion.

“Okay, I’ll see you in a couple of days in paradise.”

We hang up, and I head into the bathroom to pack my toiletries, putting things in little one-ounce bottles for my carry on. I can’t risk my skin care getting lost if my baggage doesn’t make it there. Between cheer and hockey, I’ve traveled the world and have had my share of lost bags.

When I come back, a message is waiting on me.

John: It’ll be good to see you. I don’t want things to be awkward between us.

CHAPTER TWO

John

Yep, this will be uncomfortable. It’s not like we’ve ever been a couple, but we were close in college. Maybe too close. I’ve never had deep or meaningful conversations with other women or girlfriends; Becca is the only one. Even my current longtimeon-again, off-againgirlfriend cares more about superficial stuff like social media than me. As long as she’s going viral, she’s happy.