Page 37

DAMON

I stare outside the window of conference room B of The Marlowe, taking in the blanket of white already covering the ground. My breath fogs the window as I glance up at the gray sky and the snow falling like thick, tufts of cotton to the ground.

“Un-fucking-believable,” Brandon mutters beside me.

“Looks like they were right.” I grit my teeth, wondering what this means for us.

“At least the girls got in safely last night,” Jace chimes in, appearing behind us. “They said on the news that today’s flights are already being canceled.”

My thoughts drift to Avery, not that they’re ever very far from her, and I wish I could see her. I may not know where this thing with us is headed, but it feels good—right.

Chris appears out of nowhere, a croissant in his mouth and a plate of food from the breakfast buffet piled high in his hands.

“Let’s just hope there’s going to even be a game for them to see,” he says, speaking around the croissant before he drops it onto his plate like a dog.

“Are you guys gonna eat or what? Look at this spread.” He glances down at his plate, which couldn’t possibly hold more food if he tried.

I shake my head. “The National Championship game is supposed to be tomorrow, there’s a fucking blizzard, and you’re thinking about food?”

“What else am I supposed to be thinking about right now?” he asks around a piece of bacon. “It’s breakfast.” His tone insinuates I’m the idiot for not considering my stomach first. “Besides, I think about plenty of other things.”

I arch a brow. “Like?”

“Like Charlotte, for one. I think about her a lot. And se—”

“Boys, listen up!” Coach’s voice booms through the conference room, and all heads turn.

Coach Greene stands in the center of the space, his face drawn into a serious expression as the noise around us dies.

“I just got off the phone with the CFP committee,” Coach says, his voice echoing in the now-silent room. “The championship game may be postponed.”

A collective groan ripples through the team, but he holds a hand up to silence us.

“As of right now, they’re monitoring the storm.

If conditions improve and they can clear the field, we might still play Monday.

” He pauses, looking out the window at the worsening blizzard.

“But I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, boys. The way this is looking, we could be here until another week. ”

“An entire week?” I hiss.

Coach nods grimly. “It’s not ideal. We’re prepared. Ready for our battle on the field, but we need to roll with the punches, and in this case, that means being ready whenever they give us the green light. Think of it this way, that’s another week to review game tape and study plays.”

“What about training?” Brandon calls out beside me, motioning to the blanket of white outside. “It’s not like we can do anything in this.”

“Maybe not. But there’s a pool and a fitness center. If we find out we have to be here for that long, I’ll email each of you a training schedule for the week. Other than plays and game tape, there is plenty we can do, like mobility work and explosive movement drills.”

“I’m sorry I asked,” Brandon mutters under his breath.

“So, what will that look like?” one of the players in the back of the room asks.

“Your mornings will be full, but your evenings will be free,” Coach continues.

“I suggest you use them wisely. Curfew stays in effect and for today, I want everyone to stay put until I receive confirmation about Monday’s game.

It goes without saying, there will be absolutely no alcohol.

This isn’t a vacation, boys. Think of it as remote training. Any questions?”

Coach glances around the room, his face stern, and when no one speaks up, he nods once. “Alright, get yourselves some breakfast. You’re going to need your strength. I’ll update you all as soon as I hear anything more.”

The room erupts with chatter the second Coach leaves, and Chris doesn’t miss a beat, already digging back into his mountain of food.

“Well, this sucks,” Brandon says, slumping into a nearby chair. He runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his face. “I was ready to go. All pumped up. Now what?”

I feel that same disappointment churning in my gut. We’ve worked all season for this moment, and now it might be on hold because of the fucking snow. It’s insane.

“Look at the bright side,” Jace says, with a shit-eating grin as he motions for us to follow him to the buffet. “At least we get more time with the ladies.” He wiggles his brows, and Chris’s expression transforms.

Choking on a bite of food, Chris pounds his chest with his fist. “I didn’t even think of that, but you’re right. If flights are canceled, that means the girls are stuck here with us.”

There’s a beat of silence as the realization sinks in before Jace and Chris bump fists while my mind spins.

A whole week stuck in a hotel during a blizzard with Avery.

No classes. No practice schedules pulling us in different directions.

No double dates or her working at Java the Hutt or worrying about stealing her attention.

Just her and me.

My heart rate picks up, and it has nothing to do with the upcoming game. This is my chance— our chance—to figure out what’s happening between us without the usual distractions.

“I guess this blizzard has its perks, after all,” Chris says, looking as happy as a pig in shit as he commences eating.

“For some people, maybe,” Brandon grumbles with a scowl.

“Hey, it’s not my fault your girlfriend couldn’t come.” Chris grins between bites.

“Tate’s not my girlfriend,” Brandon says, shooting him a scathing look.

“ Riiiiight ,” Jace drawls. “Listen, it’s not our fault your ‘special friend,’” he says, making air quotes with his hands, “couldn’t come.”

“Whatever. While you assholes are hanging out with your girls, or whatever the hell you are,” Brandon says, waving a hand at me, “West and I will hang out, maybe try to pick up some chicks at the hotel pool.” He slings an arm over West’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Isn’t that right, Stone”

“Good luck with that.” Jace snickers. “We all know when we’re not training or doing whatever shit Coach is having us do in the mornings, West’s nose will be stuck in a book all week.”

Brandon glances over at West who just shrugs.

“Fucking nerd,” Brandon grumps while Chris and Jace laugh their asses off.

“What’s got you all quiet?” Jace nudges me in the side. “You with us, man?”

I blink, coming back to the conversation as I focus on my friends. “Yeah, just thinking.”

“About?” West asks, eyeing me.

“Avery,” I admit, not bothering to hide it. These guys are my best friends. They already know anyway, so they’ll give me shit about it either way.

“Shocker.” Chris rolls his eyes.

“She showed up at our place before we left,” West tells them with a smirk.

I shoot him a look to shut up, then grab a plate and start adding some eggs and fruit, ignoring the knowing looks they’re all giving me.

“So, what’s the status there?” Jace asks.

“It’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” Chris smiles. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“I’m welcome?” I say, arching a brow.

“Yeah. For getting you two back together, or whatever it is you’re doing.”

I nearly choke on my spit as I reach for the eggs. “You are not the reason we’re talking again.”

“I’m absolutely the reason you’re talking again, or did you forget I’m the one who set you up on that date?”

“Oh, you mean the double date I explicitly asked you to ensure Avery wasn’t on?”

“That’s the one.” Chris snaps his fingers and points. “If I remember correctly, you ended the night by sucking face. So, yeah, you’re fucking welcome.”

“He has a point,” Brandon chimes in.

“No. He doesn’t have a point. The only reason Avery was even on that date was because you forgot to tell Charlotte to exclude her.”

“So?” Chris shrugs. “Haven’t you ever heard the expression all’s well that ends well ? Well, I’d say it ended pretty fucking well.”

I stare at him for a moment, torn between reaching across the table and strangling him or laughing.

“So, are you gonna tell her?” Brandon asks, leaning against the buffet table as he stares at me.

I pause, a piece of toast halfway to my plate as I glance over at him with a frown. “Tell her what?”

“That you’re still in love with her, dumbass,” Chris says through a mouthful of pancakes.

“I’m not—” I start to protest, but the words die in my throat because I can’t even convince myself, let alone these guys. “I don’t know what I am,” I say, even though I know it’s a lie.

The truth is, I never stopped loving her.

“Maybe not, but it doesn’t change what you’re feeling here.” Chris taps the center of my chest before I swat his hand away with a scowl.

“Whatever you’re feeling,” Jace says, clapping a hand over my shoulder, “it’s probably best to lay low and keep things under wraps, at least until after the championship.”

I nod, seeing the sense in it as West agrees. “Smart.”

“Agreed.” Brandon nods. “The last thing you need is for things to go south before the big game.”

Chris purses his lips before he says, “You’ll have plenty of time to explore whatever’s between you once you’re back on campus.”

“And if we’re here for a whole week and I fuck up?” I ask, thinking of the hold she has on me. Something tells me keeping Avery at arm’s length now that we’re on better terms will be easier said than done.

“That’s where we come in,” Chris says, slinging an arm around my shoulders as he glances around at the guys. “Consider us your personal babysitters for the week. We won’t let you within a foot of Avery alone.”

Later that day, after film review and a session in the hotel gym, Coach gets the official word that Monday night’s game is postponed, and after spending the afternoon on pins and needles and pacing the confines of our hotel rooms, the guys and I are already stir-crazy.