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“He’s giving us the night off with a warning to stay focused and be on our best behavior,” Chris crows after he reads the group text out loud.

“Best behavior sounds a lot like no women,” Brandon says, eyeing us.

“Don’t be a Bitter Betty, Brando,” Chris chides.

“I’m calling Brynn right now,” Jace chimes in, already on his phone.

Brandon shakes his head like our friends are a lost cause, which is fair. I’ve thought the same thing for a while now.

“Fine,” he grumbles. “But, remember, no funny business for you.” He points a finger at me. “We need you at the top of your game.”

“Agreed. Tread lightly with Avery,” Chris calls out, lifting his phone to his ear, then crooning, “Hey baby,” at the sound of Charlotte’s voice.

I roll my eyes. “Yet you and Jace will be all over Charlotte and Brynn.”

“Uh, yeah, we’ve earned it, bro. We figured our shit out. But you, my friend,” Jace says, drilling me with a finger to the chest, “need to figure out yours.” I open my mouth to speak when he adds, “And a hotel in Houston isn’t the time or place to do it.”

I scoff. “So, am I supposed to pretend she’s not here?”

“No,” Chris says, hanging up the phone without missing a beat. “Just keep it cool. PG. A good friends-who-like-each-other-but-are-afraid-to-cross-the-line vibe is perfect.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?” I ask as we exit my room out into the hall.

“I don’t know, ask Brandon.” Chris smirks, and Brandon flips him the bird.

“For the millionth fucking time, I don’t have a thing for Tatum.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Chris hums while the rest of us laugh.

I follow behind Jace and Chris as we make our way down the hallway toward the lobby, wondering where the hell we’re going and how these assholes are calling the shots when I’m our QB and captain.

“But we’ve already kissed,” I remind them, my mind back on Avery. “I know I need to keep my focus, but isn’t it a little too late for crossing the line into more?”

Brandon laughs. “A kiss is nothing. I’m sure you can manage to hit pause for one week.”

I turn toward him with an impish grin. “Oh, yeah? A kiss is nothing, huh?” I lift my chin. “Then why haven’t you kissed Tatum yet?”

“She’s my best friend,” he says, shoving a hand through his hair with a growl, “and I don’t want to fuck it up just because?”

“You wanna bone her,” Jace cuts in with a grin.

Brandon rolls his eyes. “Not what I was gonna say.”

“So, you don’t wanna bone her?” Chris asks.

Brandon blushes, sending the four of us into hysterics as we emerge from the hallway into the main lobby where I catch sight of the girls.

“Brandon, are you okay?” Brynn asks, peering at him closely. “You look . . . feverish,” she finishes.

“Nah.” Jace jabs him in the ribs, fighting back laughter. “We were just talking about Tatum.”

“Ohhhh,” Brynn and Charlotte say in unison as if that’s the only explanation needed.

“Anyway, do we have a game plan here, or do we just plan on standing in the lobby all day?” Brandon asks, sounding more irritable than usual.

As they launch into an argument on how we should spend the rest of the day, I say nothing, shifting my gaze to Avery whose blonde curls are piled into some kind of messy bun, with a few strands framing her face.

She’s wearing a long-sleeved Harvard T-shirt that’s just oversized enough to be cute but not swallow her whole, and when she catches me staring, a slow smile spreads across her lips, making my heart stutter in my chest.

“Hey,” she says, walking over to me while the rest of the group continues to debate between going to the pool, hanging at the lounge for free refreshments, or the trivia night they’re holding in one of the conference rooms.

“Hey,” I respond, my voice suddenly gruff.

Keep it cool. PG. Just friends who like each other but are afraid to cross the line. I can do that. Right?

“So, I guess we have the rest of the night free, huh?” She tucks one of those loose strands behind her ear and shifts on her feet, and everything inside of me aches to move closer. “Any ideas on what you wanna do?”

My mind immediately falls into the gutter, filling with all the things I’d like to do that are decidedly not PG.

Clearing my throat, I try to rein in my thoughts, as I reply. “Um, I’m up for anything. Especially you.”

I wince. Shit. Did that sound bad or is it just me?

“I mean, I’m just glad you’re here,” I elaborate. “With me. Us. ” I shove my hands into my pockets and press my lips closed, lest I keep rambling. Suddenly, I feel like I’m back in junior high, meeting her again for the first time.

Avery’s eyes twinkle with amusement, like she can read my mind. “Anything, huh?”

“Within reason,” I amend quickly, sweating beneath my hoodie. “Coach said we had to be on our best behavior.”

“Right.” She nods solemnly, but there’s a playful edge to her voice. “Best behavior it is.”

“Guys!” Charlotte claps her hands to get everyone’s attention. “We’ve reached a decision. Pool first, then trivia night. Anyone who wants food can grab something in between.”

“Perfect.” Avery’s eyes are still fixed on mine when she smiles and says, “I brought my swimsuit just in case.”