Page 58 of Unrivaled Love (D.C. Renegades #2)

Bryson

Fly As Fuck

"I have to do it." I say to Duncan who is sitting on my bed watching me rifle through my closet. I’m in the classic conundrum of having a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear.

"No man, don't. I’m telling you you're opening up a can of snakes and it will only lead to disaster."

"Don't say snakes." I shudder.

"Oh yeah, sorry. But I'm still right."

"But your advice isn't helping me."

"Why? Fly as Fuck is totally a style. It’s what you rocked for your birthday."

"But what does that mean ?"

I hate the insecurity in my voice but I'm losing it. I leave this afternoon for Europe and I haven't packed anything besides my kindle and chargers.

Jo left a few weeks ago with the US Team and I finished up our season with a loss in the third round of the playoffs. It hurt but ultimately I was glad to be done with the season so I could start getting ready to go cheer on Jo.

Except every outfit I try on isn’t giving “Fly as Fuck” vibes.

Obviously gym shorts and t-shirts are too casual.

I paired a golf shirt with tan shorts and I looked like a fucking nerd.

The closet full of bespoke suits are too fancy for cheering on my girlfriend at her soccer game .

I have only one option.

"I'm doing it. I'm desperate."

Duncan rolls his eyes but starts typing something on his phone as I pull mine from my pocket and dial my last resort.

"Cap?" I ask when he answers the phone.

"What's wrong?" Felix says and I cringe a little bit.

"Nothing really, but I leave for the airport in three hours and I haven't packed anything because I don't know what Europeans wear."

"He's French Canadian !" Duncan yells from the hallway.

"But I'm still more stylish than you are!" Felix yells back at him and I hold the phone away from my ear.

"I think Dunc is calling in the boys." I tell Felix.

"As he should. I'm disappointed it took you this long to call me but I'll be over in fifteen minutes."

"Thanks."

I hang up and Duncan calls out "Cros wants to know if he can bring Estelle."

"Sure but if it pees on my carpet he's replacing it."

"The dog?" Duncan asks.

"Of course the dog.”

"You're going to make Crosby give back Stella Bo Bella if she pees on your carpet?"

"What? No. He has to replace the carpet, not the dog."

"Oh, that makes more sense."

I roll my eyes and pull out more options while we wait for The Big Guns to assemble.

** *

"I told Harper to bring linen dresses or skirts."

"How does that help me?" I ask Aiden who is thumbing through shirts in my closet.

"It doesn't but it's what I told her."

"Great. So helpful." I grumble.

"I got one!" Felix yells from my bedroom and I rush out into the room. He's holding up a pair of Athlala joggers and a designer t-shirt he dug out of the back of my dresser. With the bomber jacket we set aside, it would be perfect.

"What shoes?" Duncan asks and Crosby holds up a pair of black crocs I use when we go swimming at hotels.

"No!" We chorus.

"What? They're lightweight, breathable, comfortable? It's exactly what you want for a trip to Europe."

"This isn't a trip tho, I'm there to support Jo and on the off chance I'm in a picture I will not be caught wearing crocs."

"Your loss." he says with a shrug.

"Tennis shoes, colorful ones." Aiden says as he hands me a pair of EPIC sneakers.

"Can't wear those. We're boycotting EPIC."

"Why?"

"They stiffed Jo on a sponsorship. If they hadn’t, she and I might not be together now but I won’t wear the brand out of solidarity."

"That's honorable, man," Emmett says. I nod.

"Focus boys! The car is coming in an hour. I have two outfits that are acceptable to wear to the games. I need three more."

"You might have to go shopping over there." Aiden says as he looks at my clothing strewn all over the bed. I fold another pair of jeans and toss them and two plain white t-shirts on top. It’s something at least.

"You might be right. "

"Don't forget a suit for the chateau party." Felix says.

"We have to wear suits to that?" Crosby asks.

"Yes! It's a big moment for us and you'll dress for the occasion."

Crosby looks at Aiden for help but all he does is shrug. "I'm not throwing it."

But the reason we’re getting together is because of him. He’s proposing to Harper and we’re surprising her with a party. Felix has coordinated getting all of us together in the south of France to celebrate and it works perfectly with Jo’s projected schedule for me to sneak away for a night.

"Ugh, fine." Crosby says. "But I'm going to wear crocs just to prove to you how slick they can look."

"You do that." Felix says and then he turns to me. "I created a Pinterest board for you, outfit inspiration. One guy is a German handball player and he's got great street style."

"Thank you?" I am not really sure what he's talking about.

"When you get there, ask the hotel for a men's clothing store and then show the person working there this collection of pictures," he turns his phone to me. "They'll get you outfitted and ready for the month."

"Okay, thanks guys."

"Of course. We're brothers. And what else are brothers for if not helping to pick out clothing for the other." Felix says with a straight face.

"You got us tickets to the final game, right?" Duncan asks.

"Well, they just had their first win in group play yesterday so we don't know if they're going to the final, but, yes. I've paid for a block of seats for her family, mine, and you guys. It was a shit ton of cash."

"It'll be worth it." Duncan says. "Now, I'm going to go home and pack. We only have two weeks before we leave. And if today has taught me anything it's that I need to be prepared."

"Glad my distress could be a lesson for you." I roll my eyes .

"You're the best, Boder!" Duncan says as he wraps me in a hug. "Have a good trip!"

The rest of the guys give me hugs and wish me luck and safe travels. Felix stays an extra ten minutes to show me how to use Pinterest, saying he swears by it for fashion inspiration and party planning.

When everyone is gone my place is eerily quiet. It's been months since Jo lived here but the quiet hadn't seemed so lonely. Maybe it's because she actually is halfway across the world right now and I miss her.

With my playoffs schedule and her professional games we didn't get to connect as much. Even when she came to D.C. for US Team bootcamp a month ago I only got to see her once a week for a sleepover because her coach made the whole team sleep in a hotel so they were all together.

Then they flew to Brussels and had their first game yesterday. They won three to one and Jo got the second goal.

I haven't seen her play in person since last summer and I cannot wait. I’m so proud of her and over the next month I will be following her around Europe as the US plays in the World Cup tournament.

Her parents flew out last week and will be at every game too. My parents and her siblings are coming next week. The boys fly out the week after and we have a little trip to Annecy planned. It lines up to when Jo and the US Team will be in Geneva.

I double check my passport is in my bag and carry everything to the door. I take out the trash, open the dishwasher so it doesn't get moldy, and turn the AC up to 80.

One quick overnight flight and I'll be on the same continent as my Josie and my heart can hardly wait.