Chapter 18

eighteen

THURSDAY

Maddox

Do you think I could get away with wearing a tracksuit to the auction dinner?

Isla

Do you even own a tracksuit?

Nah. But I'm bored and doing some online shopping. Everything 90s is coming back into style, right? Those Adidas tracksuits were huge back then.

No. If I have to wear a dress, you have to wear a suit.

How about I have a tracksuit sent to your place, too? We can twin for real.

Tempting.

Right? Coach would kill me.

We don't want that to happen.

Are you saying you'd mourn me if I died in a Coach-related tragedy?

Of course I would. Who else will take selfies with me and make my ex jealous?

That was cold, Isla.

*shrugging emoji*

Wow. I see how you are. Gotta go to training. Have a good morning, Isla.

Have a good training session, Maddox.

FRIDAY

Maddox

I meant to ask you the other day. Did you tell your friends about that asshole at the bar?

Isla

Yeah. They felt terrible about ditching me and flipped when I told them you guys took me home to make sure he hadn't stalked me.

Well, anytime you need someone to check for monsters under your bed, you know who to call.

Griffin? Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you for his number.

Isla. No.

Kidding, kidding. You'll be the first person I call.

Good. I mean it, though. If you ever need something, call me.

Maddox…

Isla.

Fine. If I ever need to change a light bulb I can't reach, I'll call you.

That's got to be all of them. You're kinda short.

OMG! Rude. Good night, Maddox.

Night, Short-Stack.

No.

LOL.

SUNDAY

Isla

I saw your face on the side of a bus today.

Maddox

And you've been thinking about me ever since?

Yeah. I've been thinking it's probably a pretty accurate size representation of your ego.

You wound me.

Someone as short as me couldn't possibly wound someone with a head as big as yours.

Touché, Short-Stack.

OMG. Do not call me that at the dinner next Saturday.

I make no promises.

WEDNESDAY

Maddox

What's your favorite color?

Isla

Hi to you too. Emerald green. Why?

Just wondering.

Okaaay…

The guys say hi, BTW.

Hi, guys! Will they be at the dinner?

We'll all be there. Attendance is mandatory.

I guess that makes sense.

GTG. Talk to you later.

FRIDAY

Isla

Are you sure I have to go to this thing tomorrow?

Maddox

Don't tell me you're chickening out. Do I need to come pick you up?

No, Nevaeh and Jess are coming with me. I'm just nervous.

Why? You have nothing to be nervous about.

The rich and powerful aren't really my crowd. I don't want to embarrass anyone. Or myself.

What in the world are you talking about? You won't embarrass anyone.

You don't know that.

You're beautiful, smart, and engaging. I do know that.

You're just saying that so I don't back out.

I'm saying that because it's the truth. Who the hell made you worry you'd be an embarrassment? If your friends said something like that to you, then you need new friends.

No, no, it wasn't them. Forget I said anything. It's stupid.

Did someone say that to you?

No, don't worry. So have you decided what suit you're going to wear? How many suits do you own, anyway?

A lot. I like to change it up for game days. But don't think I'm going to let you change the subject that easily.

What's your favorite suit?

*sigh* Fine. I'll drop it for now. I have different favorites for different occasions.

Tell me more.

Well, I have this black suit with bright orange jack-o'-lanterns on it…