Chapter 31

31

Bodhi

Jamie Owens was doing the auction. Something that injected excitement into the air like there was some sort of huge lottery jackpot up for grabs.

I mean, sure, he was Elite. He was massive at six feet three with the biggest wingspan of the entire team and behemoth shoulders from swimming butterfly. And yeah, maybe he had blue eyes and blond hair, but mine was blonder. He also ran his mouth like a sprinkler that never turned off. Just walking around drenching everyone with ridiculousness.

Funny. When I ran my mouth, everyone called me a brat. But when it was Jamie, suddenly, he was charming as hell. Please, make it make sense.

As annoying as it was, I couldn’t even be full-on rager mad about it. I mean, brah saw my lingerie and took it in stride. Hell, he even picked it up off the floor so other people wouldn’t see it.

I was beginning to see what happened with Rush. How he got sucked in with these people. They were relentless. Constantly in your face and your business but somehow doing it in a way that made you not hate it.

It was suspicious. Yet here I was, looking around for their familiar faces as I walked into the Westbrook theater building, which lowkey looked like an old stone castle. The lobby was impressively large with polished glacier-like marble floors, massive glass doors, and a ceiling that was likely three stories high. The rich mingled, all of them dressed to the nines and holding sparkling champagne flutes. A small string quartette played on the far side of the room, and servers wound through the groups of attendees, offering fresh drinks and canapes on golden trays.

It was just like my old college, Pembrook. So much so that it gave me the ick. The overwhelming urge to not be here had me seeking out the exit and pondering escape. Elite was a sponsor of this event, and technically, I was Elite, but no one would even notice if I left.

All eyes would be on the five swimmers being sold— excuse me —volunteering to raise money for charity. A few fraternities were doing the same. I wasn’t even sure what else was going on here tonight because I didn’t care.

Decision made, I turned to go.

“There he is,” a familiar voice called, and I winced. I glanced a few feet away to Jamie, the loudmouth who ruined my escape.

“We were wondering when you were gonna get here.” Rush appeared, draping an arm across my shoulders.

I glanced at him. “I was just leaving.”

He laughed under his breath and steered me toward the group. “Not anymore.”

“Malibu Barbie by day, Ken by night.” Kruger cackled when we approached. He was also like a broken sprinkler, but like me, no one called him charming. He was more like the resident moron.

“Hey, Bodhi.” Ryan’s girlfriend, Rory, waved from beside him. She was so small that she made me look big. Her deep-blue dress skimmed the floor, giving the impression she was floating, and her red hair was pulled up at her crown.

“Hey,” I said, feeling all their eyes on me.

“You look good, bro,” Rush said, dropping his arm from my shoulders to pull Landry into his side.

The compliment was basic, just like my attire, but since Rush was the one speaking, it felt a lot less polite and a little more flattering. Up until a couple weeks ago, we couldn’t even have a conversation without arguing. But slowly, we’d been doing better, even had coffee a few times after second swim. It wasn’t at all what we used to be like, but it was something.

Settling for something. Again.

Something is better than nothing.

“Thanks,” I said, ignoring my inner spat, and glanced down at the black slim-fit trousers, white dress shirt, and black jacket. It was the best I could do on such short notice. In an attempt to look a little less parking attendant, I managed to find a wide silk tie with horizontal black and white stripes. Instead of dress shoes, I wore a pair of pristine white Air Force Ones.

“Hey.” The girl at Kruger’s side greeted me, stepping forward a little to offer her hand. “I’m Jess. We haven’t met yet.” She was tall and pretty with long dark hair curled into waves and a black floor-length dress.

“Hey,” I said, shaking her hand briefly. “Kruger’s fiancée, right?”

“Wife.” Kruger corrected me.

Everyone groaned.

“Fiancée.” She agreed. “Ben and I aren’t married yet.”

“Ben,” I murmured, looking back at Kruger.

“Bro, the fact he has two names surprised us too,” Jamie put in.

My eyes wandered over to Prism who had AirPods stuck in his ears and was dressed in black and white like me, except instead of a suit jacket, he wore a velvet blazer and no tie. His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and there was a pink pocket square on his left breast. I gave him a what-up gesture with my chin, which he returned, then glanced at his boyfriend, Arsen.

If my eyes lingered on him a little longer than the rest, it was because I liked his style. Instead of your typical formal suit, he was dressed in black-and-white plaid trousers, black designer sneakers, and a V-neck polo with white trim beneath an all-black jacket. Piercings lined his ear, and two rings glinted in his lip. His hair was just as inky as his outfit, and the monochromatic look worked well for him.

I must have stared a little too long because Prism’s hand curled around his bicep in a possessive gesture.

“I like your pants,” I said stupidly as if it were an excuse to stare.

“Thanks—” Arsen started but was interrupted by Prism’s quiet voice. “He’s mine.”

A heavy beat of silence followed his soft declaration. Stunned, all eyes went to the quiet swimmer.

Clearly surprised, Arsen glanced at his boyfriend. “Princess, are you jealous?” he mused, a slight smirk tugging on the rings in his lip.

Prism whimpered, and Arsen laughed under his breath, pulling him around to drop his mouth right by Prism’s ear. His lips moved. I couldn’t make out the words, but Prism swayed closer.

Kruger stepped in front of them as if he thought I might launch myself at Prism and start a catfight. I mean, I guess that was fair. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d swung on one of his friends.

“Whoa,” Kruger said to diffuse the imaginary situation. “P doesn’t use words much.”

“He prefers emojis,” Jess put in, and Kruger nodded while whispering loudly, “He’s a bit territorial, so keep your eyeballs to yourself.”

Off to the side, Win made a sound. “You’ll get used to it, P,” he called. “Having a hot boyfriend is not for the weak.”

“In what universe are you used to people ogling Lars?” Max wondered. He was wearing a black leather jacket over his dress pants. No tie in sight. “Because I’ve pulled you off three people in the past two weeks for exactly that.”

“Bro. That one guy tried to shove his number into Lars’s jeans,” Win refuted. “ His jeans .” He muttered something under his breath and scowled. “Like you’re any better. You still have people trailing my brother around.”

“You said you fired him!” Wes erupted, turning to stare daggers at Max.

Max was unbothered by all of it, shrugging lazily. “Changed my mind.”

I flicked a glance at Win, eyes shifting automatically to Lars, and made a real effort not to give him a dirty look since, you know, I was trying to be a better person. He wouldn’t see it anyway because he was too busy turning hot pink from embarrassment.

Still, it was hard not to snarl just a little as I took in his navy suit, dress shoes, and sky-blue tie. His hair was so blond it was practically white. Even blushing like crazy, he just looked so pristine and put together. The complete opposite of my chronic mess.

I turned away without a word. I was now completely qualified for a good citizenship award.

“I know we’re in a theater, but this is a lot of drama,” Kruger quipped. “This is why I’m married.”

“You aren’t married,” everyone chorused.

“I’m getting real tired of this,” Kruger muttered.

“Over there,” someone called, and a few girls materialized.

“Jamie.” A girl in a pink gown and curled blond hair approached, eyes intent on the butterfly swimmer. “Is it true you’re part of the auction tonight?” she asked, sliding right up alongside him and reaching for his arm.

Jamie smiled and deftly avoided her touch by shifting his weight and reaching out to tap the program in her hand. “Sure is, bro. My name’s right there in black and white.”

A chorus of giggles filled the space around us. Pink dress girl swayed in, batting her obviously fake eyelashes. “I saw, but I just had to confirm. Does this mean you’re single?”

At his other side, Madison made a strangled sound and stepped around to deliver one hell of an unimpressed eye roll. Her long dark hair was glossy and straight, half of it pulled up on top of her head. Her one-shouldered gown was a light shade of purple with a long pleated skirt that was slit up the side. One hand clutched a small handbag covered with shimmering rhinestones while the other planted on her hip. “It means he’s donating his time to raise money.”

“Oh, Madison.” The blonde feigned innocence. “We didn’t see you there.”

“Probably can’t see anything past those lashes,” Rory muttered quietly, but I was close enough to hear and snickered. We shared a look of mutual amusement.

“How could you miss her, bro?” Jamie asked. “She’s the prettiest girl in the room.” As he spoke, he curled his arm around her waist and pulled her in.

“And I have no plans to go anywhere,” Madison added.

Pink dress girl pursed her lips and glanced at Jamie. “Shame. I thought you finally realized you could do better.”

Madison gasped.

Jamie stiffened, tightening his hold on his girl. “Is your ass jealous of the shit that just came out of your mouth?”

Pink dress girl’s mouth fell open. “What?”

He shifted, somehow making himself appear even larger than he already was. “Listen, doll, there’s no doing better over here because it doesn’t get better than this.”

Her scowl morphed into a sly smile. “Did you just call me doll?

“You ever seen Annabelle?” Jamie deadpanned.

Ryan laughed.

Hell, we all did.

Jamie glanced at Jess and winked. “Thanks for making me watch all those scary movies.”

Jess giggled.

Pink dress girl flipped her blond hair behind her shoulder. “We’ll see who’s laughing when I win the bid on your auction. One hour with me and you’ll change your mind.”

Madison tugged out of Jamie’s hold and went forward, but suddenly, Max was there, pushing between the two women with an ominous stare. “Walk away right now.” His voice was quiet but caused a chill along my arms.

She huffed, but Max remained rooted in place, unblinking.

“Whatever,” she spat and spun on her heel.

“Stay away from the heaters.” His voice followed her. “Plastic melts.”

She gasped and turned back, fire shooting from her eyes. Whatever she saw made her change her mind, and she faded into the crowd, taking her friends with her.

A waiter walked by at the same moment, and Max grabbed a glass off his tray, draining it in one gulp. After handing it back to the surprised man, he turned back to Elite. “I hate these fucking fundraisers.”

With not a single ounce of hesitation, Madison rushed forward and laid her hand on his forearm. “Thanks, Max.”

He grunted. “She had it coming.”

“She did, but I could have handled it.”

“Not while I’m standing here.”

Jamie screwed up his face. “Bro, I was handling it.”

Max smirked. “Can’t have the hot item of the night insulting everyone before the auction starts.” He leaned over and patted Jamie’s cheek. “Just stand here and look pretty.”

Jamie nodded. “Don’t be jealous, bro. Your face is pretty too. It’s your personality that’s the issue.”

Max snorted and went back to Wes’s side, burying his ring-covered fingers in the mop of curls on Wes’s head.

Another girl in a red gown walked by and waved at Jamie.

Madison sighed. “The barnacles are out in full force tonight.”

“Barnacles?” I wondered.

Rory nodded. “Barnacles. Annoying crustaceans that latch on to anything in the water and are impossible to remove.”

Barnacle (noun): What the swim bro girlfriends call the girls who hang all over Elite.

“And they’re all like that?” I asked, gesturing in the direction pink dress girl had gone.

“Sometimes they’re worse,” Rory replied.

Kruger shook his head. “Bro, I still don’t know why you agreed to this.”

“I had to take one for the team,” Jamie explained. “The dean wanted someone who would pull in the cash, and well…” He gestured to himself. “As we all know, I’m the cherry on top around here.”

“Yeah, because Ryan said no,” Win heckled.

Jamie pressed his hand to his chest. “Rude.”

Rory turned to Ryan, gray eyes astonished. “They wanted you to do the auction?”

He shrugged. “Well, yeah, baby. I swim lane four.”

I rolled my eyes. Lane four was the “best” lane to get when swimming and was usually reserved for the top swimmer. Normally, I would call him out for being a showoff, but I’d seen the way people looked at him around here. Like he was some sort of swim god. Elite all got preferential treatment, but Ryan seemed to get it the most.

“And you said no?” Rory asked.

“Of course.”

Jamie tossed his arm around her shoulders. “We thought it might be better with your jealousy issues if your big brother did it instead.”

Rory’s mouth fell open. “Jamie Michael Owens, what did you just say to me?”

“That I’m your big brother?”

And you people think he’s charming?

“Now, baby…” Ryan began.

“Don’t you start, Ryan Stephen Walsh.”

Kruger sucked in a breath. “She’s pulling out all the names tonight.”

“I need another drink,” Max muttered, snagging a glass off a passing tray.

Rory turned, planting her fists on her hips to glare at them both. “You two seriously think I have jealousy issues?”

“You coined a whole term for the girls that come around,” Ryan said.

“It’s far nicer than the other stuff we could call them,” Landry put in.

“Calm down there, scrappy,” Jamie warned.

Rush snickered.

I glanced at Landry, clear question in my eyes.

“I threatened a man’s balls one time…” Her voice faded, and then her eyes went wide. “Oh! They were yours.”

“I deserved it,” I mused, remembering that night.

She sniffed. “You’re right. You did.”

I smiled. She was definitely her father’s daughter.

The thought made me wonder about Emmett, and I gazed around to see if he was there yet. I was glad he wasn’t doing the auction. Just the suggestion made me covetous as hell. I couldn’t even try and deny it.

“I’m not jealous,” Rory announced. “I just don’t enjoy when girls throw themselves at guys they know are taken.”

“Mm-hmmm.” Madison agreed.

“Makes sense to me,” Arsen said.

“Of course it does,” Kruger mused. “You went on air at the campus radio to tell everyone P belonged to you.”

Arsen looked proud of himself, and Prim blushed.

“Point is they asked. I said no,” Ryan told Rory. “I have no interest in spending time with anyone but you.”

Rory’s demeanor softened. “Ry.”

He smiled and opened his arms, and she went right into them.

Max turned to Madison. “You’re okay with this?”

“Wes, bro, you better get your man. He’s trying to shit stir,” Jamie said, gesturing to Max.

Max rolled his eyes. “I don’t have a big enough spoon for all the shit you create.”

Madison stepped between them. “Of course I’m okay with this.”

“Gotta be honest, I don’t think I would be,” Win put in.

“Same.” Rush chimed in.

Jamie sighed. “Maddie knows where my loyalty is. I wouldn’t even touch another woman with Kruger’s hands.”

Kruger held up his phone. “The village called. They want their idiot back. Better get going.”

“I’m going to bid on him,” Madison announced as if she was exhausted and wanted to get the conversation over with.

I mean, I kinda was too. These people were a whole circus.

“There’s this thing that couples do,” Jamie told the group. “It’s called talking. Not nearly as good as kissing, but sometimes it’s necessary.”

The ringing of a cell phone erupted, and everyone looked around.

Ryan pulled his iPhone out of his jacket and glanced at the screen. “It’s Vargas,” he told everyone. “Be right back.”

Jamie kept talking. “So yeah, I asked Maddie if she was cool with me doing the auction ‘cause, you know, it’s for a good cause, and she said she’d bid on me.”

“What if someone outbids you?” Lars asked.

“I won’t let them. I’ll just keep matching,” Madison replied like it was that simple. I guess when you had money, it was.

“Probably gonna be the only bid anyway,” Max quipped.

“After all the texts we’ve shared,” Jamie said, shaking his head.

They continued bickering, and I turned away. The song the string quartette was playing drifted into a new one, something that seemed vaguely familiar but not enough for me to recall its name. And as the tune shifted, so did the air, everything becoming mere background noise to the new vibe charging the atmosphere and lifting my eyes to search for the source.

My gaze floated over everything and everyone, dismissing them almost carelessly, barely even acknowledging them before moving on. What I sought was specific, so finite I would know the very second I found it. Frustration built inside me, swelling my impatience and making my hands curl into fists.

My body rotated, no longer just my eyes searching but the rest of me too. Every single atom making up my body anticipated something…

And then he was there.

A face in a sea of the faceless. The one thing in focus in the blurred room. It was as if reality parted and out stepped a dream, a dream so enticing that reality ceased to exist.

I’d spent every night this week burrowed in the blankets of his bed. Sleeping in the cocoon of his arms. I’d seen every inch of him naked, admired him wet, dry, in daylight and the dark.

All of those versions of him were incredible, but this might have been my favorite.

The man filled out a tuxedo like no one else I’d ever seen. And being from a monied family, I’d seen a lot. But somehow, Emmett made it seem exclusive. As if no one else could do it like him. He wasn’t a man wearing a suit. The suit was a mere decoration for the man. His very presence commanded time and space in a way that made me wonder if he was superhuman.

Black trousers molded to his long, lean legs, magnifying the way the muscles in his thighs shifted with every confident stride, and the way his narrow hips swiveled gave the impression he was one of two men:

The man who owned the room.

or

The man who didn’t care who owned it.

Either way, it was a shot of adrenaline directly into my bloodstream, and I swallowed past my suddenly dry throat as he walked through the room, air practically shimmering around him. I knew other people noticed, understood it wasn’t just my eyes he drew. But I couldn’t rip mine off him long enough to look or find it anywhere inside me to care.

The black vest highlighted his tapered waist just as the jacket over it accentuated his wide shoulders. The bowtie looked ridiculous on everyone else but collared the thickness of his throat and accentuated the strength of his Adam’s apple, making me yearn to suck a bruise just above it and stake my claim.

His freshly trimmed dark stubble highlighted his square jaw and strong features. Under the lights, his eyes glimmered with gold, and the closely shaved hair on his head made him hum with masculinity.

In that moment, what was left of my heart hit its knees, and any hope of resistance I had to loving him wept. I crumbled helplessly into surrender, too far gone to even try and fight.

If love was a battle, well, I’d lost the war because Emmett Resch was it for me. There could never be another.

Chest tight, oxygen low, I watched him move through the room, casually greeting some and ignoring others, eyes never really resting in one place very long.

Until they found me.

Like two strong magnets exerting an immovable force, our stares locked. I stuffed my hands into my pockets, attempting to stop myself from reaching for him. But I didn’t need to because his mere presence overtook me, and though we didn’t touch, I was surrounded.

My heart skipped when he headed my way, my whole body flushing as I recalled the way he’d held me down the night before and fucked me until I was lightheaded and moaning.

His eyes flickered as if he knew what I was remembering. His nostrils flared as if he could scent the desire on my skin. He shook his head just slightly, reminding me this was not the place, yet his feet kept moving in my direction.

“Coach!” someone called behind me.

Then a blur of red moved into my line of sight, attempting to obscure the view. “Dad, you made it.” Landry spoke, and the loss of his complete attention stung.

Blinking, I watched Emmett briefly hug his daughter, then hover his palm over the small of her back as they came forward to join the group.

It was a little startling to remember we weren’t alone and that his entrance might have felt like a dream but was rooted in reality. And in this reality, he wasn’t mine.

“Damn, Coach, you clean up good,” Jamie mused.

“Barely recognize you without the Elite windbreaker,” Wes added.

“You having whistle withdrawals, Coach?” Kruger heckled.

“It’s in his pocket,” Landry whispered.

Emmett slid Landry a dry look, and she giggled beneath her breath.

“Funny. You guys are a pack of comedians,” Emmett grumped. “You all better be on your best behavior tonight. Do Elite proud.”

Ryan reappeared, phone still clutched in his hand. “Vargas has food poisoning. He can’t make it.”

“Is he okay?” Rory worried.

Ryan nodded. “He’s okay but currently praying to the porcelain gods.”

The girls wrinkled their noses. “That’s unfortunate,” Jess murmured.

“Why didn’t he call me?” Emmett demanded.

Tucking the phone into his pocket, Ryan said, “Because I’m the one that was heading up the auction.”

“If Vargas isn’t coming, that means we’re a swimmer down,” Lars noted. “Are you going to get someone to fill in for him?”

“Well, it’s not going to be you,” Win told him.

Lars muttered something in Swedish that made Win laugh.

Ryan considered things for a few seconds. “We could do the auction without a replacement, but it would mean raising less money.”

“I’m sure someone on the team will do it,” Landry said, gazing around for more swimmers.

“Walsh, you’re up.” Coach decided.

Ryan’s eyebrows rose. “Me?”

“Hell yes. This entire shenanigan was your idea to begin with. It’s only fair you get your flippers up on the stage like the rest of us.”

I glanced at Emmett. What did he mean by us ?

“Ryan’s organized the whole thing, Coach. It’s not like he hasn’t done anything,” Wes pointed out.

Coach turned. “Oh, you volunteering, Sinclair?”

Max’s face darkened, and his arm went out in front of Wes like he was some sort of human seat belt. “Absolutely not.”

“Ryan will do it,” Rory announced, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I will?” Ryan seemed amused.

Jamie started making all kinds of noise. “Did you forget the entire conversation we just had, camera girl?”

She rolled her eyes. “I heard every ridiculous bit of it.” Gazing up at Ryan, she said, “And I appreciate you thinking of me, but I’m not so jealous and insecure that you can’t do something for charity.”

“There’s plenty of other Elite?—”

“But you’re the captain.”

“Elite doesn’t have a captain.” Ryan corrected her.

“Unofficial captain.” Emmett chimed in, and everyone drew back as though he’d just announced there’d been a homicide across the room.

“Bros, I think my ears really are damaged from that whistle,” Jamie whispered dramatically. “Because I just heard Coach actually acknowledge Ryan’s importance around here.”

“Oh, for shit’s sake, Owens,” Emmett muttered.

“P, get the camera,” Kruger said, gesturing toward Prism. “We need to document this.”

Emmett sighed loudly. “It’s hardly news that Walsh is the team leader.”

“Well, no, not for us,” Wes allowed. “But you don’t normally agree.”

Emmett glanced at me, so briefly I might not have noticed if I wasn’t so attuned to everything about him. If I wasn’t replaying the conversation we’d had in the pool and how I’d told him everyone loves Ryan because he reminds them of him.

“Well, this is me agreeing that Walsh is the unofficial official captain of Elite,” Coach said.

Everyone was quiet, even motormouth Jamie.

Emmett shifted uncomfortably, reaching up to tug at the tie around his neck. “I know I give you a tough time, Walsh, but I know Elite is better because of you. I don’t ever say it, but maybe I should. So yeah, you’re a good leader.”

God, I wanted to grab him. Wrap myself around his finely swathed waist, push my face between his shoulder blades, and inhale . Emmett was the poster boy for the strong silent type. So reserved sometimes that he appeared to have no emotion at all. It was a trait quickly becoming obsolescent, people looking at those like Emmett with disdain. He could be intimidating and come off as a cold-hearted hard-ass, which, in truth, was my first opinion of him too.

He wasn’t cold at all but an endless well of emotion and experiences and a manifestation of a life filled with pain. And it was that pain that had turned him selective. No. Not selective. Stingy with what parts of himself he showed.

So yeah, when I saw him break some of that rigid wall he kept himself hidden behind and try to give more than was comfortable, I turned ravenous.

No one else in this room knew how hard those words probably were to speak, but I knew. And the fact that I knew because he’d shared that part with me made me want even more.

Ryan’s throat bobbed, and he took a step forward. His expression was still slightly stunned. “Coach, I?—”

Emmett made a gruff sound, cutting Ryan off. I knew he was probably at his limit and couldn’t give any more. “And that’s why you’re doing the auction. Leaders pick up the slack.”

Ryan nodded once. “Yes, Coach.”

Rory wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder, smiling.

Emmett seemed a little startled. “No argument?”

“No, Coach.”

Emmett looked suspiciously at Jamie. “What about you, Owens? What fuckery do you have brewing?”

Jamie shook his head. “I’d never do my bro dirty and ruin his moment.”

Wes, Lars, Kruger, and Prism all nodded.

“Moment’s over,” Emmett announced. “You two head backstage and get ready to smile. Why anyone would pay for time with either of you is beyond me.”

Just like that, the dynamics went back to normal.

Kruger stepped forward. “Bros, I think we should get a betting pool going.”

“My swimmers don’t gamble.” Emmett shut that down immediately.

“Aw, come on, Coach,” Kruger cajoled. “Just a friendly little wager to see which of you three gets the highest price.”

Wait. Three?

“Five Elite are doing the auction.” Jess reminded him.

“Yeah, but we all know the main competition is standing right here.”

Emmett glowered. “This isn’t a competition. It’s for charity.”

“You worried you won’t win, Coach?” Rush jeered, and Landry elbowed him in the ribs.

“It’s hardly a fair wager. I mean, just look how handsome Dad is tonight.”

I couldn’t help but sweep my eyes over him, silently agreeing that the man was a full-course meal.

Wait .

“You’re doing the auction?” I blurted out.

“I know you been keeping the bleachers warm, bro,” Kruger said. “But you were at the team meeting.”

My stare remained on Emmett as I worked to understand. I asked him not to do it. He wasn’t going to do it.

Something ugly and voracious unfurled in my stomach. Gone were any butterflies he’d inspired when he showed up looking like a fucking wet dream, and in their place was a pit of poisonous snakes.

“The dean personally asked for Coach to do it.” Ryan reminded me.

“But I thought…”

“Of course I’m doing it,” Coach said, voice the same gruff, no-nonsense tone he used with everyone else. I’m not everyone else! “Like I said before, leaders pick up the slack where they find it.”

“So how about it?” Kruger continued to run his mouth. Did he not ever shut up? Probably why his bestie wore those fucking AirPods all the time. “Let’s place those bets.”

“I didn’t hear any of this,” Emmett said. Leaning toward Landry, he kissed her temple. “I’ll see you later, ladybug.”

“Have fun tonight, okay, Dad? That’s what this is all about.”

My heart hammered, blood pumping so fast I could hear it rush in my ears and the edges of my vision were tinged with red. Fun? They thought this was for fun?

“You two.” Emmett pointed to Ryan and Jamie. “Get backstage.”

Emmett turned to walk away, and I nearly leaped out of my skin. My fingers caught the sleeve of his jacket, pinching the fabric so tight my knuckles screamed in pain.

He turned back, discreetly plucking his sleeve from my grip, eyes meeting mine briefly. “You need something, Lawson?”

You felt that, right? Surely, the stab of pain those words caused was so severe I wasn’t the only one who felt it.

I stood there for a moment, stunned and unable to process. I asked him not to do it.

His eyes came back to me, but it only made it worse because they were shuttered, impersonal… lying.

Reaching up, I pushed at a strand of hair that had fallen out of the low ponytail my hair was in tonight and stepped back.

His eyes flickered.

Too little. Too late.

“All good here, Coach,” I said, the fucking C-word nearly strangling me. Before he could say anything else, I turned to the group. “My money’s on Jamie,” I announced loudly. “No way the old guy’s gonna beat him.”

Landry gasped. “He’s not old!”

“Bro, your dad is so old he knew Mr. Clean when he had an afro,” I cracked, hoping I sounded way more unbothered than I was.

Jamie laughed. “Bro, Coach is so old he knew Burger King when he was still a prince.”

“Now me!” Kruger said. “Coach is so old he took his driver’s test on a dinosaur.”

“That explains the Ford.” Rush cackled.

Arsen grinned. “Coach is so old his Bible is autographed.”

“Bro, I’ve taught you well,” Kruger said to Arsen and held out his fist for a bump.

Any other time, I’d be amused as hell by the banter, but right now, I was not . My stomach churned, and my stare wouldn’t leave the spot Emmett had just vacated.

A nudge on my arm brought me back. Then I deflated when it wasn’t who I hoped to see.

Rush’s brows drew into a V. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, going for flippant but sounding more harsh. Clearing my throat, I tried again. “Just haven’t really been in a crowd in a while. Think I’ll get some air.”

“Want me to come with?” he offered.

Of all the times he wanted to try and be buddies, he chose right now?

The burn of a curious gaze made me look to the side where I found Lars watching me with his bestie. I was tempted, so sorely tempted, to say yes just so I could give that life stealer a taste of his own medicine. Give that good citizen award right back.

But I couldn’t. I had not one ounce of petty revenge in me just then. All I could think about was how, in just a few minutes, Emmett was going to be on stage and then going home with someone else.