Wright with Benefits (Wright Series #8) - K.A. Linde Page 0,19

and Julian and Blaire really bring the team together.”

Though my brother had been recruited to a Division I school and Julian had played in college, Blaire was the star of the Tacos. She was a power forward and goals from girls counted double in this league. She was the reason we’d killed it last season. Plus, she was just a really fun down to earth girl.

I couldn’t resist ribbing Jennifer though. “Hey! I’m on the team, too.”

Jennifer’s cheeks heated. “That’s not what I meant!”

“No, you meant that Isaac knows how to dribble, but Julian—”

“Stop!” Jennifer said.

Sutton laughed. “Don’t pick on her.”

“I just wish that it had worked out with you and Julian,” I admitted. “No one wants to deal with Ashleigh Sinclair.”

“It was one date,” Jennifer said, looking down at the camera still strung around her neck.

“And the wedding!” Sutton said.

“Fine. One perfect kiss with Julian Wright.” She shrugged. “And then he found someone more in his league.” She didn’t even sound upset about it. Just thought it was how things were. Sure didn’t stop her from watching him and wishing. I knew that even if she wouldn’t admit it.

“Bah!” I cried.

“Ew, don’t say that,” Sutton said. “Ashleigh Sinclair is not more in anyone’s league. Plus, I’m a Wright and I say with certainty that if anything you’re out of his league.”

Jennifer grumbled under her breath. “Yeah, right.”

“Chin up,” I said. “We don’t have to worry about any of it today.”

I was glad for the change of subject, because usually, when the conversation went to Julian, it swung right around to Jordan. As much as Sutton had been against us dating her cousins when they first showed up, she was all for it now. Wanted us to be part of the family. As if that was ever going to happen.

Luckily, we made it to Isaac’s without incident. I hopped out of the SUV and jogged inside. My mom and dad stood in the entranceway.

“I didn’t know both of you were coming over!” I said, throwing my arms around them.

“Hi, sweetie,” my mom said.

“Ann,” my dad said, kissing my cheek. He was the only one who called me that anymore.

“Where’s my favorite niece?”

“I’m here!” Aly cried, running out of her bedroom in a tutu and tights, a tiara planted in her mass of red curls.

I picked her up and swung her around in a circle. “I missed you!”

“I missed you, too, Aunt Annie.”

“You were gone to New York for so long.”

Aly’s eyes widened. “It was magic. The buildings were so tall.” She held her hand up as if to show me how tall they were. “And Peyton’s house doesn’t even have a yard! But you can still have dogs.”

“Wow,” I said with enthusiasm.

“Apartment,” Isaac corrected Aly as he walked out in a matching Tacos uniform. His red hair was cut short and gelled off of his face. He was a head taller than me but still muscular and lean from years of soccer. He could have gone pro when he was younger. “Peyton lives in an apartment, remember?”

“Right. Apartment. It’s small, and I got to sleep on the couch!”

“That sounds like the best adventure.”

Aly nodded. “It was. I missed my house though. And dance. Dad said we could get a dog.”

Aly was a budding ballerina, and even at five, she insisted on being in the studio as much as humanly possible.

“I did not say that,” Isaac said with an eye roll. “Give your aunt a kiss good-bye.”

Aly puckered up and plopped a wet kiss on my lips. “Have fun. Love you!”

“Love you, too, Aly Cat.”

Isaac kissed his daughter next and thanked Mom and Dad before following me out to Sutton’s SUV. He ruffled my hair. “Thanks for the ride.”

I swatted at him, fixing the now-mussed ponytail. “You can ride in the back with Jennifer.”

He snorted. “Fine. Good to see you, too.”

“I missed Aly more than you.”

“I feel so loved,” he said sarcastically.

“Love you.”

We jumped into the car, and Isaac regaled us with tales from the last couple weeks in New York City. We all listened with rapt attention. Sutton had been a bunch before, but I’d only been once, and Jennifer still hadn’t had a wedding there. It was on her bucket list. We both swore we’d go for the next bachelorette party that we had to throw. Since Sutton had refused any festivities when she married David.

Sutton parked next to Cézanne’s CR-V. She stepped out of her car in The Tacos uniform at the same time as us. She hip-checked