season in a long time.”
I hadn’t forgotten about the wager I’d made with Archer. I’d promised to go out and celebrate later with the team if they won, and so far, he was definitely winning. I watched as he got congratulations from his team, saw him glance up at the stands as he walked to the dugout. Archer caught my gaze, and though his signature frown was still in place, his eyes were smiling like they did sometimes. That look paired with Emmy’s words only made me more certain my theory was correct.
“Define a long time,” I said.
“Well…I don’t think my brothers have ever lost the first game of the season,” she said. “Not even when they were in t-ball, and there were no official ‘winners.’”
“Ugh.”
“What’s up?”
As I relayed all the details of our bet, Emmy and June’s smiles got wider. It wasn’t like I wanted the Wolves to lose but come on. Never? Since they were playing t-ball? At the end of my short rant, Emmy reached across to pat me on the hand.
“Sorry girl,” she said on a laugh. “You’ve been had.”
“It’ll be great, though,” June said. “We always go back to the Omega Beta house after the games to hang out. It’s pretty fun.”
I nodded, but my throat was a bit tight, as I watched the Wolves dominate the rest of the game. The team played like they were out for blood. And if the goal was to start out strong and get even stronger, I pitied the other teams down the line. Everything I’d read or heard about the team and the O’Brien brothers was confirmed. That baseball game was brilliant—but honestly? From that point on, my mind was focused on only one thing.
The fact that my “friend” Archer had made a bet that would result in me having to go back to the Omega Beta house. The place where we’d met. The place where we’d had our perfect first kiss—which had then turned into a very passionate/sizzling/memorable make-out session.
The place where I’d mistakenly ended up in his bed.
At least now, I knew which brother was which, I reassured myself. There definitely wouldn’t be any mix-ups tonight on that front. Plus, there wouldn’t be any beds or kissing involved period. Archer and I were friends. Just like me and Charlie, or me and Rose. And it’s not like I wanted to kiss him again anyway.
Maybe if I kept telling myself that, I’d actually believe it.
I was still pumped after the game. My team had come through in a big way. It was my senior year, and we’d just won the first game of the season. I couldn’t have been prouder. Now it was time to celebrate.
And I knew exactly who I wanted to do that with.
Fresh out of the shower, I walked over to my clothes, dressing in record time. Emmy had just texted to let me know they were out there, and I didn’t want to keep Honor waiting.
“Hey, Declan,” I said, lacing up my shoes. “That was a great catch in the third.”
“Really?” he said like he didn’t totally believe it.
“Yeah.” I nodded, gave his shoulder a pat. “You keep playing like that, we’ll definitely make it to the championship. Well done.”
The kid smiled. “Thanks, Captain.”
“No problem,” I said, pulling my cap on. “You did a great job.”
As I was leaving, Baylor caught up to me.
“Great job?” Baylor scoffed, softly so no one else would hear, not that anyone was standing near us anyway. “I’ve been making catches like that since middle school. It was easy. The ball came right to him.”
I shrugged. “He’s a freshman who needs some encouragement. And he did make the play,” I pointed out. “Improvement from practice.”
“Ah,” he said, “you’re building him up.”
“Just acknowledging that he did something good.” I nudged his side with my elbow. “Nice hit in the sixth by the way. I think they heard that grand slam in the next county over.”
Baylor threw me a grin. “No use pulling your inspirational mumbo jumbo on me, brother. It’s unnecessary.”
“Didn’t say it because it’s necessary. I said it because it’s true.”
“Keep saying things like that, and my head will get even bigger.”
“Wasn’t aware that was possible.”
“Oh ha ha,” he said, and we walked outside together. “What’s got you in such a good mood? It can’t be the win. You knew we’d take this first game.”
“Nothing.”
Looking over all the students and fans still milling outside, I spotted Honor and felt my shoulders relax. She was standing with Emmy,