tonight, and so hard. I feel like the Bears deserved to win, but that’s not always how it goes.
Josh told me where to meet him after the game, so we follow the herd of people leaving and hang out at the exit onto Sixth Avenue as the arena empties out.
I pull out my phone to check what people are saying on Twitter about the game and read the comments to Kaylee as we wait. Finally, Josh shows up, along with a couple of other guys.
Next to me, Kaylee mutters, “Holy shit.”
I second that. Because all three guys are tall, big, freshly showered, and dressed in suits and ties. I let out a happy sigh. I mean, I’m mostly looking at Josh, but the other two men are definitely noticeable.
Josh spots us and lifts a hand as he strides toward us. “Hey,” he greets me with a tiny smile.
“Hi.” I hug him. “Sorry you lost. You should have won.”
He makes a face.
“Josh, this is my friend Kaylee. Kaylee, Josh.”
Josh then introduces his teammates Brandon and Nate. “Some others are going to Bobby’s,” Josh says. “Want to go there and join them?”
“Sure!”
We all head out onto the dark street. It’s a mild evening, with low clouds and damp air. Brandon and Nate lead the way, zigzagging a few blocks over to Bobby’s Bar and Grill.
It looks like a tiny place from the entrance, every seat at the long bar full. But as we make our way past the bar, I can see how far back the room goes. Someone waves to Brandon and Nate, and we keep going toward the group, passing people sitting at wooden tables and stools, old brick walls, and chalkboards with drink and food specials.
As we draw closer, the first person I notice is Lilly. Well, of course she would be here.
Kaylee grabs my arm. “Layla’s here. Omigod.”
I nudge her, grinning. “Chill. Remember, I’m famous too.”
She snorts. Way to keep me grounded.
There are loud greetings. Josh takes my and Kaylee’s jackets and hangs them on a nearby coatrack. Everyone else already has drinks, but a waitress is waiting to take our orders. I ask for the same beer as Josh and soon have a nice cold glass in my hand. Josh finds stools for Kaylee and me, but they’re in short supply, so he stands near us.
“You played twenty-two minutes in that game, Hellsy,” Brandon says.
Hellsy. I shoot him an amused glance.
“Yeah.” Josh rubs his forehead. “That was a lot.”
“Coach likes you.”
Josh grins. “Of course he does.”
“Teacher’s pet?” I ask.
He laughs. “As if.”
“You seriously did play a lot,” I say. “Even I noticed.”
“It’s good,” he replies.
I pull his head down to my level and say into his ear, “Is that Easton Millar over there? With Lilly?”
He stiffens. “How do you know Lilly?”
“We met in the elevator on Wednesday when I was at your place.”
“Ah.” He glances their way, his face tight. “Yeah, that’s Easton.”
“Just trying to put faces to names.”
He nods and straightens. “So how’s your trip to New York been, Kaylee?”
“Great!” She babbles on about the things we’ve done and I jump in here and there.
“Where you from, Kaylee?” one of the players asks.
“Kaylee, James,” Josh says in a quick introduction. “Also known as Red.”
“A fellow ginger,” Kaylee says with a smile, eyeing James’s auburn hair. “I live in Washington.”
“D.C.?”
“Yes. I’m an attorney in the DOJ.”
“That sounds impressive.”
She smiles. “I like my job.”
He edges closer to her stool. “How long are you in town?”
“I leave tomorrow afternoon.”
“Aw. That’s too short.”
Josh shoots James a narrow-eyed look. James ignores him.
I become aware that Lilly and Layla are looking at me and talking. I know they’re talking about me. Then Layla pops out of her seat and rushes over.
“Oh my God!” she cries. “Sara Carrington!”
I give her a weak smile. “Layla Young!”
She laughs and throws her arms out to hug me like we’re long-lost sisters. “I can’t believe this! I love your videos!”
Of course my first instinct is to say incredulously, “You do?” But instead I say, “Thank you!”
I catch Kaylee’s eye and give her a “See, bitch, I am famous!” look. She rolls her eyes, but she’s trying not to smile. She loves me.
Everyone else is watching this, the guys looking mystified. Except Josh. He looks…proud. I love the smile he lays on me.
“I loved that pink wine video you did!” Layla says. “You are so funny!”
“Aw, thank you.”
We chat about that video and another one Layla liked, and then she says, “Would you ever do