Jamal was beaming. I already knew what he thought. Brandon and Joe both gave me curt nods, and Terry folded his arms across his chest. He was measuring Grayson up, but I could tell he was pleased with Grayson’s answer. Grayson seemed so genuine and not like the smug asshole I remembered from a lifetime ago.

We finished our drinks and on our way out, Grayson pulled me aside. “Hey, Sutton. I wanted to make sure us working together was going to be okay. I mean, because of Parker.”

Hearing him say her name almost made me wince. “Parker was a long time ago, Grayson. I’m fine working with you. We were kids and we’ve all moved on.” I gave him a soft smile to emphasize my point even though I couldn’t swallow.

“That’s great to hear. Sorry for being such a shit back then. You know, about everything. You were a great quarterback, and I was jealous. I’m glad we’re on the same team now. Or maybe soon to be, you know.” He held out his hand.

A handshake. Years of despising this guy for taking the one thing I treasured most, and he was offering me a handshake to forgive and forget. It was childish of me to harbor the negativity. They had moved on. Truthfully, even I did. I shook his hand. “I look forward to bossing you around,” I said.

He threw his head back and laughed before patting me on the back. “You’re okay, Sutton. I have a feeling we’re in for a wild ride.”

Chapter Three—Fumble

Past

“Why aren’t you dressed?” Hayley, my best friend since first grade, asked. She was standing in my doorway, staring at me in disbelief. She looked beautiful in her shimmering silver dress with her hair in an updo. Her cosmetics case was tucked under her arm because I was horrible at makeup. How much time had passed since we spoke on the phone today?

“Shit. Sorry. I got caught up in…” I didn’t finish but pointed at my open laptop screen, knowing she would understand. I was supposed to at least be dressed with my hair done, but instead I was still in sweatpants and a ratty T-shirt, sprawled out on the bed watching video clips of me and Parker. Movie ticket stubs, photos of us, and cleverly folded notes surrounded me like a chalk outline on my bed.