Hayley smiled at me and patted my hand. “I love you, but I did this for me, too. I’m invested in this now. This way, I have firsthand knowledge of how she is, how you are, and if you can have a friendship with somebody who destroyed you.” She gave me an angelic smile, but underneath her halo was a fierce woman who was used to fighting for her family. She blinked at me three times and increased the intensity of her smile.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

“The reunion of a lifetime. How do I look?” Hayley looked amazing. She had gone all out for tonight. She had her hair done, spoiled both of us with mani/pedis, and even though fall was here, she wore a sleeveless dress. She gained fifty pounds when her last was born but worked hard to lose it and, in the process, came away with a lean, muscular body.

“Too bad you’re married with five hundred kids. I’d take a crack at you.”

She kissed my cheek. “I wouldn’t leave Mike to raise my devil children alone. Nobody deserves that punishment.”

I knew she was joking. They were a handful, but they were sweet and fun. I reminded myself to get over there and play with them soon. Coaching was important, but I had to remind myself that it wasn’t everything. “Are you ready?”

She turned to me. I saw the fire in her eyes and something sinister perched on her smile. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this for fifteen years.”

I gave her the look. The same you-better-behave-or-else look she bestowed on her boys. “Play nice. I have to work with him for the next several months,” I whispered. We walked up the stairs to the front door in silence. Grayson opened the door before I even rang the doorbell, and for a moment, I wondered if they heard our conversation on their cameras.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” He looked pointedly at Hayley. “I know you. I remember you from the high school games from way back when.”

She studied him for a brief second before holding out her hand. “I’m Hayley, Sutton’s best friend since grade school. I went to all her games.”

Hayley was being kind. I begged her to go to my games. “My biggest cheerleader.” Fuck. Did I really just say that?

She looked at me wide-eyed. “This is a lovely home, Grayson. You have children, don’t you?” she asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Yes, come on in. Unfortunately, Vee and Rose are already upstairs and in bed.”

I looked at the time. It was only eight and a Saturday night. Grayson must’ve seen my reaction.