Most of the families have left by now. I feel bad making Kinsley wait so long, but I had to finish my drawings. I never leave the locker room until those are done.

So when I see her sitting on the ground, cross-legged, playing on her phone, guilt washes over me.

“Hey Kin.”

She glances up and plasters a huge smile on her face. Springing to her feet, she launches herself at me and I catch her in the air, her legs wrapping around my waist as she gives me a huge hug. “Oh my God, Maddox. You were amazing.” She pulls back and grips my cheeks. “I’m going to take all the credit and say it was the chocolate cake from last night.” She hops off me, and that’s when I take her all in.

Her legs are barely covered by a pair of cut-off jeans—which I’m sure she made herself from an old pair of jeans. She’s all about zero waste. She’s wearing the Rebels shirt I gave her with my name on the back but of course, she’s not wearing a goddamn bra, and she tied the shirt in the back, showing off her midriff and fucking stellar body. Her hair is wild with waves, parted to the side, and her eyes are highlighted with mascara, but that’s about it, leaving her natural beauty to shine.

She looks fucking amazing, and I don’t miss the way Lincoln takes her in either.

“Chocolate cake? How come I wasn’t invited?” Linc says, holding his hand out to Kinsley who takes it, gifting him with a beautiful smile.

“Lincoln, right?”

He nudges me with his elbow and says, “Your girl has done her homework.”

Heat spreads through my veins from hearing Linc refer to Kinsley as my girl. I know he doesn’t mean it in a sexual way, but still, it fills me with an uncomfortable warmth I’m confused by.

“It’s good to meet you,” Kinsley says. “Maddox has told me what an asshole you are.”

Fucking hell.

Lincoln throws his head back and laughs so loud that it vibrates off the walls. When he calms down, he looks me square in the eyes and says, “Dude, I might be in love.” He then turns to Kinsley and says, “Will you marry me?”

She makes a show of mulling it over. A tap to her chin, I thoughtful glance to the sky. “Would you mind if I google your salary first?”

“Hell, google away, baby.” Linc holds his arms out. “I’m all yours.”

“Coming on too strong,” I say, swatting Lincoln’s arms down.

Kinsley chuckles and then folds into my side, holding me around my waist. She pats my chest and says, “Don’t worry, Maddie, you’ll always be my number one, even if I marry your best guy friend.”

“Maddie?” Lincoln asks, a lift to his brow. How did I know he wouldn’t let that go?

“Kinsley is the only one allowed to call me that, and it’s because I don’t have the heart to tell her not to since she’s been calling me Maddie since we were five.”

“It’s true. I earned the nickname privileges from dealing with all his crap. And trust me when I say, the teenage years were rough.”

He pulls Kinsley by the hand and into his side, draping his arm over her shoulder while saying, “This is something I want to hear all about. We’re going out.”

And just like that, they walk away, joking and laughing, leaving me feeling pissed, and a whole lot uncomfortable with how buddy-buddy they already are.

“A round of tequila shots,” Kinsley says to the waitress who is totally eye-fucking Linc right now.

We chose a booth in the back of the bar, away from the crowd but thanks to Kinsley—and how hot she looks—we drew some attention from patrons and had to sign a few autographs and take pictures. We’re rarely bothered at Paddy’s, but a blonde showing off her midriff wearing no bra will frustrate your camouflage act.

Linc is sitting across from us and hasn’t been able to wipe the smile off his face since he met Kinsley, and I know it has nothing to do with attraction and everything to do with me.

I can practically see the words double date flashing in his eyes.

When the waitress goes to fill our order, Linc says, “Tell me every embarrassing story about Maddox you know.”

“There are just so many,” Kinsley says, leaning back in the booth. From under the table, I can see her cross her legs, her shorts riding incredibly high, almost as if they’re denim underwear.

“I’d keep your mouth shut if I were you,” I say, pulling my eyes from the small window of her legs that I have.

It’s not like I didn’t get a good enough fill when we were driving over here. I kept glancing at them the entire time Kinsley was berating me for driving such a detriment to the earth. I think that’s how she put it. Honestly, I can’t remember at this point.

Kinsley turns toward me, arms crossed over her chest. “Are you threatening me with my own embarrassing stories?”

“Yup.”

She motions to Linc. “I don’t even know the man, like I care.”

“Yeah?” I raise both brows. “Okay.” I face Linc and say, “When she was in fifth grade, there was this boy she was obsessed with—”

Kinsley’s velvety soft hand covers my mouth quickly, causing me to chuckle against her palm. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Linc glances between the two of us, his smile only growing wider. Winking at me, Linc says, “Tell me later, dude.”

“I will.” I have no intention of doing so.

“Maddox,” Kinsley says sternly, poking me in the side. “Don’t you fucking dare unless you want me to tell your friend here about the bathroom story from middle school.”

Jesus Christ, that’s the last thing I want. And what I was most worried about resurfacing.

“Ooo, what’s the bathroom story from middle school?” Linc is nearly bouncing in his seat.

Kinsley and I stare each other down, warning in our eyes for one another. Finally, I break and say, “Nothing you need to worry about.”

From under her breath, I can hear Kinsley say, “That’s what I thought.”

Linc deflates in annoyance while the waitress brings our drinks.

Once we down the shots, Kinsley says, “So you guys met in the minors?”

“Yeah.” I twist my beer around. “Linc here was scared from being away from his moms, so I took him under my wing.”

Not even ashamed, Linc shrugs and says, “Guilty. I’m a mama’s boy. College was tough, minors were even harder.”

“Ah, that’s really sweet. Nothing to be ashamed of for missing your moms. I’m assuming you were drafted straight out of high school like Maddox?”

“Nope. Went to Brentwood, drafted after my junior year.”

“Oh, I’ve heard Brentwood is really nice.”

“It is, has a very family-type feel, so when I left, I felt thrown into a world I wasn’t used to.”

“Aw, well I’m so glad Maddox acted as your mother hen.”

“I did not act like a mother hen.”

“He even chewed up my food and spit it in my mouth for me,” Linc says.

“Wow.” Kinsley rests her hand on my thigh and faces me. “That’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard. How did the rest of the guys take the image of you baby bird feeding your friend?”

“They lined up for their turn,” Linc answers before I can even open my mouth. “Maddox was chewing and spitting for hours that night as he took care of all of us.”

Sarcastically gushing, Kinsley wipes under her eyes. “You know, I always knew he had a kind heart under that dark exterior of his, but I hadn’t known he’d showed it to his teammates. I’m so proud of you, Maddie. Nourishing your teammates, what a wonderful contribution to the Rebels other than your throwing arm.”

I glance between the both of them. “Are you two done?”

“Pretty sure I could do this all night,” Linc answers, bringing his beer to his lips.

“You know I can spend hours on this,” Kinsley says with a smile.

Yeah, I do fucking know. She has no problem coming at me hard with her jokes and funnily enough, I enjoy it. She’s never tiptoed around me, never treated me differently even when I made it big. I’ve been the boy next door to her, the best friend, her Maddie. Fucking love it. Love her.

“Linc is so much fun. Thank you for letting me come out with you.” When I shut the door, Kinsley loops her arms around my waist and gives me a tight hug. My arms fall around her and I return the embrace, loving how she’s tall enough so I can rest my chin on the top of her head.

“You don’t have to thank me, Kin.”

“I know, but he’s your friend and all . . .”

“And you’re my best friend. If anything, I’d choose you over him.”

She leans back to look up at me. “You would?”

“Of course, I would,” I say, feeling the pinch between my brow from her surprise. “You’re my number one.”

Her sensual mouth spreads even wider when she smiles and then leans back into my embrace, squeezing tight.