Relapse

Tanner looks at me, “Can Coach Nathan and Coach Chase go with us?” As if being summoned by his name, Chase pops up with two Gatorades in his hands.

“What’s this about me going somewhere?” he questions as he passes the drinks to the boys.

“To eat,” Nathan says, catching him up as his eyes meet mine again and I realize he’s waiting on an answer.

“Oh, yeah, it’s no problem,” I push back a strand of my hair as I turn to look at Emmet who’s still sitting on the bench with Lilly. “Emmet, would you join us?” I ask.

A light smile touches his lips, “Of course.”

* * *

“Oh, we have a big party today,” the waitress says with a smile on her face as she stands at the end of our table. “I’m going to start with what everyone wants to drink.” She goes around the table and gets drink orders from everyone before disappearing.

“Hmm, so tell me again how you know these men outside of Tanner’s team,” Grandma says loudly even though I know she’s fully aware of how I know the three men sitting across the table from us. When I see the tilt of her lips, I know she’s put me on spot on purpose.

“They’re my neighbors,” I tell her as I pick up my menu and avoid the gazes of everyone.

“Mhmm, is that all?” she asks from beside me and when I look at her, I find that her gaze isn’t on me, but moving between Chase, Nathan, and Emmet.

I look across the table at the men in question and they all wear much calmer expressions than I. Chase meets my eye and raises a brow as if to ask if he can say who they are. I almost want him to say, because maybe then I’d have some idea myself what in the hell is going on.

“Aunt Ivy kissed Coach Nathan,” Tanner says helpfully from beside me and I turn to look at him with wide eyes. He seems to be unfazed by the words that just came out of his mouth as he shows Aiden something he’s drawn on his paper. I continue to look at him as I try to figure out how in the hell he knows this information since I distinctly remember him going to his room the night of the date when the kiss was going on.

“Kids will always bust you down, won’t they,” Grandma says, sending Tanner a look of approval. “And who else has Aunt Ivy kissed?” she asks.

“Grandma,” I hiss.

I’m surprised when the guys let out a laugh. I look down the table at Jamille and there’s a twinkle in her eyes when she gives a shrug. I realize I’m definitely not going to get any help from her.”

“Aunt Ivy has already told you that she’s just friends with her neighbors,” I reiterate to her. Chase lets out a hum of protest but when I raise my gaze to him, he’s looking at his menu innocently.

I look at Nathan for help and he smiles. “Yes, we’re Ivy’s… friends and we really like her,” he says and while the words may be simple enough, I know they’re not, especially when his eyes meet mine.

Grandma lets it drop but I know that it’s only for now and she’ll be back on the rampage later, trying to figure out what’s going on.

When the waitress comes back out, we order our food and Grandma turns to talk to Jamille. Aiden and Tanner are still stuck in their little kids’ menu, drawing, and Lilly is happily playing with a napkin she took off the table.

I glance across the table and find all three men staring back at me. I realize this is the first time I’ve been in the room with all of them since I’ve had physical interactions and my cheeks heat up slightly. Chase’s lips tip up when he sees the blush and he opens his mouth to say something but pauses when my phone starts to loudly ring.

“Hello.” Slightly flustered, I answer the phone without looking at the screen and instantly regret it.

“Hello, daughter.”