Page 104 of First Down Promise

“Does Mama Carter call you Coop or Cooper?”

“I’m only Cooper, or Cooper Bradford, when she’s busting me for something,” he answers, his cheeks red like they get whenever he bites off more than he can chew in the weight room.

“I’m only Joshua Beau when I’m in trouble.” Or when Abby’s mad and throwing heels at me. But damn, she was beautiful that night. Movement from Mark’s office catches my eye as Abby stands from one of the oversized chairs in front of his desk. “Oh, they’re coming out,” I say, keeping my eyes locked on her through the glass. Mark opens the door but doesn’t follow her out, and she rushes over to me and kisses me quickly. “How did it go?”

“You’re not going to believe this,” she says, grinning ear to ear. “You’re looking at the new social media coordinator for the Stallions, and it’s salaried!”

“Wait, what? Why?” I ask, but add, “I mean, you have the marketing background, but all the drama with the squad…?” before I sound like an ass.

“The internet loves us! Since going viral, the Stallions have had a bump in female followers. I guess something about our dynamic and me being Pete’s sister has turned the internet upside down. The team wants to take advantage of it, and honestly, I have a lot of ideas,” she explains. “And! Oh my gosh!” She blushes. “It means access to practices, the sidelines, home games, away games, um, playoffs! All of it, Josh!” She practically bounces up and down as she lists the details.

Coop pats me on the back and lets out a belly laugh. “Hope Pete has come around to you guys. Ab’s not going anywhere.”

Abby gives me those fuck me eyes. “Can’t get rid of me that easily.”

I scrunch up my nose and relax it. “I’d never.”

“I’m getting outta here before something happens between you two, and you end up in HR,” Coop jokes.

“Alright, see you, man.” He nods and starts walking toward the stairs when a thought pops into my head. “Hey, celebratory dinner tonight. You free, Coop?”

He turns around to face us, walking backward, and nods. “Like you have to ask. Text me the details!” he replies.

“Watch the stairs!” I call out, and Coop shifts back around. “Jesus,” I mutter under my breath, placing my hand over my heart. “We were about to be down a center, too.”

Abby giggles. “So, celebratory dinner?” she asks.

“Yeah, this is great! I’ll see if Dane can make it. Want to hit up Sadie?”

“Sure!” Abby replies and drapes her arms around my neck. “You’re amazing.”

“So are you.”

She brushes her fingers through my shaggy hair while keeping one hand on the back of my neck. “We’re still coworkers, you know. You’ll see me a lot, probably more often.”

“Is that supposed to scare me off, Wilson?”

“Ugh, that’s what they call Pete,” she groans.

“You won’t be a Wilson forever,” I whisper. “And that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

She purses her lips to hide her smile and fails. “That’s fine.”

Maybe she’s why I invested so much in my friendship with Pete. Some part of me was drawn to the girl next door, too. Looking back now, no one else was going to be a Mackenzie. But this relationship thing is new to me, and we didn’t start conventionally, so I’m choosing to savor every moment this offseason.

And stop myself from ring shopping…just for a little bit.

“Congrats on the job!” Sadie says to Abby when we meet her at the steakhouse that evening.

Abby changed into a bodycon maxi dress with long sleeves and an open back, and she’s a showstopper tonight in the wine-colored material with her hair hanging straight down her back. She wore the damn Jimmy Choos because she said it was hilariously ironic, but this time, I plan to take them off her tonight.

“Thank you, Sade!” Abby replies. “Are you staying on the squad?”

“For one more season for my resume. After that, I’ll figure it out.”

Abby and Sadie sit next to each other across from Dane and Coop, who are already seated. Earlier this afternoon, I called ahead to reserve a private table in the back for five. Dane and Coop agreed to meet us, and crumbs already litter the tablecloth in front of Coop.

“I couldn’t stop him,” Dane says.