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“Saushed “She’s so lucky to have support from you and her fa Katie brought”

“That esoers to her lips and whistling…loudly “Katie!”

I turned auto er brother, and—

“Blake!” A blonde blur flew at ht embrace

I tried to gently pull away, but Katie wouldn’t let go, and in the confines of the crowd, there wasn’t roo a scene I shook hands with Carly’s parents and gave hter’s sportsh some of his favorite plays of the season

And yeah, Katie was still attached atup at nored the unco over my skin as best I could and concentrated on Carly’s dad

“Next year ,” he was saying

“Let him enjoy this cha my waist “I’m so proud of you, Blake So proud”

“Thanks, but the girls are the heroes here”

“So are you,” she insisted as she stood on her tiptoes, pulled at my neck, and sealed her lips over mine

If I thought the decibel level was high earlier, I was sadly ood-natured cheers

Then out of the blue, Susan Peterson whooped loudly, raising her beer bottle in a toast “Could it be? Our favorite beautiful couple is together again!”

She was joking I was sure of it, and I was pretty sure most everyone there knew Katie and I were friends only, but the cheering didn’t stop and her lips were still on ed to freeagainst the nearby counter, a bag of pretzels in his hand

His face was pale and drawn, as if he’d been sucker-punched in the gut

Fuck

“Asher…” I called

He didn’t hear or he couldn’t hear The noise level rose when a few more team members filed into the kitchen The buzz in the air collided with the static in my head as I made my way toward him

When I lost sight of hirasp, and broke free of the crowd, gasping like a fish out of water