Page 33 of Exes Don't

Noli

I have to work on Friday and Saturday

Rose

I have to go to the River Foxes game on Sunday.

For work!

Poppy

Can you get us tickets? We could all go!

Noli

Yeah! I’ve never been.

I consider my options here. If I say no, they’ll be even more obnoxious and convinced I’m holding out on them about some torrid affair I’m having with Anton.

I immediately clear my head ofthatvisual.

If I say yes, then they’ll be around while I’m trying to do my undercover work, which is…not ideal. I don’t like mixing my two worlds, and I’ve always kept my sisters firmly in my normal-life world. But in this case, it might be the lesser of two evils to appease them.

Rose

I’ll talk to my contacts in the organization and see what I can do. No promises.

Poppy

Look at you, all professional.

Noli

I bet Anton would give you some contact in the organization, if you know what I mean.

Rose

I’m ignoring you.

I’ll be in touch.

Noli

With Anton? Thought so.

Rose

Shut up.

I blow out a breath, toggling over to a text message with the River Foxes’ marketing manager, Ned. If anyone can get me extra tickets for Sunday, he’s the guy. I make my request and slip my phone into my bag. I set off at a brisk pace down the hallway. I’ve given myself plenty of time, so even with that ridiculous sister text exchange thrown in, I’m almost a full forty-five minutes early.

By my calculations, the weight room should be straight ahead.

I pull open the door and walk directly into a group of oversized dudes. They’re all dressed in River Foxes gear—gray sweatpants and hoodies emblazoned with the purple-and-tangerine fox logo. They’re laughing and talking, but they fall silent at the sight of me. I hold up my hand in an awkward wave, trying to cover my feelings of immense intimidation with a smile.

“Hey there, I’m—”

“Rosie Kasper?” Delany Durgen steps forward. He blinks at me and then smiles so wide his teeth are actually visible from beneath his bushy, overgrown beard.