Page 54 of Fighting Chance

Cindy turns to Bella as she sits down between us. “Your bestfriend right there”—she points an accusatory finger at me—“just said she’s never seenLord of the Rings.”

Bella peers at her out of the corner of her eye as she slowly eats the remaining chunk of her brownie.

Cindy leaps up. “Oh fuck no! You too?” As quickly as she swore, she slaps a hand over her mouth, looking over at Emmy lying on her back on the floor, head popped up on Bambi’s belly as she watches TV. “Sorry, Em.”

I cough to hide my laugh, but it quickly dies as she turns those accusatory eyes on me again. “We’re watching it, right now.”

Bella snorts. “The guys’ game starts in five minutes.”

She flaps her hand, waving Bella off. “Lord of the Ringsis more important.”

“Asher will be pissed.”

“I’ve watched him play since he was seven. Trust me, I don’t think he’d mind if I skipped a game.”

“Seven?” I ask, not being able to hide the awe in my voice.

“They’ve known each other since they were in diapers,” Bella explains.

“No way! That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s cute until you remember that he’s seeneverything. Every awkward hormonal teenager phase, braces, acne, boy band obsessions…” She gives me a look. “And he has the photo evidence to back it up.”

I slice some brie and put it on a cracker. “I highly doubt your bad phases were even bad. You’re drop dead gorgeous.”

“You’ll have to trust me on this one. Puberty was nice to me but before that…” She shivers. “Ugh, I tried to burn the photos once and my mom lectured me for two hours before hiding them in the house somewhere. Istillhaven’t been able to find them.”

“I’d kill to have dirt on Grayson. That man is practically a saint.” Bella’s quiet for a moment before springing upright, whipping out her phone. “I’m going to text Allie. She’ll bring his baby photos if I ask.”

“She’s coming tomorrow, right?”

Nodding, Bella types away furiously. “Yep, but knowing Allie they’ve probably already arrived. They’re so excited.”

Cindy drops her voice, her gaze darting to Emmy, checking to make sure she’s still riveted by the cartoons on the TV. “My heart broke when you told me.”

Bella winces. “Sorry I asked you to keep it from Asher.”

“Don’t worry, everyone has to keep secrets from time to time.” Something clouds her eyes before it’s gone as quickly as it arrived and she’s smiling again. “Do you know if Kieran will tell them soon, though? This is a pretty big thing to hide.”

I nod. “He said he was going to tell them before the game.”

Cindy whistles as she leans forward, plucking food from the charcuterie board. “The group chat is going to explode.”

“Group chat?”

Bella huffs out a laugh. “The team’s group chat. My god, Lil, you gotta see it. It’s the funniest thing you’ll ever read.”

“You read the group chat?”

“All the wives and girlfriends do.” Cindy smirks. “Pure entertainment.”

“Irving is the funniest,” Bella states.

Cindy shakes her head. “No way, Jack Lewis is.” Pointing to me, Cindy goes on. “Kieran will show you the chat if you ask him. He’d do anything you asked.”

I frown. “No, he wouldn’t.”

Bella pats my knee. “Oh, Lil. Yes, yes he would.”