So really, I don’t think I unloaded at all.

Mission failed.

But of course, they have a lot to say.

“I told you! He was looking out for you. That’s so sweet,” Mandie exclaims.

“It is, Baylor. Like, who does that?”

“A dumbass?” I ask because I don’t want to admit that I think it’s sweet, but they both shush me.

“You’re letting your pride get in the way. You don’t like when things don’t go your way,” Delanie informs me because apparently I wasn’t aware of that small personality trait of mine. “Plus, you don’t do well with people who get under your skin and make you feel. I’ve watched you play hockey for two years and never seen you hit someone. And let’s both agree that Seth deserved a good kick in the balls. But you hit Jayden, which means something, you know,” she says, singing the last part, and my body shivers with chills.

I hate Seth’s name. With a passion in my soul.

Ignoring it though, I let out an annoyed breath. I hate explaining myself. “That I was drunk and he said my mom didn’t want me? I think that deserves getting hit, just saying,” I add, but I sure don’t tell them that I pushed him again because he was frustrating me.

And turning me on…

Ugh. I need Jesus.

“Maybe y’all need to just do it?” Mandie suggests, causing my brow to go up.

“What?”

“Maybe there is so much sexual tension between you two that it won’t stop until y’all do it,” she says, and I laugh.

“I am not having sex with him,” I say very sharply. “I’d rather take a puck to the mouth.”

“You’re such a liar!”

I am.

“No! It’s true. He is the slime on my shoe, the pain in my ass. I swear, I’m gonna kill him.”

If I don’t tear his clothes off and hump his face.

No, whoa, did I just think that? Shit.

They laugh before Mandie says, “Murder is a sign of true love.”

“Or insanity,” I suggest, and they both scoff at me as my door opens.

“Bay, let’s go,” Dad says, popping his head in. “We are running late.”

“Yeah, coming,” I say, getting out of my chair and grabbing my shoes. “Okay, this has been real, but I gotta go.”

“Where you off to?” Delanie asks.

“Team-building exercise. We are gonna run up a hill.”

“Because nothing says team like running,” Delanie says, and I agree.

“For sure,” I mumble since running is my least favorite thing to do.

“Well, have fun,” she says.

“And maybe try talking to Jayden,” Mandie says, and I roll my eyes. “You never know.”

“Never know what? It isn’t like we are gonna get together and be happy.”

“Why not?” she asks incredulously. “It could be good for you.”

“Because he is my enemy. He wants what I want, and I refuse to give it to him.”

“Oh my God, you are insane,” she says and I scoff.

“Been called worse,” I say, reaching for the door and going out. “Nice talk, kinda, but I’ll talk to you ladies later.”

“Oh, Baylor!”

I pause. “Yeah?”

“Happy birthday!” they say, and then they are singing to me. I grin as my heart explodes in my chest. Not too many people have ever wished me happy birthday other than my dad. I know that’s sad, but people really don’t notice anything about me but my hockey abilities.

“We wish we could have come down to party for your twenty-first, but we got you on break!” Delanie says and I grin.

“I can’t wait.”

And I can’t. It’ll probably be a highlight for me, and Lord knows it’s the only thing I’m looking forward to.

We say our goodbyes just as I reach my dad’s truck and get in. I slam the door, and he looks over at me as he starts it. “Delanie and Mandie?”

I nod. “Yup.”

“Miss ’em, eh?”

I shrug. “Yeah, I’m lonely here.”

“Make friends,” he suggests, but I shake my head. “Maybe then you wouldn’t be sitting in the house alone while the boys are having a back-to-school party.”

“Don’t have time for that.”

“You could go. It is your birthday. Go get wild.”

“But I won’t. I need my sleep. Can’t be a winner when I’m drunk,” I say and he grins.

“Too driven,” he mumbles, and I laugh.

“You made me this way,” I sing and he shrugs.

“Maybe.”

But we both know there is no maybe about it.

I am my father’s daughter.

When we get to the running trail, most of the guys have already arrived. Dad pulls into the parking lot and then glances at the time. “They’ve got five minutes.”

“Are you kicking people off for this?”

He shrugs. “Haven’t decided yet.”

Dad doesn’t like lateness; it’s one of his biggest pet peeves. But thankfully, once we get out of the car, more cars are pulling up, guys unloading and gathering around, waiting on instruction. Crossing my arms over my chest, I wait for my dad to start when all of a sudden I feel him near me. Looking to my left, I find him there, matching my stance with Jace beside him, doing the same.

The damn Wonder Twins, ladies and gentlemen.

Just the sight of his perfectly chiseled jaw pisses me off, so I let out an annoyed breath, and when he smiles, I want to kick him.

“Nice shorts there, Moore.”

“Yeah?” I ask, looking down at my shorts. They may be shorter than normal, but they are my favorite running shorts. Looking at his shorts, I can see his are short too, classic dude running shorts.

As I meet his gaze, his grin grows. “Yeah.”

“You can borrow ’em anytime, just let me know,” I say, blinking innocently, and his grin only grows more.

“You are hell-bent on being a bitch, aren’t you?”

I shrug. “I don’t like you.”

“You lie,” he says automatically. When he leans in, I lean back, but it doesn’t stop him from saying, “You like me a lot.”

Breathless, I say, “You know, you’re right. I do like you.”