“That’s Theo and Lucy,” he looks over at the bar to the younger woman and guy sitting together. She looks a bit younger than everyone else and her soft blue eyes meet mine from across the space.
“Hi, Jade!” Lucy calls out to me as Theo bobs his head, his dark brown hair shifting, and waves.
Two women stand behind the bar. “And that’s Posey and my youngest sister, Bella.”
Bella and Posey both smile and wave from where they’re standing.
The three Ford’s all look like they’re related. Bella and Elena both have beautiful long dark hair that’s the same shade as Matteo’s. The three of them all have similar facial features and striking gray eyes.
“Do you guys all play together?” I ask Matteo as he leads me over to the bar. I’m a little off-kilter, not knowing anyone, but I don’t think Matteo would have led me into a lion’s den.
He nods his head. “Do you want a drink?”
“Water’s fine,” I smile at him and glance at Posey who’s grabbing a bottle from the fridge behind her.
“Matty, I think the air hockey table’s broken,” Shaw calls over to him.
“Shit, give me a second,” Matteo says to me, his eyes scanning my face before he walks over to where the guys are.
Bella comes from around the bar, heading over to the pool table with her sister and Posey hands me a bottle of water.
“Thank you,” I take it from her, screwing off the top before taking a sip. I tilt my head to the side, playing out the words in my head before speaking them.“Are you guys related too?”
“No way,” Posey laughs, shaking her head. “Matteo and I grew up together. Same with Lucy and Theo. Our dads all played together, and our families are close.”
So, she’s just a friend. Jealousy strikes my chest like an iron fist. I wonder if she’s a friend like I am…
I can’t even hide the way my face falls.
Posey leans over the bar, closer to me. “We’ve always just been friends. You have nothing to worry about.” Her eyes flick past me for a second.
“Oh.” My eyes widen, heat creeping up my neck as I quickly shake my head. “No, I wasn’t thinking that?—”
A smile creeps across Posey’s lips. “Girl, your face gave it all away. It’s okay, your secret is safe with me.”
Lucy slides over onto the bar stool next to where I’m standing. “What’s the secret? I love secrets.”
“Get out of here, Luce.” Posey waves her hand at her dismissively. “It was a joke,” Posey winks at me and relief washes over me.
“Whatever,” Lucy sighs, rolling her eyes. She turns to me. “I’m so excited to meet you, Jade. You’re the first girl Matteo has ever brought around anyone.”
Theo walks over, gripping the back of Lucy’s chair as he stops behind her. “Lucy doesn’t get out much,” he chuckles, looking down at her. “She’s not as civilized as the rest of us.”
She tips her head back, the crown of her head pressing against his abdomen as she looks at him upside down. “That’s not true.”
“Lucy’s finishing an accelerated master’s program to be an athletic trainer.” Theo glances at me with his eyebrows raised. “I promise you; she does not get out much.”
Lucy straightens herself, cutting her eyes at him over her shoulder. “Go away, Theodore.”
Theo laughs, taking a step away. “It’s nice to meet you, Jade.”
“You too.” I smile and nod. Theo joins Cross, Shaw, and Matteo who are congregated around the air hockey table. I look at Lucy. “Are you and Theo together?”
She lets out a laugh that sounds off key as she shakes her head. “My god, no. Theo and I have been best friends our entire lives.”
Posey chuckles softly from the other side of the bar. “So, Jade. We’ve heard a little bit about you, but Matty’s been keeping his cards close to his chest. How did you guys meet?”
“At a coffee shop,” I laugh, my mind drifting back to that day. I don’t want to overshare, since Matteo’s decided to keep our meeting to himself. “I accidentally got his drink, and he got mine.”