Defending Hayden (Second Chances #7)(5)

The rain started to fall, but when I looked up at the sky, the clouds broke and a ray of sunshine shone through. Maybe it was a sign, or it could simply be our sporadic weather. Either way, I had to believe anyone could be redeemed, and I was going to make damn sure I worked hard to achieve that for myself.

—

I had just arrived at the Carolina Tavern and parked my truck when a text came through on my phone.

Evan: You’re not standing me up, are you?

Me: Keep your panties on and watch the front door.

I got out and headed toward the entrance, pocketing my phone. I opened the door, expecting to see Evan waiting for me at the bar. He was there, but he wasn’t alone; the whole damn football team was there. What the f*ck were they doing?

“It’s about time you showed up,” Evan teased, putting his arm around me.

Winking, Cooper came up on my other side and stood in front of the door, blocking it. “Just in case you try to escape,” he said.

“What is this?” I grumbled.

Evan waved a hand at the room. “It’s a party. Well, an intervention, actually. All the guys have been dying to see you.”

Huffing, I glared at him and Cooper. “You had this planned, didn’t you?”

They looked at each other. “Not exactly,” Cooper admitted. “None of us knew when you were coming back. We were just prepared for when you did. The guys want you back on the team, and I don’t think they’re going to let you leave tonight until you promise you’ll show up for practice tomorrow.”

“What are they going to do if I don’t?” I asked loudly, so everyone could hear. Some of the guys smirked and cracked their knuckles, but it was Chris Waters, our biggest and best defensive lineman, who burst out laughing.

“Keep it up, McLaughlin. There’ll be hell to pay if you don’t show up. I’m not afraid of your sexy ass,” he teased, marching toward me. Evan held me in place while Chris wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me in the air. Guffawing, he squeezed me with all his might and then set me down. “Damn, dude, it’s good to see you.”

Chris was another of my closest friends. We were the jokesters out of the crew. Hopefully, he’d kept them in good spirits while I was gone.

“It’s good to see you, too,” I croaked, struggling to breathe. He let me go and dragged me to the bar where Grayson, co-owner of the Carolina Tavern, stood waiting for us. He held out his hand and I shook it.

“Long time no see, D. Welcome back.”

I chuckled. “Thanks. I have to say, I missed this place.”

“It missed you, too. There hasn’t been as much laughter in here since you left.”

“That’s going to change,” Chris announced, chugging down the rest of his beer. He waved his hand in the air, grabbing everyone’s attention. “The first round is on me!”

The guys hooted and piled up at the bar, but Grayson acknowledged me first. “What’ll it be for you?”

“Just water, please.”

Nodding, he poured a glass and passed it to me before working on the rest of the orders.

Chris’s smile faded and he sighed. “Fuck, I’m sorry, D. I should’ve known better.”

Shrugging, I held the water in my hands. “It’s okay. I just think it’s best that I stay away from alcohol for a while.”

He slapped me on the shoulder. “I understand, brother. Just feel free to kick me in the ass if I ever do anything stupid like this again.”

“You do realize that’s all the time, right?”

His gaze narrowed, but then he smiled. “Jackass.”

“Coming through,” a voice called. Lara Jacobs pushed through the crowd, carrying a loaded plate of my favorite dish: chicken wings. She came behind the bar and set them in front of me. “When I heard you were coming, I had the chefs make these up.”

She looked exactly like her twin sister, Summer Jacobs, Evan’s fiancée and the other owner of the Carolina Tavern. I breathed in the smell of the wings and sighed. “And that’s why I love you,” I told her.

She winked and walked over to my side of the bar to give me a hug. “Anything for my favorite player.”

“Hey, I thought I was your favorite player,” Evan grumbled, nudging her in the side. “I’m about to be your brother-in-law.”

Giggling, she slapped him on the arm. “I can have more than one favorite, Townsend. Besides, you lose points because you’re making me walk down the aisle with your sorry excuse for a best friend.” Luke Collins, Evan’s closest friend, had been desperate to get Lara back after making the stupid decision to leave her following their one-night stand. The night of the accident, Luke and Brianna had talked, and she’d given him some advice on getting Lara back. Obviously, he hadn’t done a very good job so far.

Evan put his arm around her. “I know, and I’m sorry, but he is my best friend.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s okay, I’ll get over it. I only have to touch him for a few seconds.”

Evan chuckled and said, “That’s the spirit,” before strolling off.

“I take it things never got settled between you and Luke?” I asked.

She scoffed and waved her hand dismissively in the air. “It’s only gotten more complicated. But you’re not here to talk about my love life. Enjoy the night, and I’ll come talk to you once everything settles down. The boys put in a massive order of food, and I need to help out in the kitchen.” Then her eyes went wide when she spotted something over my shoulder. “Wow, I can’t believe he showed up.”