Chapter 162

“I have to go to William’s football game this week,” I told Amy as we sat on our bench outside the school. “I promised him I would be there.”

“I would go with you if Dad didn’t need me to work after school until six,” Amy insisted. “Cari can’t come in to work her shift until then. It’s a Friday night, and there will be a lot of prep work.”

“I miss you. We don’t spend any time together anymore,” I sighed.

I did miss my friend. One of us was always busy, and it felt like we were drifting further apart every day. There had to be a way for us to connect again.

“We could go to the diner for burgers and then the bookstore sometime,” Amy suggested. “Turn the Page got a shipment of used books this week.”

Yay! Amy must miss spending time with me too. And Turn the Page is the best used bookstore in the city. Amy and I went there several times a month in my old life.

“That’s a fantastic idea,” I said. “They probably have some terrific old books I could buy to add to Alex's library.”

“Does Monday work for you?” she asked.

“Monday is perfect,” I replied. I would cancel anything at the office that stood in my way of having fun on Monday with Amy. I needed this time with my best friend.

Then I got another idea. “Why don’t you come with me to the Foster’s party? Debbie wants to announce the progressive dinner soon, and I need you to help me explain how it works.”

Amy cringed and shook her head.

“The dinner was your idea,” I said. “You should get the credit. The Alphas will love you for thinking of such a fun event.”

Amy looked down and toed the gravel under the bench with one foot. “I don’t know, Daisy.”

“Please go with me,” I begged. “You had a good time at my ball.”

“I don’t know what I’d wear.” Amy bit her lip. “The only expensive dress I own is that ball gown you gave me. This party isn’t a ball, right?”

“You can wear one of my dresses,” I offered. “Jennifer has your measurements and can have it altered in time.”

“I can’t go until after work,” Amy said. “And then I would need to shower and change. I couldn’t be ready till seven.”

“That’s perfect,” I said. “Victor is picking me up at seven. Do you want us to pick you up too?”

She laughed. “I don’t think there’s room for me in his sports car. Just give me the address, and I’ll meet you outside at seven-fifteen. There’s no way I’m walking into a party full of Alphas alone.”

The rest of the week went by quickly. Jennifer made sure Amy had a fantastic dress to wear to the Foster’s party. If only she could go to the game with me too, the day would be perfect.

Even though I wasn’t the nerdy outsider of my school anymore, I was nervous about going to William’s football game alone.

But a phone call from Megan Foster Thursday evening saved that from happening.

My invitation for her and her friends to attend the football game with me was a friendly gesture that would please their fathers, and it would be better than my going alone.

Megan, Hallie, and Becky met me outside the school, and we walked to the field together. Heads turned when the four of us walked along the sidelines and chose seats on the forty-yard line.

Soon the players came onto the field, and I waved to William. He spotted me and waved back.

“William James is so yummy,” Megan said. “Is it true you have a double-mate bond with him and Victor Klein?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “But William and I are just good friends.”

“That Victor is so hot, too,” Becky giggled. “You are a lucky girl, Daisy.”

“I’d love to be good friends with either William or Victor,” Hallie said. She was practically drooling, causing all three girls to giggle.

I blushed and focused on the action on the field. The game had started.

William played harder than ever. His skill and enthusiasm for playing football were impressive.

But the other team had several good players, too, and the score remained tied, seven to seven, from the first quarter to the end of the fourth.

With seconds to spare, William recovered the other team’s fumble and ran the ball sixty yards over our goal line.

The crowd went wild, screaming William’s name and applauding. His teammates again hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him to the locker rooms.

I texted him, congratulating him on his win while the stands cleared. He responded by asking me to meet him at the locker room door like the last time.

I agreed, and when I told the girls, they were excited. Since they went to a different school, they only saw William at parties and events.

We stood outside the locker room door, and I shook my head at the Alpha girl’s antics. They were more free-spirited than me and ogled each football player as they exited the locker room.

“He’s a hottie,” Becky giggled as a football player walked by.

“There are a lot of hot guys at this school,” Megan agreed.

“We should transfer here to Daisy’s school for the rest of the year,” Hallie suggested. I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not.

The conversation immediately stopped when William walked out the door.

“Hey, Daisy,” he said and nodded politely at the girls.

“You played a fantastic game,” I told him. “I’m glad I was here to see it.”

“Thanks. The whole team played well,“ he said. “Do you need a ride home, Daisy? My car is in the student lot.”

I gasped when Victor exited the locker room. “I can take her home,” he said.

I backed up, unsure what was going on. “What are you doing here?” I asked Victor.

“I came to watch the playoff game,” he replied. “Then I went into the locker room to congratulate Coach Watkins and the players on their win.”

“I didn’t see you anywhere during the game,” I said. Why didn’t he tell me he was coming to the game?

“I saw you,” Victor said. “I was watching the game from the announcer’s booth. He’s an old friend from school.”

Megan and the others were staring admiringly from William to Victor. Sometimes I forgot how incredible looking the two Alpha males were.

“Do you know Victor?” I asked them.

“Everybody knows Victor,” Megan tittered nervously.

Victor gave her a smile.

“I need to get you home. We have to get to the party in a few hours, Daisy,” Victor reminded me.

“Daisy’s home is closer to mine,” William argued. “I don’t mind dropping her off.”

Why were the guys arguing over something so silly? Their wolves must be restless again.

“Megan is taking me home,” I said firmly. “She wants to borrow my sequinned clutch for the party tonight.”

I did promise Megan the purse, and I didn’t want any hard feelings between them.

Then the girls and I made our way to Megan’s silver Lexus.

But on the way home, the lively chatter of the Alpha girls quickly got on my nerves. My mind began to wander, and Megan had to ask me twice what I was wearing to her parents’ party that evening.

“A new cocktail dress I picked up at Gisele’s,” I replied.

“Ooh, I love her clothes,” Hallie gushed. “I wish my mother would let me buy my clothes there. She likes Madame Noria’s shop better.”

I was grateful when we arrived at my home. I retrieved the purse and took it to Megan, and ran back inside after a quick wave goodbye.

Then I hurried inside to my room. All the excitement at the football game and then the chatter in the car had given me a headache.

I told Jennifer I was going to lie down for a while and collapsed onto my bed.

I wanted to be fresh for the party. With Amy there, it may be more fun than I thought.