CHAPTER 71

After I perform the anthem for a sold-out crowd of rowdy playoff Lakers fans, security helps me back up to the box we have for the night. The second I see all the people I care about, I relax a few notches. I make my way toward the front, where Emily, Rica, Andie, and Jacob are sitting, drinks in their hands. "You were a little flat at the end," Andie says. I rub a hand through my hair, leaning against the back of Emily's seat. "Blame the sound engineers." "Never blame the sound engineers," Haley calls from where she's grabbing food. Jacob leans over the front, eagerly scanning the home and visitors' benches. "You been to a game before, Jacob?" I ask. He snorts. "I've been courtside twice this season. The network started offering me seats, and I accepted." "Can't remember you watching any sports when we roomed together," I say. "We didn't have time, hustling it out. I had to be efficient with my sports consumption." "So, you got off to a lot of jock porn,"