We wonon the road in Toronto and at home against Calgary and Ottawa. We won in St. Louis and tonight in Dallas. Away games are rough, but knowing she’s with her friends and that they have her back is some comfort.
I also know Hugo is making progress, since he contacted me and said that Miss Holloway would like to add me as a temporary guardian if something were to happen to her.
“Yeah, of course,” I answer with more emotion than I have the ability to hide.
“So, it’s you and Paul Bronksi.”
“So it is,” I laugh.
I immediately called her and said, “Thank you.”
“She adores you.”
“That’s good because I love her.”
“I know.” And there is silence. “Did you hear?”
“Maybe, but I thought we weren’t sharing secrets.” I chuckle.
“Let’s let them have the spotlight they deserve.”
Koa and Nalani left the Dallas game to fly to Maui to get married in a small wedding with family, but they plan to have a big reception on the Island in the Spring, after the season ends.
“How’s Noelle?” I ask, wanting to see if she’s seeing what I am.
“She’s good? Why?”
I laugh, “Just wondering how the three of you are managing without Nalani.”
“Why do I feel like you’re hiding something?”
The hotel roomis quiet except for the hum of the heater and the faint thrum of traffic below. I have my own room. Dash and Koa are sharing the others, which works because Claudia and I replayed our first time together over the phone.
It’s even hotter now because I know how she feels and how she tastes, and it’s a damn good substitute for the real thing, yet never enough.
I hear Koa, “Noelle’s dress is fucked?”
Then Dash. “Didn’t mean to wake you, man. I’ll figure it out.”
Then silence for a long stretch, and then Koa. “I got one. Nalani screen recorded this.”
“Why do you have it?” Dash says in a less-than-enthusiastic tone. Followed by, “Whatever,” and him barking orders to someone on what I think is over the phone.
He wants a dress, shoes, a handbag, and said whatever it takes.
Then I hear Koa, “Shopping for your girlfriend?”
And Dash snarls, “She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Make sure you don’t put her in the position to think she is then,” Koa warns him.
I lay there with a stupid smile on my face, listening to them and trying not to laugh, and then Kilovac and Faulker enter the mix.
Aleks asks, “Holy shit. Are you dress shopping?”
Lenzin chirps in, “Sterling’s looking at gowns? What is this—prom?”
Koa butts in, “Not prom. Wedding. He’s finding the perfect dress for Noelle Pembrooke.”
