I turn my head and look at him, “You do know that if we did this, and things went bad, I could still end up having to share her?”
“I would never do that to you,” he says, and I know, God, how I know he means it.
“I could never do that to her.”
He flops onto his back, “If it ever came to that, I am still the better option.”
“What if you find a psychopath and?—”
“Let me be straight, you are it, and I don’t play a game I am not dedicated to and intent on winning.” She presses her nose into the crook of my neck. “I’m so far gone for you that there is no turning back.”
Me too. I think, but I turn and look at him, “Same.”
THIRTY-FOUR
Deacon
I’mon the ice for morning skate— my focus was a little off, but timing is everything. And my time is now.
“Sterling,” Faulkner calls across the rink as we head in. “You even live at the Pad anymore? Or is that just your mailing address?”
Killer grins. “Yeah, man, we’re thinking of subletting your room.”
Dash is on cloud Noelle, “Can’t help it if I’ve got better company.”
Hate to take this away from him, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
“Listen up … I’m gonna propose tonight. At Icehouse. Win or lose, I want you all there after the game. Bring your girls.”
The room goes still for a beat … then erupts—whistles, claps, shouts of approval.
“Gotta win it then,” Killer says, clapping him on the back.
“Savannah’s covered,” Koa adds. “We’ll get Paul to our place.”
I look at him, “How do you?—”
“You two have been shacked up for weeks at the Bridgeview, how did we not know?”
“You didn’t say shit,” I shake my head.
“Some things don’t need to be said.” He winks.
We’reon the bench talking game plan and strategy, I kind of feel like shit about thinking it was funny with Dash now, but whatever.
It’s all lined up—game, proposal, celebration. Just one thing left …
“Show us the ring, man.”
Fuck.
“You don’t just wing this shit,” Koa grumbles.
“I mean, technically, he does.” Killer chuckles.
“Fuck you.” I sneer.
“All right, ease up. We got this covered like a red dress the night before a wedding.” Dash laughs. “Let’s roll. I got a replacement bed being delivered at noon.”
