“Okay, big guy, I get the message. I’ll be nice,” I murmur to him lowly so that no one can hear.
Doesn’t mean I can’t stare daggers at this guy as he talks over Poppy once again, but she doesn’t do anything other than smile and nod her head, which causes Bennett to have downed his entire drink in just three minutes.
It’s when Mason scowls at the large glass of wine Poppy has in front of her and moves it away, saying, “You probably shouldn’t drink this much, hun; you get too giddy when you’re wine drunk,” that causes me to choke on my own wine and Evan’s hand to tighten around my thigh.
Poppy’s perfectly fine when she’s wine drunk. And what’s wrong with being giddy anyway? That’s Poppy’s whole schtick.
“I’m headed to the fuckin’ bar.” Bennett’s chair makes a loud screeching noise as he stands, causing a few heads to turn his way, but he quickly apologises to them and quietly slips away.
“So, Mason, what do you do for work?” Evan asks, eyes slightly slimmed, trying to sus the guy out. Mason begins to respond, but I don’t want to listen to this bonehead yap on about himself, so when I spot Mae and Nathan climb out of a cab through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I point and exclaim, “Stop talking, it’s Nathan and Mae!”
That shuts the guy right up, and Evan gives my thigh a little squeeze, chuckles, and pulls it away.
We all greet Nathan and Mae as they make their way to the table, and when she flashes the small, delicate diamond on her finger, everyone stands, faces a mixture of shock and delight.
Tears immediately spring to my eyes. My best friend is engaged. She really is glowing. Her eyes twinkle. She stands taller. Even her teeth are whiter. She deserves this. Mae’s been through a lot with her parents, and seeing her happy warms me from the inside out.
“Where’s Bennett?” Mae asks, hugging us all.
“I’ll go and find him,” Poppy replies, but Mason chuckles, immediately pulling her chair back out for her.
“If theboyneeds a minute, he needs a minute,” he says, emphasising the word“boy,” and everybody blinks, causing Poppy to flash a glance at Mae.
“This is Mason. I really appreciate you letting him come and be part of this.” She looks unsure of the words she’s saying as Mason flashes the couple a confident grin. “So, when and where did it happen? We want to hear everything.”
Mae and Nathan both shake hands with Mason, but he doesn’t stand to greet them, clicking his fingers at a nearby waiter for another drink.
“Four days ago. We were out walking Radish, and Nathan proposed looking out onto the field that Radish dug up before we adopted him.”
“Well, isn’t that romantic? Let’s toast to that, because as your brother, I still can’t believe you guys were getting together right under my nose.” Cam holds up his glass of white wine, grinning. “To my little sister, and Nathan, who I still promise to beat up if he hurts her.”
“And because it would be rude not to, cheers to the guys travelling to New York tomorrow for their first preseason game. Good luck!” Mae adds.
Everyone chuckles, holds up their drinks and sips them right as Bennett appears with a full glass of bourbon, the collar of his shirt a little loose, his tie stuffed into his pocket. His chocolate brown eyes bleed confusion. “What did I miss?”
Mason spares Bennett a frosty look. “Nothing you needed to be a part of,buddy.”
“I think‘Champ’is better suited, don’t you think?”
Mason’s shoulders shake with laughter at Bennett, and he holds his glass up to clink Bennett’s. “I wouldn’t be so sure. New year. New Super Bowl winner.” His gaze is intense. “May the best man… oh sorry, I mean,team, win.”
19: Evan
The team are on our way to New York. It’s our first pre-season game, and Flo, Leo and I sit at the back of the private jet, mainly because I wanted to avoid any conversations with Peter—who’s up front—about Alexander and becoming the face of a brand I’ve never even heard of.
I bounce Leo on my lap, peering over his shoulder at the interactive book he’s reading that makes loud and obnoxious animal sounds whenever you flip a page. Sam is fed up with it, as he keeps glaring at us through the crack in the seats, moving his finger across his neck like he’s going to slice mine if I don’t give Leo a different form of entertainment in the next few minutes.
“West.” Coach Darrell whistles for me seven rows ahead, poking his head up over the seats. “Up here for me.”
“I got him,” Flo tells me as she takes the book from Leo, who is now sitting in my seat, puts it aside—thank God—and places a pair of purple headphones over his ears. She sets up the mini table so my tablet can balance on it, and presses play.
My son’s eyes immediately light up as talking animals race across the screen in their sports cars, dancing and singing about being the best zoo racers out there. They’re theonlyzoo racers out there, but kids don’t know that.
“Whisker Wheelers!” Leo exclaims.
“This should keep him entertained and let everyone get some sleep. I’m sure he’ll fall asleep himself after the first episode anyway,” Flo mumbles quietly, nodding to Leo’s drooping eyes, but he dances to the twinkly theme song on her lap regardless. Sam mouthsI fucking love youto Flo before yanking his eye mask back onto his face and letting out a loud snore.
I make my way to the spare seat next to Darrell. “What’s up?”
