“Luca’s playing like crap,” Izzy announced, not bothering to sugar-coat it.
“He’s not doing that bad,” I defended, feeling like I had to.
“Oh, Elise, you’re sweet. Playing the role of the supportive girlfriend. Defending him. But come on. He’s playing like shit and you know it,” Ari teased.
“It’s not a great game…” I offered, ignoring her girlfriend comment. I didn’t have the energy to argue with them right now. If Ari and Izzy were as stubborn as their brother, and from what I’d already seen, they were worse, I’d be fighting a losing battle. A fight I wasn’t up for today.
“It’s a shit game,” Dana clarified. “But have you checked out number twelve? Who is he and where can I get one?”
If there was one thing you could always count on Dana for, it was to break the tension. She could also always be counted on to be checking out guys no matter where she went.
“Number twelve?”
“Yeah. Look at that arse! You could bounce quarters off it.”
Izzy had a wide, knowing smile plastered across her face. Somehow, she looked effortlessly chic all rugged up, while I was almost as wide as I was tall. “It’s not bad.”
“Not bad. He’s fucking hot!” Dana declared before handing me her drink and standing up.
“Oh shit,” I mumbled under my breath.
“What’s she doing?” Ari asked as Dana took off down the steps towards the fence.
“You don’t even want to know.” Setting her drink down, I wriggled down in my seat and pulled the hood of my jacket over my head.
“Nice butt, number twelve,” I heard someone call out. I didn’t even have to look to know who was making all the noise on the sideline.
She must’ve got the reaction she was after because she was encouraged to keep going. “Are you single, number twelve? Cos you don’t have to be.”
“Did I just hear that correctly?” Izzy asked, and all I could do was nod. I had no words.
“That’s fucking gold. Number twelve’s Dustin, and he’s married with two kids,” Ari laughed, and I couldn’t stop the smile from stretching my cheeks. I was going to feel so much better when Dana found out he wasn’t on the market.
The second half was almost as boring as the first. Luca made mistakes he usually wouldn’t, and he never really seemed comfortable out there. At least there was scoring, I guess, to bring a bright spark to the game. Shame it was the other team hitting the back of the net and not Luca’s.
When the whistle finally ended the game, I heaved out a sigh of relief. As the night had rolled in, the temperature had dropped and now it was close to freezing. At least that’s what it felt like.
“Well, thank God that’s over,” I declared, rising from my seat and collecting my rubbish.
“You coming down to the rooms?” Izzy asked.
“Not tonight. I’m sick, and the last thing I want to do is make Luca sick too. I’ll catch up with him in a few days,” I explained. It wasn’t the whole truth, but I wasn’t lying either. The last thing I wanted to do was give him a cold.
“He’s not going to like that.”
“I’m sure he’ll survive. You ready to head off, Dana?”
She looked as upset with me as Izzy sounded. Well, they could all get over themselves. I was tired and cold and going home to bed. Everyone could just deal with it. Occasionally I was allowed to be selfish, and tonight was my night.
Ari must’ve sensed Dana’s disappointment. “Dana, wanna come down with us and then we can drop you home?” she offered.
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely. We can introduce you to number twelve,” Izzy joined in.
Dana looked at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “Would you mind, Elise?”
I imagined this is what Luca felt like when Phoebe batted her lashes up at him. Completely and utterly powerless to say no. “Not at all. Go have fun.”
