“Welcome,” Belle said, waving them inside. “There’s plenty of food and drinks. Well, there will be once Kendra starts making them.”
“I’m on it. One made to order bartender coming up.” Kendra dragged the guy into the living room.
She was about to shut the door when Cash came in. “Cash, you made it.”
He raked a hand through his hair and nodded. “You’ll never see me turning down free food.”
She bit her lip, glancing around to see Kendra behind the bar. “Kendra is here. Is that going to be weird? I mean, you have a history…”
He shook his head, grinning. “Not really a history, more like a blip on the radar of time. She’s a great person but she’d not relationship material.”
“Are you looking for a relationship?” she asked, curious. He was Erik’s best friend and she’d hung out with him, but not much since football season took up most of his time.
“Someday, but I need to talk to you about something.” He put his hands on his jean-clad hips. “You did such a great job getting sponsors for Erik, I wonder if you could find a few for the pee-wee football camp I’m coaching at Gram’s ranch for foster kids. This spring.”
“I will most definitely find you some sponsors.” Gram’s ranch had been a salvation to Belle and she’d gladly pay it forward.
“Excellent, Howler has already pledged the uniforms and transportation.” Cash beamed at her, his teeth flashing white. Like Erik, he’d formed his own charity that promoted sports to under privileged youths. While he played center for the Pioneers, he had aspirations of becoming a coach someday.
“Cash,” Steph ran up to him and threw her arms around his waist.
He hugged her back, dwarfing her five-foot frame with his much taller one. Gentleness rested in his smile. “How’s my little sister?”
“I am here in Seattle and Erik promised me a ride on the ferry and, we’re going up in the Space Needle,” Steph said, grinning back at him. “Are you going to come?”
“I don’t know, I wasn’t asked.” He cocked one eyebrow and tilted his head.
She wrinkled her nose. “Will you come with us?”
“Of course.” He wiggled her nose with one finger.
Steph glanced at Belle and fist pumped the air. “Cash is coming with us. Cha ching,” she said, mimicking the fans’ chant for him on the field.
“That never gets old,” Cash said, rolling his eyes.
“Better get out here if you want a hotdog. I need a head count,” Erik called out.
Belle followed them out to the patio. The sun was out and it was in the mid-sixties, an aberration for the winter time but the weather had been unpredictable. She slipped beside Erik and inhaled the smell of brauts. Happy to see their guests enjoying themselves, nevertheless, a weight settled in the pit of her stomach. J.J. had decided to spend the entire school year in Spain, and hadn’t come home for the Christmas break. He claimed the host family had encouraged him to stay so he could learn the culture. Belle suspected their teenage daughter had something to do with it.
“I wonder where Howler and Raina are,” she said, licking her lips. Erik had a beer sitting on the side of the grill and she took a sip, wincing at the bitterness. Their last date on MFF had been at a beer tasting. A night she’d never forget with a man she’d fallen madly in love with.
“They’ll be here. What do you think of the beer?” he asked. The commercial had come out and was airing nationally. The brewery had even named a beer after him, called Viking Lager.
“It’s fruity with undertones of too bitter for me.”
“Wuss.” He kissed her temple. He wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her back to his front. “Show of hands, how many for brauts and how many for dogs?”
“Can’t we have both, you cheap bastard?” Cash asked.
Chuckling, Erik flipped him off. “Okay, fine. I’ll just cook them all. There’s food in the dining room, along with booze at the bar. Help yourselves.”
Belle leaned her head against his neck, content to watch her family crowd around the table laden with food. Unexpected tears pushed at her eyes and she turned in the circle of his arms. Resting her chin on his chest, she cleared her throat. “I think you need to kiss me.”
“You do?” he wiggled his eyebrows and obliged. Once he lifted his head, he frowned. “Are you crying?”
She shook her head, the tear that fell giving truth to the lie. “No.”
He cupped her cheek and caught it with his thumb. “What’s wrong?”
