I head upstairs to find Maya. She's in the kitchen with Emma, helping prep vegetables for whatever elaborate meal Emma's decided pregnant women need. Max is supervising from the counter.
"Tyler's coming to town," Emma says when she sees me. She's practically vibrating with excitement. "Saturday dinner. You'll come, right, Maya?"
Maya's hands are still on the cutting board. Just for a second, but I notice.
"Sure," she says. "Sounds fun."
It doesn't sound fun. It sounds like the last thing she wants to do.
"Tyler always has the best stories," Emma continues, oblivious. "Remember that time he got stuck in that hotel elevator in Montreal?"
"With the bride and her entire wedding party," Maya finishes, a smile that doesn't reach her eyes crossing her face. "Classic Tyler."
I grab water from the fridge and watch Maya's shoulders tense. She's gripping the knife too tightly, her knuckles showing the strain.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," I say.
Both Emma and Maya look at me.
"Why wouldn't she want to come?" Emma frowns. "Maya loves Tyler."
"I do," she says quickly. "Of course I'll be there."
More lies. More performance.
Saturday arrives too fast.
The restaurant is one of those upscale Italian places with white tablecloths and wine lists longer than the menu. We get there first: me, Chase, Emma with Ethan in her arms, and Maya trailing behind like she'd rather be anywhere else.
She's wearing jeans and a sweater, her curls pulled back. No makeup that I can see. The bracelet I gave her catches the light on her wrist.
We're barely seated when Tyler and Donny walk in.
Tyler looks exactly the same. Sandy blond hair styled perfectly, blue eyes bright with that cocky energy that makes you want to punch him and laugh at the same time. Donny's quieter, built like a brick wall with dark hair and the kind of face that looks like it's taken too many punches. He’s also the captain of the Bears.
"Emma!" Tyler sweeps her into a hug, careful of her bump. "You're glowing. Pregnancy looks good on you."
"Liar, but I'll take it." She laughs.
"Hey, Maya," Tyler says, turning to her.
"Hey, Ty." Her voice is flat, lacking the warmth it used to have when she'd greet him.
He pulls her into a hug, and she goes rigid, but endures it until he lets go. His smile falters, like he's noticed something's off but can't quite place it.
"You look good," he says, and it sounds more like a question than a statement.
"Thanks."
Donny gives her a nod and a quiet "Good to see you, Maya" before settling into his chair. He's always been the calm one, the guy who observes more than he talks.
We settle around the table. Ethan immediately reaches for Tyler, who takes him and balances him on his lap while looking at the menu.
"So how's the season treating you guys?" Chase asks, flagging down the waiter.
"Not bad. We’re sitting third in our division," Tyler says, bouncing Ethan. "Could be worse, but the captain over here keeps saving our asses."
"Just doing my job," Donny says with a shrug. "You guys are killing it, though. Saw the highlights from your game against Boston. That third period was insane."
