“Yes, Hawk. Keep reminding him and don’t even think about discussing the Winter Meetings. This is my first Christmas where I don’t have to listen to any of that shit.”
Yep, Nonna had grown up in South Boston, and while her neighborhood today was now one of the best neighborhoods to raise a family, it was rough back then. She had a mouth on her, and I loved it. I loved it more when she ragged on my father for letting the world happen to him and his general lack of ambition.
“I’m not letting him back in, promise.”
She kissed my cheek and handed me a cheese and cracker platter. “Go bring this out to the Great Room, and check on Colby. She’s keeping a secret, I think.”
“She only thinks she’s keeping a secret,” I said.
Nonna nodded. “Does she know how much money wedonate to support LGBTQ causes? Why won’t she come out to us?”
“I think it’s less about coming out and more about her inability to settle down with anyone. But she says this is the one—”Um, also, remember her last girlfriend when you all assumed it was platonic? Maybe you got that wrong.
“And what about you, Hawk? Are you still buried in work? Is there anyone special?”
“Sorry, Nonna, the cheese is starting to turn?—”
“To be continued, my boy.”
I had no doubt about that. Nonna was like a dog with a bone, and my evasive answer would have done nothing but pique her curiosity. I should have just said no, but I had thought about Kendra at least once an hour since the moment I met her.
How was the wedding going? She had tried to explain why they chose Christmas, and while the off-season for our players is short, I didn’t see why it was important to plan their day around her son’s father.
I checked my phone and saw that Kendra had sent a couple of photos from the ceremony. Flicking through them, I finally found the one I wanted. Why hadn’t she led with this? All three sisters bore a strong resemblance to each other. Their red hair had been handed down from their mother; their athletic builds were part genetics and part hard work.
At first glance, Kendra seemed aloof. But the more I learned about her, the more I understood that her brain was constantly in motion, whether she was in a social situation, on a horrendous date, or attempting to relax with her family—not that weddings were ever relaxing.
I quickly added a heart emoji to the photo of her and followed up with a similar response to the one with her and her sisters.
“What are you looking at?” Colby asked.
I handed her my phone, and she thumbed through the photos of the wedding.
“This is her, huh?” She halted at the photo of Kendra and searched my face for a reaction.
“Kendra. Yes.”
“She’s stunning, Hawk. Let me know if you’re not making a move, andIwill.”
“I thought you’d found the one?”
Colby looked around to make sure no one could hear her. “I did too. But turns out she couldn’t wait a little longer for me to introduce her to the family. She gave me an ultimatum, and you know what happens when I feel cornered.”
This wasn’t the first time one of Colby’s partners had given her an ultimatum, but it was the only time it might have worked in their favor.
“Nonna knows.” My statement didn’t seem to surprise Colby at all.
“Everybody knows. It’s the worst-kept secret at this point.”
“Then why bother?”
She sighed. “It’s me, alright? Sometimes I think I’m in love with falling in love. It’s always great at the beginning of a relationship. They love my spontaneity. Fuck, they all love the trips we take around the world, the onesIpay for, but then we try to settle down and be normal. And I get bored.”
“No, Colby. You get scared.”
“Shut up.”
Her response wasn’t a denial; I had hit the nail on the head, and her only response was to hide from it.
