I can’t
Frankie
Sounds like a skill issue
I huff a frustrated sigh and glance forward to Alexei, who has already figured out the top of the foot flat on the floor differencemaker, but he’s still struggling. If he can’t do it, I’m never going to do it.
Jumping to my feet, I gesture at Emery. “Feed me, sister.”
“Who did you text for help?”
I make anot in front of the parentssilencing face at her. “Shush.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Oh?”
“Food. Now.”
She drags me into the kitchen as the parents and Inessa are distracted by Alexeialmostgetting it on his sixth try.
Under the clatter of her pulling out salads from the fridge and turning on the extractor hood over the stove so she can heat up chicken, I tell my sister that I’ve met someone.
“You can’t tell anyone,” I warn her. “You’ll get to meet her at some point before the wedding, but until then…”
“She’s coming to the wedding?” My sister’s face transforms. “It’sseriousserious?”
“As serious as it gets.” It feels so fucking good to say that out loud. I want to tug my ring out from under my shirt and show it to her. I settle for singing Frankie’s praises without any specifics. "She's a medical student in LA. We met in a bar on New Year’s Eve, in Vegas, and I told her it was my birthday. One thing led to another and we spent the whole night going up and down the Strip. Luck was on my side and I followed her to LA two days later, and we got to spend more time together around my games out there. She’s incredible. But she’s not ready for the spotlight of being public.”
“What’s her name?”
“That’s secret.”
“Mmm.” She narrows her eyes. “She’s not scamming you?”
I choke on a laugh. “No.”
“Not married?”
It’s a good thing I was already laughing, so I don’t have to answer that. I just stare at her.
“Then why the secrecy from us? Why thedon’t tell Momeyes?”
“Because you know how she is. And frankly, how you are. If I tell you a name, you’re going to find this incredible woman in a hot second and then she’ll be uncomfortable. She’s the one, Em. I’m not risking that for anything. But her career is in LA, so…”
“Ah.” Emery take a deep breath. “And you’re good with that?”
“Fucking hell, of course I am. She’sincredible. I’m only going to play for so long, and during the season, I’m on the road half the time anyway. When I retire, California sounds like a pretty amazing place to spend the rest of my life.”
“Wow. You’ve thought it all out.”
“Absolutely.”
She throws her arms around me and squeezes me tight. “Your secret is safe with me. But I also want to be the first to meet her on a video call.”
I hug her back. “Deal.”
“Plus one for the wedding, huh?” She bounces on her feet. “This might be the distraction Mom needs—after the baby arrives. When you’re ready. And just think, once Mom knows that you’re taken, she can start focusing on Wyatt and Forrest next…”
“Leave them alone.”
