“Thank you, baby.” Another kiss. “Good game to you.”
When the elevator stops on the clubhouse floor we break apart without hesitation, creating a bit of distance. Through the reflection I see that both of us have regained our straight faces in time. When the doors open, there’s a swarm of players and staff celebrating, but no one is really paying us any attention.
Still, we’re careful to ensure that when we walk off the elevator, there’s nothing warm or flirty about our departure from one another.
“Emmett,” I say, retreating to the media room.
“Reese,” he responds, headed in the opposite direction.
34
Emmett
“Well, this was a nice surprise.” I push my empty plate away, unable to take another bite if I tried.
“We just wanted to pop in,” Miller says. “Say hi. See how you’re doing.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I know exactly why my entire family showed up to my apartment on the morning of a game day to have breakfast with me. And it’s not to simply say hi. I see these five almost every day, and they’re way too obvious this morning.
Kai, Miller, and Max showed up with a bag full of groceries to make breakfast. Then, minutes later, Isaiah and Kennedy justhappenedto be on my side of town and wanted to stop by.
“Yep,” my daughter continues. “You know, give us some time together in case there’s been anything on your mind that you wanted to tell us. In case there was anything new or interesting in your life that you wanted to share.”
“Geez, Mills.” Kai laughs. “Give the man a break.”
On the opposite side of the dining room table, Isaiah sits forward. “Absolutely do not give him a break. I want to know what’s going on too. I mean, I think we all know what’s going on, but I’d like to hear that I’m right.”
“I have no idea what you all are talking about.” I look down at Max in my lap. “Do you have any idea of what they’re talking about, Bug?”
He just smiles up at me, causing me to smile back at him.
“That’s exactly what we’re talking about!” Isaiah points in my direction. “That freaking smile that’s been plastered on your face for weeks. That’s not normal, Monty.”
“Maybe I’m just happy to see my family.”
“You see us every day!”
“Exactly. Which is why I’m wondering why you’re all here.”
“We want to hear some news about you and the team owner, okay? That’s why we’re here. So, freaking spill already.”
Kennedy’s brows furrow, looking at her husband. “You’re awfully invested.”
“The entire team is invested in these two! That’s all anybody talks about these days.”
That earns my attention. “Wait. What?”
My eyes bounce between Kai and Isaiah.
“Yeah.” Kai rubs the back of his neck. “The whole team kind of already knows.”
“They know what, exactly?”
“That you two have been fu—” Kennedy smacks her husband’s arm to stop him, nodding toward Max in my lap. “Fff-riendly,” Isaiah corrects. “That you two have beenfriendlywith each other.”
That’s one way to put it. Reese and I have been awfullyfriendlywith each other. We’ve been friendly every night since Arthur’s retirement party. I’ve stayed over at her place, woken up with her there, showered with her there, all except the past two days because she had to attend an owners’ meeting in New York.
