“Just here to give Tank some pointers.” I shrug in a show of fake modesty and jerk a thumb at the bodyguard. “Amateurs, am I right?”
Perri pats Tank on the arm. She’s so petite it looks like a child’s hand on his biceps. “Is this man bothering you, Tank? I could have him removed.”
He grins. “Nice to see you again, Perri. No need to have him removed, but I wouldn’t mind knowing some of his deepest secrets for future use.”
She flaps a hand at him and lets out apshhthiss. “I got you, dude.” Leaning forward, she whispers, “I think he has a crush on young miss Jordie McNamara.”
I cover her mouth with my hand as Tank guffaws. She licks my palm, and I pull it away, wiping sister spit on my khakis. “I do not have a crush on her. Or anyone.”
Perri rolls her eyes toward Tank, who is listening with interest. “He totally does.” Then she deepens her voice, presumably trying to sound like me. “Jordie’s pictures turned out beautifully. You should see Jordie’s eyes. They are such a pretty turquoise color. Jordie is freaking amazing.”
Heat prickles my neck, causing little beads of sweat to dampen the collar of my Dragons polo. Apparently I’m shit at hiding my true feelings.
“That’s just admiration of a very talented athlete and subject of our marketing campaign. It’s my job to hype her up.”
“Uh-huh,” Perri says, unimpressed by my explanation. “Whateveryou say, Phoenix. Now I’m going to put my loot in the car and then head to the arcade. You brought Reece, right?”
I nod, relieved that she let go of the whole crush thing so quickly. “Bristol asked me to bring her so she could play with their kids.”
“Coolio. I’ll go help. Can we go get barbecue afterward?”
“Sure. I’ll see if Jordie wants to come.”
My sister thinks that’s the funniest thing ever. “Yeah, you do that, bro.”
Okay, maybe I did sound a bit enthusiastic about the idea.
“Because I thought you might want to spend time with her since she’s about your age,” I call to her back, but she’s still laughing as she walks away.
I swear, my little sister is the biggest pain in my ass.
I walk into the arcade, and my eyes widen. I’ve never been here, but this is obviously much more than the arcades I grew up with. It’s like a damn mini-amusement park with a small roller coaster and bumper cars, as well as regular video games.
“Daddy!” My head swivels from side to side, recognizing Reece’s voice immediately, but I don’t see her. “Daddy, up here! Watch me!”
I notice a line of thirty-foot-tall slides against the left wall. It’s dim on that side of the space, and all the slides are illuminated with neon lights, but I recognize the small form standing at the top of a big, pink, wavy one. I try not to panic because she’s so high, but I see Perri right behind her and there’s plenty of safety netting. Still, my feet carry me quickly as I force a smile onto my face.
“I see you, Reecie!”
My heart thunders in my chest when she fearlessly dives headfirst and bumps her way down the slide on her tummy, the organ only returning to some semblance of normal when she reaches the bottom and tumbles onto the soft mat with an insane giggle.
I’m there in a second, scooping her up and kissing all over her face. Being a dad to a preschooler is fucking terrifying, but I try not to letthat show. I want my little girl to be safe, but I also don’t want to be a helicopter parent that wraps his kid in metaphorical bubble wrap all the time.
“Was that fun, my brave girl?” I ask, planting one more kiss on her nose.
Her smile lights up brighter than the neon lights. “So, so fun. I’ve been on every slide here. The purple one was, like, amazing. It goes like this.” She wiggles her little hand from side to side in a snakelike motion. “But the pink one goes up and down, and it was the funnest.”
Cradling her to me, I watch as Perri slides down with a whoop, and I reach down to give her a hand up.
“Hey, Big Daddy! Watch me!”
I’m confused for a second until I find a pink-haired old lady waving with cheerful exuberance from the top of a yellow slide.Jesus Christ. Tank’s grandmother, of course.
“Why did she call you Daddy?” Reece asks. “You’re not her daddy.”
“Gram’s just being silly,” I say with a nervous chuckle. “Here, stand right by Aunt Perri while I help her up.”
Setting down my daughter, I stroll over and offer a hand to the sweet and crazy old bird who just landed on the mat. “Good job, Gram. Are you having a good time?”
