Taking my own sip, it burns on the way down. I wince. Shit, I haven’t had this in a while.
“I don’t know, but I have some time to figure it out.”
“You’d make a decent stripper,” Colin points out.
“I don’t think there’s a big market for male strippers in Dixon.”
“Think you’ll stay at home then?” Alex asks, ignoring Colin and cutting off that line of questioning.
“Right now? I think so.”
Dixon has always been home. As much as I love Denver, it’s not the place for me anymore. And as I’m starting to come around to the idea of not having football, Dixon is where I need to be right now.
“Maybe we can get up and visit in the offseason. Bring the families,” Jackson tells me. “Got some room at that fancy ranch of yours?”
I laugh, swirling the brown liquid in my glass. “I think I can hook you guys up.”
Colin bursts out laughing. “Can you imagine Knox on a horse? I’d give my entire paycheck to see that.”
Everyone laughs at that. Except Knox, who flips Colin the middle finger. “And just for that, I’m going to make it happen.”
The look on his face is less certain.
“I really would pay to see that too.”
“And I’m ready to send you all back to Dixon and stay here,” Knox grumbles.
“You make it so easy, old man,” Colin laughs.
“I’m a year older than you. Jackson’s the old man here,” Knox points out.
Jackson knocks back the rest of his drink. “And speaking of being an old man, I need to get going. Noah has his own practice tonight.”
“Is he playing football?” I ask.
Every single one of them cringe. Apparently it was the wrong question to ask.
“Hockey. I have no fucking clue how he decided on hockey, but I can’t say no to that kid.”
“Maybe he’ll grow up and play for the Denver Ice.”
One of Denver’s other professional teams.
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” Jackson shrugs a shoulder. “It was great seeing you.”
He pulls me in for a hug.
“Yeah, don’t be a stranger, kid,” Knox tells me, pulling me in for a hug. “Just because you’re not part of the team anymore doesn’t mean we’re not still here for you. We’ve missed you around here.”
“Besides,”—Alex clasps me on the shoulder—“that’s what family is for.”
My chest tightens at their words. I shut myself off from them. Call it self-preservation, but it would’ve been too hard to hear about how they were doing and not be there with them.
“I will. I promise.”
“You mean that?” Colin eyes me. “You’re not like their kids and saying what we want to hear?”
“Hey!” Jackson slaps him across the chest. “My kid doesn’t do that.”
