All three of them have bright smiles on their faces as they stare at the camera. Standing on the front porch, it looks like it might be the first day of school.
They are happy. That’s one of the things I missed most about Marcus. His smile. He always gave it to me so easily. No matter what kind of day I was having, anytime I sawMarcus with the corner of his mouth quirked up, I couldn’t help but return it.
I feel my heart clanging around in my chest. I wanted more of these memories with Marcus. We always talked about having our own family, but instead he created his own.
Without me.
Chapter Seventeen
HARPER
Anoise startles me awake. The sound of a car door slamming. The TV is humming in the background. The sound of male voices filters inside, ones that I can hear from my spot on the couch. The clock on the wall ticks close to one in the morning.
Headlights cast long shadows inside the house. Getting up, I peek out the window by the front door. A group of guys are illuminated, Marcus being at the helm.
Smiling to myself, I pull open the front door. “That must have been some team bonding.”
“Is this the wife?” one of the guys whispers. “She’s hot.”
“Fuck off, Bode.”
“Please tell me none of you drove.” I cross my arms over my chest, glaring at each and every one of them.
“Nah. We got a rideshare,” the older man with gray peppering his beard answers. Out of all the men standing on Marcus’s front porch, he seems to be the most coherent.
“Don’t you have a game tomorrow?” I ask.
“We’ll be fine. It’s a late game.” This from a youngerguy leaning against another man in a loving embrace. I’m not sure which of the two of them is holding the other up.
“Well, I’m glad you had a good time.”
“We’ll have to remember to call this team bonding for when these two bozos get married.” The man indicates to the two who are wrapped around each other.
“Is that not what it was?” I give them my best stern teacher face. It apparently works on drunk men as well as second graders. All of them straighten up. As much as six drunk men can.
“We had to throw a bachelor party.”
“This was a bachelor party? Who’s getting married?”
“Marcus did.”
“More team bonding.” Marcus’s eyes are glassy. I don’t know if he’s more drunk or tired.
“What’s your name?” I ask the older one in the back.
“Ummm…” he starts.
“You don’t know your name?”
“Don’t lie to her, Jasper.”
“Damn it, Dax. Now she knows my name.”
I smile at all of them. “It’d be easy to find all of you on the team’s website. You know that, right?”
“You’re smart,” Dax says.
“Why thank you.” I shake my head. “Now, all of you need to go home. I have an early day tomorrow.”
