“Wait until you get a kid,” Bode says. “They’re the best.”
“One thing at a time,” I tell him.
I smile at all the guys. Bode pulls out his phone to show us new pictures of Caleb that we haven’t seen. Marcus counters with more pictures of his kids.
It’s hard to imagine this is how we are now. Back in the early days, we’d close down the bars. I’d have a short relationship here and there—casual on both sides.
Now? All of us are in serious relationships.
“Can I make a toast?” I ask.
“Floor is yours,” Marcus says, waving his hand in front of him.
“I know we’ve all had our ups and downs over the years and that life has thrown us a lot of curveballs, but I’m glad all of you are by my side. I don’t have much in the way of family, but you guys have become that to me and have always had my back. So thank you. I love you guys.”
“We love you, man,” Bode says.
“Yeah, ditto,” Dax agrees.
Marcus laughs. “Yeah. We’ve got your back. We love you, Jasper.”
“Thanks.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell them I’m debating about retiring, but I don’t want to. There’s still too much unknownheading into the playoffs. I don’t want it to be a distraction. I want our entire focus to be on making the playoffs and how far we can go.
There will be plenty of time to talk futures.
At least there is one certain.
Quinn.
The only certainty in my life that I need.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
QUINN
“Thanks for coming in today,” Rebecca says, offering me a seat at the oversized conference room table. “How are you feeling?”
I shake my head back and forth. “Nervous.”
“That’s to be expected with our court date next week.”
I set my bag down next to me and twiddle my thumbs in my lap. “Any updates?”
“Our forensic accountant thinks he might be onto something.”
“Really?” I try not to get my hopes up, but this is a large part of my worries. If they can’t find the money Eric stole, how are they going to prove he did it and not someone else?
“He’s still working on it, and I don’t know if it’s going to pan out, but I wanted to tell you hemighthave something.”
“Okay.” I blow out a breath.
With Jasper in the middle of a road trip, it sucks that I don’t have him with me every night. Talking on the phone with him and texting isn’t the same thing as having him next to me.
“We have a strong case,” Rebecca says, sliding over a stack of paper. “I want you to review the facts of everything so they’refresh in your mind. And this is what we know. They’re facts. No matter how Eric’s attorney tries to twist the truth, I want you to be confident in knowing you know the truth.”
“Easier said than done.”
