“Hey, you’re our family too,” Bode says. “We love you, man.”
“Aww, what a sap you’ve become,” Noah chirps.
Bode brushes him off. “Fuck off. I’m a changed man.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Marcus pins Noah with a look that tells him to cut it out. He ignores it.
“I guess that face only works on your kids.” I laugh.
“And here I thought I had more influence over you guys.” Marcus shakes his head. “That always works on my kids.”
“Because you can take away screen time,” Dax says. “I’d be scared if you could do that.”
“Maybe I need to threaten to take away your phones then,” Marcus states matter-of-factly.
“Nice try, Marcus,” I say. “I don’t think you’re getting any of our devices.”
At least not mine. Because for the longest time, it was the only way I could communicate with Quinn. Given that she can’t be here tonight, it’s the only way I can talk with her.
“Why would you need your phone?” Noah asks, glancing over at me. “Got a hot date or something?”
Asshole.
“Why would I need a date when I’m hanging out with you idiots tonight?” I give him a cheesy, knowing smile.
“Oh, I don’t know?—”
Graham slaps a hand over Noah’s mouth before he can finish. “Be nice. Tonight is all about Chloe and Dax.”
“Well, mostly Chloe,” Dax says, a lovesick look washing over his face. “It’s her big night.”
After having to deal with Dax’s douchebag of a brother, Duncan, and all his bullshit, these two deserve time to just be together.
Is this what it’s going to be like for Quinn and me? The two of us getting through all the bullshit of her trial and ex and finally getting to be together? I have no idea how long the trial is going to take, but I’ll be by her side every step of the way.
“Wings and nachos.” The waitress comes by, dropping our appetizers in the middle of the table.
“Thank God. I’m starving.” Graham helps himself to a nacho, overloaded with cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
“You know Chloe is going to have food there tonight, right?” Dax asks, grabbing a chicken wing.
“Graham didn’t get lunch in after practice. We didn’t have much time at home.” Noah pats his stomach. “Let him be.”
“For someone that gives so much grief, you sure don’t let anyone give it to you,” I jest.
Noah turns to me, sipping on a beer. “I could give you so much more grief if I really wanted to, Jasper.”
“I’m good. I don’t need any more,” I mumble.
The last thing I want is Noah blurting out who I’m dating. In the middle of a crowded bar on Broadway is not the place for the guys to find out I’m dating Quinn.
Or Genevieve as the world knows her.
“At least it seems like the fans aren’t giving you as much crap anymore,” Marcus says.
“Because you’re always on the ice when they’re chirping at me.”
“I’d like to see them play,” Bode huffs. “It’s not easy trying to play on skates. Trust me, I keep trying to get Caleb out on the ice, but I don’t think it’s working yet.”
